Rabaçal - 25 Fonts

Very nice tour with excellent guide. A lot of learning during tour.

Moises was our guide. Very knowledgeable with an excellent delivery of information on local culture, nature and history. Always attentive to the group to make our experience entertaining and informative whilst safe. Overall a 5 star experience.

An amazing hike in the mountain / forest to see the waterfalls, one I would definitely do again. Our your guide was brilliant, very knowledgeable and very funny, I would highly recommend Maria for any tours in Madeira. 5Star!!!

The hike we originally booked didn't have enough bookings, so we were offered this one instead and had a great experience. Communication was smooth and we were picked up on time. Our guide, Susannah, was great, very engaging and shared lots about the levadas and their history, the plants we saw etc. We were glad to have booked to do a levada walk with a guide! It was unpleasantly crowded at the 25 Fontes waterfall, where we stopped for lunch, but that was to be expected - we had heard how popular this trail was and that was why we initially booked a different one.

Great walk - a lot of people near the waterfall, but heyho it’s a popular walk. Numbers less than previous years due to the tax which hopefully will keep the area in good condition and pay decent wages to those who do it. Huge well done and thank you to Elton, who made it for us, a wealth of knowledge, information and general good hearted banter. Will definitely be back for other hikes. Thanks Elton 🙌

Yesterday we enjoyed a fantastic day out with a great guide. We booked via a tourist info. kiosk near the centre of Funchal and were provided with details for the pickup very close to our hotel, which arrived right on time. We travelled in a minibus with 4 other couples, which was a good group size. We were looked after very well by our knowledgeable guide Maria and learned about the local landscape, plants and wildlife. I would recommend this experience to anyone who enjoys a good walk, surrounded by nature... and with some good humour too!

Suzanna was an amazing guide. The hike was pleasant, her info and personality made it interesting, The weather and views were great. The 25 fountains was a little crowded in early Sept. but this is the influencers' fault not the tour guide. There are other more empty hikes on Madeira. Still the whole thing was a nice experience. The only thing is I wish the French guy with the polyester sports top had taken a shower before the group trip. He stank up the van and stank up the trail too. Tell your customers to take a shower before the trip, and to respect others.

What made this walk special wasn’t just the seamless transfer to/from destination nor the 25 Fonts (which was busy), it was Elton, our tour guide. He additionally took us on a less trodden route through a 800m tunnel which we wouldn’t have done by ourselves and was a wealth of information and enthusiasm about Madeira.

Great walk! Elton did a fantastic job in bringing all the local flora and fauna to life with interesting facts about the construction and maintenance of the levadas along with loads of jokes! This was our second walk with Madeira Free Spirit Walks - both have been excellent. Well worth booking through them if you’re visiting the island and want to see the real Madeira.

The 25 Fontes tour was an unforgettable experience, made even better by our incredible guide Elton . The trail itself is stunning—lush forests, peaceful levada paths, and a beautiful waterfall lagoon—but what really stood out was how knowledgeable and engaging Elton was. He shared fascinating insights about Madeira’s nature, history, and hidden spots along the way, all while keeping the group comfortable and on pace.He was friendly, professional, and genuinely passionate, Elton turned a great hike into something truly special. Highly recommend this tour as it was our second tour with Madeira Free Spirit walks both of which were spectacular

Many thanks to our guide Maria—an excellent guide and great fun; a reliable company, and everything was perfectly organized—100%. Greetings from Lithuania.

We had a very enthusiastic, well informed and well spoken guide named Susanna. She was considerate of each person’s needs and pace. Highly recommended tour. Thank you for an amazing experience.

Our tour guide, Elton, was excellent. His knowledge was impressive, and it was clear he is genuinely passionate about his work. I couldn’t recommend the tour highly enough — it was a really enjoyable and well-run experience.

Good hike and some good views especially the waterfall and underground tunnell. The best part of the hike was our brilliant guide Susanna who was full of knowledge and positive energy. I'll definately book again in the future.

