Forest Park of Queimadas, Madeira

We sent a month on the island of Madeira, staying in Santana. Queimadas was our closest mountain and just a five minute drive away. One afternoon we popped up to explore the park and some of the smaller paths around it.

Driving to Queimadas

The road to Queimadas is narrow and bendy and frequently only a single lane for all traffic. The map can be found here.

Queimadas to Caldeirao Verde is a 12km hike and provides one of the most spectacular walks on the island, however if you’re not up for a big walk you can still explore this little park and have fun. Maybe take a picnic and enjoy some of its shorter pathways.

The park of Queimadas which is a Laurisilva forest is an enchanting emerald green, mossy paradise of a tropical rain forest. The forest here is the last surviving area of laurel forest and is protected by being a UNESCO world heritage site. It contains a unique suite of plants and animals, including many endemic species such as the Madeiran long-toed pigeon. Sadly for us, we didn’t see one.

The park offers a forest shelter building which resembles the typical houses of Santana, with thatched roofs. The thick levadas that run through the park give the forest a humid characteristic as well as a peaceful and therapeutic noise.

Parking at Queimadas

I was surprised by just how busy parking was. In the end we couldn’t find a place and had to park further down on the side of the road. However given how many cars were there, there were only two other couples in the park.

I am guessing the other cars were there to complete the PR9 levada walk to Caldeirao Verde. If you’re coming to do this walk, always check the website before hand as it is currently closed due to a landslide.

Parking on the cobbled streets of Queimadas.

The little buildings at Queimadas

At the entrance to the Queimadas park there is a traditional thatched house/shelter ( Casa de Abrigo das Queimadas) intended for the rangers but there’s also a smaller building that houses the WC’s. Take some small change as I think you need to pay.

The rangers house.

The rangers house with the levada at the front of the park.

A thatched WC!

Thatched house of Queimadas.

House at Queimadas.

Queimadas house in the park.

The Levadas

There are plenty of levadas and smaller but engineered waterfalls running through the park. The park has ample seating for picnics.

The levada at the front of the house.

Levadas at Queimadas.

Levada near the picnic area

Waterfall behind the house

More waterfall

Our youngest exploring the levadas and park

Exploring the woods at Queimadas

The woods run directly behind the houses and have a number of small paths connecting them all. They are dark and mossy but not slippy. An excellent area for hide and seek or tag.

Exploring the pathways

Back of the house in the woods

Playing tag

Picnic areas at the back of the house

Looking into the levadas

following a path to nowhere

We decided to follow a sign that said ‘miradouro’ or ‘lookout point. It literally translates to ‘gazebo’ but given we’ve never found a gazebo when following these signs around Madeira, I’d hazard a guess at it meaning lookout point!

Many of the levadas on this route ran dry and the paths are frequently mossy but dry and not slippy.

On our route we discovered some sort of dry, water chamber overlooked by a shed. There were NO signs anywhere to explain this so I am going to guess it once formed a pond of some sort and a bird hide. Maybe only open in the summer?

Mossy green floor

A dry levada

Pathways

Some sort of pond?

Queimadas pathways

The view from the miradouro

The miradouro is about 1km from the houses and gives great views over the valley towards Faial and the Atlantic.

Miradouro of faial

Queimadas miradouro

Looking out over Faial.

Let’s walk further

As the path carried on further we decided to follow it, wondering where it led out.

The path that led to nowhere.

Potential mud slide at Queimadas.

Almost the end of the path.

The end of the path.

The path became more overgrown with the bank verges above us looking more and more unsteady and finally the path ran out. Overgrown with brambles, rocks and moss, we could go no further.

So we headed back down, a little disappointed that our walk was cut short.

Walking back down past the miradouro.

Smaller pathway leading back down to the house

What else can you do for free on Madeira?

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