Levada Da Referta - Castelejo

Our first levada walk in Madeira booked through our hotel. We were picked up at our hotel in Funchal at 8:15am and discovered we were in a small group of 11. Elton was our driver and guide. The trip to the start of the walk was about 45 mins but we were entertained by Elton and his facts about the island en route. The walk was pretty easy though wet and muddy in places. No problem if you wear good walking shoes (not for trainers). Fascinating learning about the island and the flora and fauna from Elton was is experienced, knowledgeable, passionate about his island and nature and very entertaining. The walk took just over 2 hours and ended in a local cafe famed for its banana and walnut cake (quite rightly!). We were dropped back at the hotel around 1pm having throughly enjoyed the experience. We saw other much bigger groups some distance behind us on our walk and glad we chose a company that deliberately keeps group sizes to 15 or less. Highly recommended especially if Elton is your guide ( he leads other walks , too).

Picked up on time by a brilliant guide - Alvaro and a driver - small group, 15 people. A very scenic and easy walk, just over 5.5 km with 15/20 steps down to the Lavada and a short downhill walk on a quiet road at the end to a cafe and our pickup. Along the way Alvaro pointed out plants and birds and talked about the countryside which enhanced the walk, along with a couple of jokes and recipes. A lovely morning - and it didn’t rain! He was a great guide who was very concerned with the safety of the group and did everything to ensured we had an enjoyable outing.

I couldn't recommend this company enough. They guide ( Maria) was very caring , friendly, and clear when explaining features of interest along the walk. We were so impressed that we booked another walk at a different location, and the guide (Elton) was just as caring and informative. We will return to Madeira, and will book more walks with this company

Picked up on time and transported in a nice minibus to the stant of our walk which was a pleasant, gentle stroll with some lovely views. Our driver guide, Elton, was a gem - knowlegeable and humorous. All told, a really good half day trip.

Wonderful hike with a great guide Avrelo. Exactly what we expected. Knowledgable and good humour. Do it

Simple Levada walk over 2 hours on the Sunday morning. The guide was fantastic Alvero ( I hope I got that right). I would equate him to a Del Boy of the Levada's. He even managed to get some Germans smiling. The walk was pefect for a Sunady morning with guide walking along joking and laughing and telling us of the fuana and aminals. we both really enjoyed the trip and wish the guide well in semi retirement. Thanks for a good day out Alvero.

My friend and I booked the Referta levada walk and thoroughly enjoyed it. Julia was an excellent, knowledgeable guide. We passed some absolutely beautiful scenery, walking alongside lush vegetation. We finished up at a delightful little cafe for a coffee and the delicious local banana cake. We would have loved to another, more difficult walk but ran out of time. I would definitely recommend Free Spirit

Booked this one aa wanted just a morning walk. Alvaro was a great guide. Very safety conscious & very knowledgeable. Shared a lot about the plants & area. Also great cafe stop at the end. When we come back to Madeia again, we would definitely use again. (Couldnt book another walk as the one we wanted was full. We booked with abother company- nowhere near as great)

A number of points to make here: 1. Alvaro is an excellent guide, with humour, excellent English and care for his customers 2. I am afraid of heights but managed this walk without any problem although there are some steep drops on the right hand side 3. Last weeks rain meant that there were quite a few muddy spots so good footwear is essential. Waterproof would be good. The levada was not running however. 4. We were actually on our feet for about 2 hours. Pace was gentle with a few stops for flora and fauna plus photos 5. We stopped at the rum factory in Porto da Cruz on the way back. Even if you don’t drink alcohol it’s right by a small beach so a minor photo opportunity. Altogether a good outing.

A very pleasant walk. Sofia was a great guide and gave us lots of information on the culture, flora and fauna, and birds. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What a great walk! Beautiful, nice and easy and a good leader. Stopping at the little restaurant at the end was a nice touch.

We did two walks in Madeira - half day in Mimosa Valley and full day at Rabacal. Booking was straight forward and we got information about pick up times from right outside our hotel the night before each walk. And each walk was excellent. Alvarro was a brilliant guide, very knowledgeable and good humoured (and seemed to know just about everyone we passed!) Mimosa Valley was an easy, fairly level walk along the lavada, Rabacal and the fountains slightly more difficult but Alvarro kept the group together and anyone with a reasonable level of fitness would be able to cope. We were lucky with the weather, dry with temperatures in the mid 20s,perfect walking conditions. If we'd been staying longer we'd certainly have joined more walks - a good enough excuse to go back to Madeira!