We booked 2 walks with Madeira Free Spirit Walks. A half day walk along levada de Referta, superbly led by guide Alvaro who explained the landscape, cultivation & traditions of the area. Then a full day walk Rabacal : 25 Fountains, again superbly led by guide Elton through the Laurissilva Forest, along levadas, through hill country – & also an interesting tunnel! Both of these guides were excellent – they made the walk into a real close encounter with rural Madeira, past & present. Tour group limited to 14/15. We thoroughly recommend Madeira Free Spirit Walks and all their staff.

Elton was a great guide: professional, fun and rich in knowledge about the nature and culture on Madeira. The pace he made the group of 14 was good so we had progress but also had time for photos and snacks. The pick up in the center of Funchal worked well and it was relaxing to stop by a bar on our way back. I can strongly recommend this great tour provider.

Very nice views. 1 major waterfall. More steps than I realized but doable-I’m 68. Elton was so nice and informative. I learned alot about Madeira.

Very informative and interesting. Level of fitness needs to be above average to complete the walk. Rain jacket and waterproof hiking shoes a must.

Riscoe and 25 Fonts. Elton was a great guide, kept the energy and interest up the whole way! Good program and balance, with a couple of short stops on the drives to take refreshments and toilet break. Apart from the pick up being a few minutes late (we were the last pick up) absolutely spot on. Very happy with our choice.

Did two walks with this company. First one was with Elton as a guide who is simply superb and gave so much information on bus and walk. The second with another guide who i shall not name was like not having a guide at all.

Wonderful walk with a fantastic guide, who gave us information about the landscape, botanics and history of Madeira.

Elton was an exceptional guide on our 25 Fonts hike with Madeira Free Spirit Walks. His knowledge of the island’s history, flora, and wildlife made the experience even more special. He kept the pace just right for everyone, ensuring we all felt comfortable and safe. Elton's enthusiasm and friendly demeanor made the hike enjoyable and memorable. Highly recommend him and Madeira Free Spirit Walks if you're looking for a guide who truly knows and loves Madeira!

We did the 25 falls walk and peaks walk on 2 separate days. Guide Elton was fantastic- knowledgable, fun and looked after a mixed group very well indeed both days. Routes were as advertised and the views spectacular! Highly recommend

This was a well-organised and enjoyable adventure with an extremely knowledgeable, interesting and friendly guide and an excellent driver. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Free Spirit.

What a fantastic day today. Picked up at hotel by Susanna quite early @ 8am with a few other hotel pickups en route - about an hours drive with a stop at supermarket for provisions and comfort en route. Small minibus of 14 of us, so not a tiny party but easily manageable and Susanna was very chatty in multiple languages The early start was worth it as the levadas were very busy and were getting busier by the time we were heading out again. The waterfall’s impressive but a lot of visitors vying for their best photos. The return through the long tunnel was impressive and meant didn’t need to climb back to the start. George our driver was waiting for us and a short beer stop en route home. Susanna made the experience for us and cannot commend her enthusiasm enough.

Excellent walk with exceptional guide Suzannah. Her command of English and sense of humour contributed to a very enjoyable day. The walk is moderate with a number of steps up and down - around 600- however the pace is controlled - Safety is paramount and Suzannah was constantly keeping an eye on the group. Very scenic area- plenty of photo opportunities - weather can change very quickly so make sure you are prepared for all eventualities. Very popular walk - so expect to pass lots of people - dont be put off its worth it for the views all around are beautiful

Whilst being a long walk (12K) with lots of ups and downs this balanced perfectly by an amazingly knowledgeable guide (Susannah) and some local knowledge to avoid an tough climb at the end. Not for those who don't like narrow paths or steep sides, but a fantastic walk

Very easy booking and good comms from the Company Brilliant walk, grace as published, our guide Elton was excellent, knowledgeable with a good sense of humour. Told us lots about flora and fauna in an interesting way. Very welcome Poncha stop on the way down! Very much recommend.

