Queimadas Forest Park & Casa das Queimadas

Hike, Historic Building and National Park in Santana (Madeira)

Casa Das Queimadas
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Patrice78500

The Queimadas Forest Park is located in Santana. It is a gem of extraordinary natural beauty, home to lush laurel forests, breath-taking waterfalls, and a diverse array of flora and fauna, the park draws in visitors from around the globe. The park is the starting point of the PR 9 – Caldeirão Verde Levada Walk and walking trial that allows access Pico das Pedras.

The park also houses the picturesque Casa das Queimadas. This charming house resembles something out of a fairy tale, featuring typical Santana house architecture and a thatched roof. Surrounded by lush greenery, it adds a delightful touch to any photograph. Constructed in the early 20th century, Casa das Queimadas was completed by 1948, a fact confirmed by Max Römer’s mid-19th-century painting. The house’s construction is intricately linked to the earlier establishment of the Caldeirão Verde levada at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The interior of the house is adorned with furniture dating back to the 1940s. Initially serving as a shelter for 20th-century forest visitors, Casa das Queimadas has evolved into an authentic Madeira experience for today’s explorers.  Recent renovations in the forest have vastly improved infrastructure for walkers and tourists, offering 50 parking spots with enhanced signposting and accessibility. Adjacent to the main house, there’s a smaller structure now transformed into a cafeteria—a perfect spot for a rejuvenating break before embarking on your walk.

Entry to Casa das Queimadas is free for those under 12, while visitors aged 12 and above are charged a nominal fee of two euros, providing an affordable opportunity to immerse themselves in the authentic charm of Madeira.

How to get to Queimadas Forest Park?

From the town of Santana, a small 3 km long road with an upward slope, which runs along the Levada da Silveira, leads us to a small car park and to the forest shelter, whose roof is made of thatch, a specificity of the old houses found in Santana. (Beware of the prices charged). A picnic area is also available here.

From Funchal, it takes about 40 minutes by car to reach the park, via the VR1 motorway which runs along the south-east coast, then VE1. Alternatively, you can take the ER103 road (approx. 1 hr), which takes you through the Funchal Ecological Park, as well as the Ribeiro Frio Natural Park.

Walk Levada da Silveira to Queimadas Forest Park

Levada da Silveira is one of the county’s oldest levadas, albeit one of the less-travelled routes. This 10 Km trail will take between 3-4 hours to walk but promises a delightful journey through a landscape enriched by diverse vegetation, making it a truly magnificent walk. At the onset of the trail, you’ll encounter introduced vegetation, and as you progress through the middle section, the path unfolds into the endemic vegetation of the laurel forest, featuring species like Laurel, Heather, and Uveira. The varied flora adds to the allure of the surroundings, creating a unique and immersive experience. As you traverse the route, relish the expansive vistas that open up, providing breath-taking views of different locales within the municipalities of Santana, São Jorge, and Ilha. The Levada da Silveira culminates at Ribeira dos Arcos, offering a perfect spot for a well-deserved break and a chance to regroup before retracing your steps along the same path. Along the Ribeira, you’ll encounter a few small lagoons, providing refreshing spots to cool off and rejuvenate. Take advantage of these natural resting points, enhancing the overall enjoyment of your journey along the Levada da Silveira.

The cheapest way to get from Funchal to Parque Forestal de Queimadas is to catch a bus to CAM da Silveira 7A, Santana, Portugal, Santana which costs £3 – £4 and takes 1h 49m. You would then need to walk up Levada da Silveira.

 

 

 

The Queimadas Forest Park & Casa das Queimadas appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Santana (Madeira)!

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Visiting Queimadas Forest Park & Casa das Queimadas

Address: Parque Florestal das Queimadas, Levada do Caldeirão Verde, Portugal
Duration: 3 hours
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