This was my last full-day walk, and this walk included the absolute top moment on this trip. This walk takes place around Rabaçal which is not village, but only a house. Rabaçal is a further afield from Funchal, and it took me a while to figure how to get there on my own, but this the way to do it: Take a Rodoeste bus to Arco da Calheta (you may have to change busses in Ribeira Brava). When in Arco da Calheta stay on the bus until the sign says that you have entered the next village Loreto. In Loreto you can see taxis outside some houses. I went into a café, and the café owner proved to double as a taxi driver. You take the taxi to Rabaçal and agree with the taxi driver when he will pick you up. It will set you back €25-30, but it's worth it.
Once the taxi had dropped me off at the parking lot, I walked the small road down to Rabaçal's house which is a "nature spot café". From here I first walked along the Levada to 25 Fontes, which leads to a place known as 25 fontes, which is very popular. Going back, there is a shortcut that takes up a level or two that took me up to Levada to Risco, which lead me to the lower of the Risco falls. I then walked back to the Rabaçal house and had a break. I then took path labeled 6.2, which did not follow any levada, and which was more interesting as it went up and down (mostly up), until I could walk down to Lagoa do Vento at the upper Risco fall – and that was the really magic moment! From here there was an ascent of 300 metres up to another levada that is about the same level as the parking lot.
If you are short on time, I would recommend that you only walk path PR6.2, nevermind the fame of 25 Fontes. In one way, it make sense to walk in the opposite direction, so that you can end with a coffee at Rabaçal and the uphill along the road is more gentle. On the other hand, given how slippery the path is, you will find it safer to walk it uphill.
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