Madeira's Levada do Caldeirão, advertised as a 'caminho para todos' (way for all) for people with motor and visual disabilities, has been put to the test by a hiker with a paralysed leg. The 1.9km trail, which runs between Parque Florestal das Queimadas and Pico das Pedras at an altitude of 870-890m, is promoted by the Visit Madeira website as offering accessible nature experiences.
The trail, one of over 200 Levada paths spanning 3,000km across the island, features compact earth pathways with wooden railings along the entire length. However, the hiker, who uses crutches and a leg brace, found that while 90 per cent of the path was solid and obstacle-free, the remaining 10 per cent consisted of thick mud patches that required careful navigation. Wheelchair tracks in the mud suggested previous users faced similar challenges.
Despite these issues, the trail offers accessible facilities at the start, including a large car park, toilets, and a café. The hiker noted that simple improvements such as raised aluminium pathways or concrete sections could resolve the muddy patches and fully deliver on the 'way for all' promise. The trail is described as about as accessible as nature allows, with clear wooden railings and largely solid ground.
Madeira has made broader strides in accessibility, with modern buses featuring ramps, adapted taxis, and specialist tour companies like Madeira Accessivel by Wheelchair and Wheelchair Accessible Madeira offering half-day or full-day tours. Another 'caminho para todos', the 1.2km Levada do Paul II to the west, provides an additional option for mobility-limited explorers.
