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Levadas – the traditional waterways

Madeira’s lushness depends on the abundance of water.
The whole island is a self regulating reservoir, where water is absorbed into the porous volcanic soil, running underground until it leaves by rivers and streams into the ocean.
Most of the rain falls in the mountains and in the northern half of the island while the south part of the island might be fairly dry. In the early years, Moorish slaves were partly used together with Madeiran farmers to build a fantastic network of stone- lined irrigation channels. These were leading the water to the terraced farmland and the tiny fields often set on slopes so steep they can only be reached by rope and ladder. Some levada walks politely meander beside grassy knolls, mossy ravines, carpets of wild oats and barley, through virgin forests of heath and laurel, fields of poppies and thistles, fruit orchards and banana and sugarcane plantations. Others rudely skirt sheer drops of 1,300 feet, skim escarpments, chasms, and abysses, and pass through dark tunnels, under waterfalls and over diabolically slippery red clay. For an adventurous traveller, they offer access to nearly every corner of this unique and magical island.

Recommended Equipment for the walks

Madeira's climate is excellent for walking, from 16ºC in the winter to 24 ºC in the summer. You can  expect to meet a lot of variations, specially with changing altitudes. While near the sea you might have temperatures in the higher twenties at the same time, on the highest mountains above 1800 meters it may be freezing cold and windy. The weather conditions may also change very suddenly. A beautiful sunny walk may be turned into a misty or rainy experience. This is why it is recommended to pay some attention to the equipment bringing along on the walks.
First the shoes: On the mountain walks it is recommended to use boots with heavy profile soles and good ankle support. Some of the treks can get slippery on some parts. Good shoes makes the walk much more pleasant. The most critical part of your equipment is the footwear. Even if it is not required for all walks, I strongly recommend wearing walking boots with a heavy profile sole. The paths may become extremely slippery and some sections of the walks calls for the good ankle support provided by good walking boots.
A light weight rain gear is also something to bring along, in the protection of a sudden shower. You can never say how the weather will be from morning till night. In the mountains it is also essential to bring an extra sweater as the temperature may drop quite a lot in foggy weather. It can also be quite windy on exposed walks.
A smallflash light as well is something to bring along if the walk includes any tunnels.
Some of the walks might have many climbs and descents, and here a pair of good walking poles will assist you.
Bring water on the walk, especially on a warm day. It is not recommended to drink water directly from the levadas. Here the water might be muddy with insects, leaves and small animals. In an emergency situation, you could disinfect the water with water purifying tablets (iodine or silver based). On many walks you can also get access to fresh water from springs, which should be safe to drink.

And here are the official recommendations for safety:
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR MADEIRA WALKS

ALWAYS BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ACCREDITED GUIDE
BEFORE STARTING OUT MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE UPDATED INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ROUTE.
Be sure to find out how long it will take so that you can finish before nightfall.
Inform another person about your chosen route and your time of return.
Don’t change the program without forewarning the same person.
Take some extra food with you (juice, tinned food, chocolate, dried fruit) warm clothes and a rain jacket.
Carry a flashlight and extra batteries.
Take a mobile telephone with you; even where there is no network connection, dial the emergency number 112 and it will search for another available network.
In case of interruptions on the way due to any obstruction ( or heavy rain or strong winds), turn back using the same route. Do not take risks.
In case of an accident, use the 112 telephone number to alert the authorities immediately. If this is not possible, continue on the route in either direction until you can get through.
Give information on the occurrence, place of the accident, number of persons involved and the probable state of the victims.
Efficient help depends on your providing clear information.

CIVIL PROTECTION

291 700 112

EMERGENCY NUMBER 112

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