Great trip with Suzanne and George today. Suzanne (tour guide) was clearly knowledgeable about the area and was happy to answer questions. Informative, but not overbearing! Something about this route as well - they use different drop off and collection points (unlike others i reviewed), so much less walking the same path than others, and get to see both sides of the island on the 1 tour. Toilet break (on the way back) was at a lovely cafe with great fresh Poncha. George did a great job driving, did a lot of reversing manouvres that would have taken me a lot longer to deal with! Overall great hike, put together by what appears to be a great team.

Our guild was charming & so enthusiastic about the plants and the Lavadas history. Safely & general instructions were made very clear. The walk was 12km & I would say a moderate level, with some steps to climb & come down. Breathtaking views with stunning nature. Loved the tunnel to the south. In January full trousers are needed & definitely waterproof shoes/boots. Plus snacks & drinks, you’ll need too.

We had a great time with Maria on the RABAÇAL WALK 😊 easy trail for everyone, a few stairs to climb 😉 few people on the trail on January

This was a wonderful tour - Maria was incredibly knowledgeable about the local plants and wildlife and very helpful in ensuring safety throughout. The walks are brilliant and the fountains were stunning. The terrain can be tricky at points, but Maria was great at navigating us all. We had a really fun time and learnt loads.

We had a lovely day - we were picked up at 8:30 and back by 15:30. Things I wanted to know beforehand: - toilet stop on the way, and then one stop early on the walk, but then no more til the end - cafe/shop stop on the way - mostly was shaded and quite chilly - jumper needed! - lots of downhill - and lots of steep steps - a bit of climbing up steps (less than downhill) - take a picnic, lunch stop was by 25 fonts - if you aren’t wearing waterproof shoes then your feet will get wet in the tunnel - the walk was 11km - mostly flat. It’s a leisurely pace, not rushed & our guide was very careful to make sure everyone was ok

Be prepared to get very wet if raining. Guide was very good. Views limited due to poor weather. Would however go again in summer.

Maria our guide was absolutely excellent. She ensured everyone in the group was looked after. She talked about the flora and fauna with enthusiasm and energy. The walk was well organised from start to finish.

Worth every penny! I had an amazing experience, hidden genes and lots of explanation about their ecosystem.

I would highly recommend Madeira Free Spirit walks, we had a fantastic time doing the 25 Font walk. The walk is moderate with several up and down hills. Our guide Elton was so knowledgeable and shared loads of interesting facts about the walk and the flora and fauna. The day was well organised and great communication before the trip too.

I brought a group of 7 ladies out on this trip - some of the gals were a bit apprehensive of both the heights and the distance. When we arrived, there was misty rain in the air, and then it started to really rain. Most of us had sweaters but not rain gear - our guide Maria provided us with jackets and walking sticks. What was most impressive about this 11k hike was the attention and care our guide Maria gave everyone in the group. It was wet, slippery, uneven and steep in some sections but her attention made everyone feel safe. It was a real bonding moment for my group, a highlight of our trip to Madeira and we would recommend Maria 1000%. Cheers!

Great levada experience with a great guide. Not only did we get to see beautiful things, but they also explained the history and nature to us. Not too long, just right. Highly recommended!

We are over the moon with finding MFSWs and booking the Rabaçal - 25 Fonts walking tour with them. They have been professional throughout - from the very start with our questions/queries with booking, pick up in a brand new immaculately clean minibus, through to the walk on the day itself with Susana (guide) and Alvaro (driver). We covered a total of approx 11km over a 4 hour trek with plenty of breaks and nothing too strenuous with steps/hill climbs. Susana was the perfect guide, and combined with expert (and safe) driving from Alvaro they make a dream team! It was worth every penny for a no hassle levada walk if this is your first time. Despite it being one of the most popular walks Susana navigated us across multiple PR routes to avoid most of the human traffic on the way to and from the waterfall. And no need to walk all the way back the way you came, the driver picks you up in a convenient spot just after the 800m rock tunnel walk which was an amazing experience to round off a great nature walk.