This was a fantastic half-day walk led by a brilliant guide, Alvarro (not sure I’ve spelt that right!). We’ve been to Madeira several times but never had a levada walk as we weren’t sure what to expect. We chose the easy/half day walk and it was great. It is in the north east of the island and the countryside spectacular. We followed the very flat levada which skirted around the edge of incredible green valleys where we could see for miles and see amazing terracing used by the local farmers. The walk in itself was great, but Alvarro our guide actually made it for our group. He was incredibly knowledgable about the landscape and wildlife. We stopped many times to look at different trees, fruits, vegetables and he explained so much that I’d never imagined. We walked for about 6km over about 2 hours and we then stopped at a little cafe for coffee and homemade banana and walnut which was superb. The restaurant look down a valley and out to sea. Overall summary - brilliant walk and excellent guide. Many thanks.

Walk with Alvaro and his excellent knowledge, good sense of safety (and sense of humour). Our first Levada walk; very enjoyable. Right pace for us (active 70 year olds), not too slow or fast. Small, quiet group also suited us. Finished at a nice cafe with super coffee and banana cake. Alvaro also made an excellent recommendation for us for the following (our last) day.

Alvaro was a great guide. Knowledgable, passionate and gave clear directions throughout the walk. Also very funny! It was a joy to walk the Levada and see the local plots/ houses etc. thank you

Really enjoyed our first levada walk with a lovely group. Alvaro was a very knowledgeable guide and had a great sense of humour. Highly recommended this trip for first timers!

Great guide (with sense of humour), great easy 2hr walk around farmland with great views. Nice finish at small cafe with homemade orange juice and poncha.

Amazing guide, Phillipe, explained the history of the levadas and chatted about all the plants, flowers and fruit. Thoroughly enjoyable experience would highly recommend

Easy and comfortable Lavada walk with an excellent guide in Alvero. Spectacular views along the route with many features being explained with great local knowledge.

Alvaro was our guide on this two hour Levado walking trip in Referta. He is very knowledgeable and told us many interesting facts and stories along the walk, he has a great sense of humour! The walk is easy but some parts had steep drops but Alvaro would tell us in advance where to take care. Beautiful scenery, would definitely recommend.

Lovely walk with informative, cheerful guide. Lots of stops to appreciate the plants, history and views. The mountains are spectacular, and the walk was surprisingly flat although narrow in places. Ending with a nice cafe for a well earned drink.

My wife and I did a half day walk Referta in Faial (number 10 in the company's brochure) with Alvero (?? hope I have got that right). After the terrible weather of the previous day we booked via our hotel hoping the weather would let us get out, which it did. There were 11 of us from various hotels around Funchal that had booked this walk. All of us were collected and dropped at our hotels. We were driven to the start point of the walk and the van was somehow!! waiting for us at the finish, as Alvero had lead our walk. Described in the brochure as an easy flat walk, very generally it is. However, it was a little muddy in places following the heavy rains of the previous two days, and there are points where you need to watch your footing, and whilst this walk is not high up in the hills, there are a few points where I suppose if you did suffer from vertigo, the drops may cause you some concern. That aside the views are fantastic, it is very quiet, rural and the air seems very fresh. Alvero is a bit of a comedian and does a superb job of being your host and guide and he knows his stuff regarding the history of the location, the levadas and the fauna. We were picked up at 0845 and got back to the hotel at around 1330. At the end of the walk we had a cafe stop, which was very nice. This is good value and an excellent way to get in to the countryside of the island without having to worry about directions, car hire, parking etc etc. Thoroughly recommended.

Had a great morning walk doing the half day Referta walk with Alvaro our guide. He made the walk so much fun and was really knowledgeable. Saw some beautiful views and stopped for some gorgeous banana cake and Madeira wine in a little village at the end of it. Will be booking more walks with Madeira free spirit next yeat

We chose this walk as a gentle introduction to Levada walking. Our guide, Philippe, was very knowledgeable and obviously proud of Madeira's natural environment. He kept us all entertained and safe on the walk. This walk is quite easy and it was not too hot at the altitude even in the middle of summer. You do need to watch where you are walking at all times, there are not many steep sides on this walk but you need to keep your wits about you. I'd totally recommend Madeira Free Spirit walks as they do appear to have the right ethos. Our guide did have to clear our path at one point due to a freshly fallen tree; this illustrates how sensible it is to go with a guide.

Another fantastic walk with this company. A short 2 hour walk with a knowledgeable guide. Would recommend.

A really good short, safe and enjoyable walk led by Alvaro who is clearly very knowledgeable about all things Madeiran. Great fresh orange juice, coffee and Madeira cake at the end as well. What’s not to like 😉

Beautiful scenery and a helpful guide with local knowledge and good safety advice. I had a lovely morning in this peaceful setting. Walking was easy with some attention needed at times.

This was an incredible half day experience today. Our guide Alvaro was so knowledgable, had a good sense of humour and made sure we were safe at all times. He was very informative about the plants and trees, the history of the lavadas, and the way of life of the people living in the mountains. The homemade banana and walnut cake and the homemade poncha drink, served in the little cafe, were delicious. Would definitely recommend. Thank you. 🥰🥾🥾

Most interesting and informative about the trees and flowers. Great walk along the levada with a very pleasant finish in a delightful cafe for coffee and delicious honey cake

Excellent walk! Easy pace walk under the guidance, experience and knowledge of Susanna who made time to speak to all the participants on the walk. Her language skills in French, Spanish and English were impressive along with the talent of providing and entertaining trip. George the driver for the trip had excellent driving skills in a safe manner with great knowledge of the roads. A trip which was well worth the money!

