Located in São Jorge, in the northern part of the island, this levada walk is easy and flat.
It starts at the water treatment station of Quebradas, and ends at the source of the Levada in Ribeiro bonito, a small river located on the heart of the forest, in a deep valley with luxuriant Laurisilva forest.
The first part of the trail follows the levada through introduced exotic species of flora, and offers spectacular views of the São Jorge valley and Santana agricultural lands. After the midway point of the trail, the flora changes and you can experience a spectacular area of native forest which is well developed and rich in natural biodiversity.
There is also a short tunnel carved by hand by the locals in the making of this levada, evidence of the valuable cultural heritage of the island.
Ribeiro Bonito at the end of the walk is a sanctuary amongst nature, where the island´s endemic flora can be seen at its highest expression. Its location and isolation leaves you with the sensation of having gone back in time to the discovery of the island.
In this pure environment you will see centenary Madeira laurels (Ocotea foetens), the laurel trees (Laurus novocanariensis), the Lily of The Valley Tree (Clethra arborea), and birds like the firecrest (Rugulus ignicapillus maderensis), the trocaz pigeon (Columba trocaz, pombo torcaz, Madeira Laurel Pigeon), the common buzzard (Buteo Buteo), and the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs maderensis).