PR 6.6 - Vereda do Túnel do Cavalo

The trail begins at the Caldeira leisure area (also called "Garagem"), located on Estrada Dr. Roberto Monteiro, and ends at Casa do Rabaçal, a meeting point for visitors coming and going from the various hiking trails in Rabaçal.

For the first eight hundred meters, the trail follows the forest path until it reaches the Túnel do Cavalo, also known as Furado Novo or Furado das 25 Fontes.

It is through this tunnel, whose construction began in 1863 and was completed in mid-1877, that water collected from Ribeira dos Cedros and 25 Fontes is transported via the Levada Nova do Rabaçal or das 25 Fontes to the municipality of Calheta, supplying the Calheta hydroelectric power station, providing water for the population, and irrigating agricultural land.

After crossing the tunnel, approximately eight hundred meters long, the trail continues along the Levada das 25 Fontes until you find, on the right, the stairway that will lead you to Casa do Rabaçal. If you choose to continue along the Levada das 25 Fontes, it will take you to Rabaçal's flagship attraction – the 25 Fontes lagoon.

At the Rabaçal site, take the opportunity to visit the Centro de Receção do Rabaçal, where you can discover, through permanent exhibitions, the history of Madeira's levada construction, particularly those of Rabaçal, as well as information about Madeira's Laurissilva forest, classified as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since December 1999.