PR 11 | Vereda dos Balcões

Starting from Ribeiro Frio, this short hike follows the Levada de Serra do Faial and leads to the Balcões viewpoint with a superb panorama of the Ribeira da Metade and Faial valley. Vereda dos Balcões is a modest-sized trail, totaling 1.5 kilometers one way (3 kilometers round trip), which offers you the opportunity to admire the scenery from the Balcões viewpoint. Starting from regional road no. 103 in Ribeiro Frio, this easy-to-hike trail, with an approximate duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes, follows the route of the Levada da Serra do Faial.

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Arriving at the Balcões viewpoint, you will discover a beautiful landscape, completely covered by the characteristic green valleys of the Laurisilva Forest, which is part of the Natura 2000 Network. This forest plays an important role as a 'water generator.'

The Balcões hike is located in the heart of the Ribeiro Frio forest park, where you can observe the typical fauna and flora of the Laurisilva forest. The first thing that will strike you is undoubtedly the characteristic scent of the place. On each of our visits, the laurels, lichens, ferns, and mosses welcomed us with that beloved forest floor scent.

With a bit of luck, you may spot the Madeiran firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus maderensis), the Madeiran chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs maderensis), the Madeiran buzzard (Buteo buteo harteti), and the Madeiran wood pigeon (Columba trocaz). When the weather allows, you can catch a glimpse of the central mountain range, where the island's peaks stand out, including Pico Ruivo, Pico do Areeiro, Pico do Gato, and Pico das Torres.