PR 6.7 – Câmara de Carga
The Hydro-Electric History Trail
Distance
1.8 km (One Way)
Duration
45m
Difficulty
Easy
Status
✅ OPEN
🕐 Best Time to Visit
💡 Pro Tip: This is a short, educational detour from the main Rabaçal area. It is perfect if you have 1 hour to kill while waiting for friends finishing the longer hikes.
⚠️ Technical Difficulty Rating
Why Hike Câmara de Carga?
The PR 6.7 is unique because it focuses on the incredible engineering of Madeira’s water system. You follow the “Levada do Paul” as it collects water from the high plateau.
You end at a massive concrete tank where the water disappears into huge pipes. From the edge, you have a vertiginous view down the steep pipeline slope to the Calheta Hydro-Electric station far below.
Trail Map
From Rabaçal Parking (Top) along Levada do Paul.
Step-by-Step Guide
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1
Rabaçal Top Parking (Start)
Start at the main ER 105 parking. Instead of going down the road, look for the sign PR 6.7 heading West along the high levada.
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2
The Levada do Paul
The path is flat and wide, following the Levada do Paul. You are walking on top of the plateau, surrounded by yellow gorse bushes.
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3
The Tank (Finish)
You arrive at the “Câmara de Carga,” a large fenced water reservoir. Walk around it to see the intake pipes.
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4
The Pipeline View
Look over the railing (carefully!) to see the black pipes plunging almost vertically down the mountain towards the ocean.
📸 Best Photo Spots
The geometric shapes of the concrete tank against the wild, chaotic nature of the Rabaçal valley make for interesting photos.
Cows often graze freely along this levada. They are usually gentle and make for great “rural Madeira” shots.
The view following the pipeline down to the Calheta coast gives a real sense of the island’s steep scale.
Facilities & Amenities
How to Get There
Start at the Rabaçal Parking (ER 105). This trail starts at the same place as 25 Fontes but heads in a different direction along the top edge.
🛑 Easy Add-On
This trail is flat and short. It is the perfect “warm-up” or “cool-down” walk if you have extra energy after doing the main valley hikes.
The Driver’s Perspective
🚘 Standard Rabaçal Access
Park high, stay high.
Our Rental Recommendation: Because you don’t go down steep hills on this specific hike, any car works. However, getting to the parking lot still requires climbing the mountain. A Compact SUV gives you good visibility over the bushes on the drive up.
Essential Gear
- Sunscreen: You are fully exposed on the plateau with zero shade.
- Hat: The wind can be strong up here near the tank.
- Water: No cafes on this short route.
🍹 After the Hike: Where to Eat?
O Precipício
Drive 10 minutes west towards “Raposeira”. This restaurant lives up to its name (“The Precipice”) with a balcony hanging over the ocean view of Calheta/Paul do Mar. Great grilled fish.
