THE WONDERS OF VALE DO RABAÇAL

A new road makes it easier to reach Rabaçal, where some of the most beautiful landscapes of Calheta can be found

It is no secret that some of the most beautiful landscapes in Madeira can be found in the municipality of Calheta. The island's westernmost area is home not just to some unique nooks and crannies but also to visitors who come and stay here throughout the year, specially during summer.

Part of the beauty that seduces them is concentrated in Rabaçal, one of Madeira's largest accessible valleys. The valley collects some of the isle's most sought footpaths, unique landscapes right at the heart of the Laurel Forest, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.

One of the best-known paths is Levada das 25 Fontes, which includes a tunnel and wonderful landscapes, and which will let you admire a variety of species endemic to the Region. The watercourse ends in a magnificent lagoon, where several springs drain, forming waterfalls.

The water may be cold by Madeira's standards, but a swim is still quite doable.

Still in the valley, at a higher altitude, we find Lagoa do Vento. Though not as well-known as Levada das 25 Fontes, this path also walks through the Laurel Forest and passes by spots that invite you to go for a swim, specially during Summer.

Levada do Alecrim is yet another path that can be explored in Rabaçal, finishing at another attraction: Lagoa da Dona Beija.

A much better-known course would be Levada da Rocha Vermelha, famed for its tunnels sculpted by hand to allow for the transportation of water. A stairway with more than two hundred steps allows you to take in the might of the water, truly one of this course's standout features.

Also in Rabaçal you find Risco, a shorter and quieter course which is much sought for

its ease of access, even to families with small children. Its Portuguese name refers to the streak drawn by the tall, winding waterfall that rains down the vale.

All of these paths are now more accessible thanks to a new road that connects the parish of Calheta to Paul da Serra. This forest road was renovated as a means to contribute to the preservation and protection of the forest, with a tank having been built to support firefighters and a firebreak set up to prevent wildfires. Part of this five-kilometrelong road is paved. Its name is Rua Dr Roberto Monteiro.

Carlos Teles, mayor of the Town Hall of Calheta, confesses that to them, this is 'a dream come true'.

Given its attributes and layout, the road was worth the effort since it adds to the

beauty of the course, the mayor stresses. At the end of the course, in Paul da Serra, you can benefit from the transportation down the valley of Rabaçal made available by the Town Hall of Calheta.

You can park in the ER 105 road and will immediately find the vans that offer this service to Casa Florestal do Rabaçal for a fee. The alternative would be to walk your way down.

But being in touch with Nature is not the only reason to visit Calheta. The good weather brings over visitors throughout the year, but it is mostly during people's vacations that there is a bigger affluence to all the parishes. From Arco da Calheta to Ponta do Pargo, between the sea and the mountains, there is much to be enjoyed here.

Beyond a multitude of restaurants, amusement sites and cultural and sports facilities, the west area of the island also offers a wide array of reference accommodation and a whole variety of attractions, as well as beaches and areas with access to the sea sporting unique features.