Rabaçal Reservoir & Mountain Viewpoint

A Highland Gateway in Western Madeira

Rabaçal lies high on the Paul da Serra, the only extensive plateau on the island of Madeira. This remote mountain basin, reached by a narrow road through the highlands, serves as the staging point for some of the region's most beloved walks. A reservoir and a busy car park sit at the threshold, where visitors gather before heading into the valley below.

The Famous Levada Walks

The site is the launch point for the Levada das 25 Fontes and the Levada do Risco, two of Madeira's most iconic irrigation-channel footpaths. These level trails follow centuries-old water channels carved into the mountainside, leading walkers to cascading waterfalls and spring-fed pools deep within the forest.

Laurisilva and Volcanic Terrain

Below the plateau spreads the Laurisilva of Madeira, a primeval laurel forest recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The surrounding ridges reveal the island's volcanic origins in their steep, weathered basalt slopes, springs and deep ravines that define this protected natural park.

What the Camera Shows

The live view looks out over the mountain reservoir, the access road and the trailhead car park, framed by the open moorland of the high plateau. It offers a constantly changing window onto one of Madeira's premier hiking destinations and the comings and goings of walkers exploring the highlands.