What a lovely half day walking along the levada’s. Nice and easy pace and only a little bit uneven under foot. Our guide the father of the owners was absolutely amazing he was funny and engaging and had a deep knowledge of the area and spoke to all the farmers on the way. The banana and walnut cake with a coffee was certainly a tasty end to a great morning

Wonderful half day easy Levada walk of 5.7km in a small group with Alvaro Freitas as our qualified mountain guide. Alvaro’s 37 years experience and exceptional knowledge of the plants, cultivation and local culture must be unrivalled. A charming and talented guide and raconteur!

Alvaro took us on an unforgettable trek along the levado today. Can’t recommend highly enough. We will take several more trips with this company while we are here.

We did the referta walk. It is a nice walk. In my personal experience I felt the walk was longer than 2/3 hours. This walk is qualified as an ''easy walk''. But do not underestimate this trip. Altough I have an averige physical condition I needed to constantly focus myself on my steps. Some places the walk could be dangerous, and there are not handrails everywhere. Sometimes the handrails are not reliable. In case you have an altitude fear or vertigo I would not recommend any of the Levada walks. Our guide was Alvaro. He has got a lot of knowledge of the environment and the whole Island. We got a lot of interesting information from him, recent and also historical. Alvaro is definately the most funny guide I have ever met. We have laughed a lot. We will come back to Madeira and book more walks with Madeira Free Spirit walks. B.R. Michiel

A beautiful and easy walk that took about 2.5 hours. Alvaro our guide was fun and very interesting and explained everything of note on the walk. Definitely will use them again.

My husband and I had an amazing time doing the Levada da Castelejo walk. The walk is easy, and we walked for about 3 hours. The views are stunning and so is the nature on the way. Our guide Alvaro was very knowledgeable and fun and he pointed out various exotic fruits and herbs in their natural environment. He also shared with us a lot of information about levadas and about the local agriculture. We enjoyed our walk with Alvaro and would love to do another Levada walk again. Thank you Alvaro for a great day, all the best, Diana & Mark

A beautiful levada walk made most enjoyable with the capable Guide, where safety is his prime concerrm. We are in our seventies and found the 5K easy. There were no huge drops but care was needed in a few places. Alvaro was there to help,and guide you. His general and local knowledge about history, local culture and people, as well as vegetation and wildlife was so interesting and his humour most entertaining. Regulating stopping to relay this information and show you things. A thoroughly enjoyable morning.

Great service and competent guide. Very nice and relaxed walk in a phantastic landscape. Would recommend to take a levada walk with this company again.

A perfect hike for the beginner as it was not demanding. It also offered fantastic views and our excellent guide taught us a lot about the irrigation system, the different crops grown, the elderly who live there and about the birds and other wildlife.

It was a flowery walk with encounters with local farmers and their fields. We had a fantastic guide ‘Alvaro’. Very good sense of humor, lots of laughter but also a very great knowledge of fauna and flora. Mimicked very well animal sounds... big kudos to such a guide!

Super Guide, tolle Wanderung und vieles neues erfahren. Sehr individuelle und keine Massenabfertigung Danke und jederzeit wieder.

We went this beautiful and easy tour (6km) in beautiful surroundings and got really much out of being guided by our knowledgeable , fun and knowledgeable guide Alvaro. A nice easy walk along the levafda where we saw many local crops and crops. Can definitely be recommended - even if you are not for hiking is.

Ha ido todo muy bien con Alvaro y sus explicaciones. El tiempo nos acompañó al no llover y no hacer mucho calor

Beautiful, easy levada hike with lots of information about Madeira and especially about the flora and fauna. Although only two people had signed up for the tour, it went ahead. Our guide Álvaro was very knowledgeable and was able to provide information on everything. He was very concerned about the safety of the participants and always spiced up his information with a pinch of humor. His English was very good. I can only recommend the tour.

Sehr schöne Wanderung mit einem sehr guten und lustigen Wanderguide, der uns eine landschaftlich wunderschöne Tour kurzweilig präsentiert hat. Vielen Dank!

Beautiful walk in enchanting nature, it smelled and we breathed the silence, it was wonderful. Our guide knew a lot about flora and fauna and the history of the area and the Levadas. In the end a delicious stop over banana cake and Madeira wine, everything was perfect!

Toller Guide Álvaro, sehr fundiertes Wissen, lustiger Typ, der uns viel zeigen konnte. Anschließend ging es inmitten des Gebirges in ein Café, welches himmlisches Bananen-Walnuss-Kuchen verkauft.