We had a fantastic walk with experienced guide through many waterfalls. Great sense of humor and practical advices. Paths get busy lots of times but we were very well guided through all of them ;)

We booked the package which included 2 full day walks and the West tour. Our guides were Suzanna and Alvaro. They were absolutely excellent. Their knowledge was second to none, we learned so much not only about Madeira itself, but about the birds, plants, and all the local knowledge. We feel like we have done so much in 3 days! And such great value for money too. If you are wondering whether to book in advance or wait until you arrive I would say definitely book. You won’t get a better deal with amazing guides like this. In fact I think they are one of Madeira’s best kept secrets! If I could give the company any constructive feedback it would be to ask for more information on booking - for example we would have liked an itinerary for the tour so we knew where we were going. However, in summary, I cannot recommend d this company enough. Thank you Suzanna and Alvaro for a truly memorable experience. Hope to see you again! X

Did the 25 Fontes tour and Pico Ruivo tour this week - highly recommend this company - the guides Alvaro and Maria were excellent and the tours well planned in terms of coffee/lunch breaks and pace. The guides are local and v knowledgeable about Madeira and the local ecology and geography- they took the time to patiently answer all our questions. Most importantly we felt we were in very safe hands. Alvaro drove us on both days and as a nervous passenger I was assured he takes safety both on the route up and on the trails very seriously. Both Alvaro and Maria are passionate about what they do and this makes the experience very enjoyable. I hope to do more tours with Free Spirit on my next visit! Thanks to our wonderful guides!

Excellent guide and stunning views! Highly recommend going with a guide, lots of interesting facts and the best part is that you don't have to walk all the way back up again after the descent since the pickup point is in a different place..

We did the 25 Fontes Levada walk. We were picked up on time, transport was comfortable. The guide, Maria, was very clear and informative and made the day enjoyable. The waterfalls were very stunning. The walking was an accessible pace. It's the most popular route so it was busy at the fountain, if you want a quieter walk maybe choose another but for us it wasn't off putting.

just been on the 25 waterfalls rabacal and lavada walks with Madeira free spirit walks our guide Alvaro was excellent he gave us lots of information about the lavadas the water falls and the countryside we were walking through He pointed out the different plants and wildlife mainly small birds which would land onto the palm of his hand we booked this through our hotel and everything from start to finish was excellent and well planned would highly recommend this company and especially our guide Alvora

The hike was very pleasant and wasn’t too challenging, apart from some steps on the way. Wonderful and breathtaking scenery and beautiful plants. It was good to see the levadas, and how they were constructed. Our guide, Alvaro, was very informative about the fauna and flora and also history of the island. He was amusing and funny and made everyone feel welcome. Overall, I would recommend this trip.

We were a small group who went with Suzanna and it was a brilliant day. Suzanna knew all the plant names in Latin and common names , she could explain plant life cycles with examples. Suzanna whistled like a bird to attract other birds and she could imitate the frogs we found. As well as this Suzanna was very approachable and kind. We went to the Rabacal in a new minibus with a very careful driver. We are in our 60s and initially were horrified that the walk was 12 km but it was so lovely and no rush all our elderly group managed and felt we had achieved more than expected. Thankyou Suzanna.

Suzanne the guide was excellent from start to finish. Prompt pick up from a clearly advised location. Very amusing and knowledgeable lady, impressed by her bird calls! It is a busy walking route but Suzanne made sure we were ahead of the crowd as much as possible and took great care of us along the route, especially with her warning of 'ouch!' when there was a low tree branch. Would highly recommend using Madeira Free Spirits tours.