Levada do Rei

The Levada do Rei begins in the Water Treatment Station in Quebradas in São Jorge. This route skirts the valley of São Jorge, where we can observe some herbs and medicinal plants and at the same time learn a little about them. Initially we will walk in an exotic forest composed by some introduced flora specimens, where we can observe the fantastic agricultural landscapes of São Jorge and Santana. After a few minutes, we get inside one of the best preserved areas of the Laurissilva Forest (World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1999) where we observe a variety of plants, such as the Til (Ocotea foetens), the Laurel (Laurus novocanariensis) and the Madeira Mahogany (Persea indica). As for bird species, we can highlight the Firecrest and the Chaffinch. We walk through a waterfall before we finish the first part of our journey, arriving at Ribeiro Bonito, an isolated and with plenty of water site, where you can hear the sounds of nature. After a few minutes of rest we go round the same track back. Duration: approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes Distance: 10 km Highest point: 710m Lowest point: 530m Location: São Jorge Difficulty: Moderate Days: Saturday Includes: Official Mountain Guide, transport and insurance (Required by Portuguese law)