If you’re looking for an easy but beautiful hike in Madeira, then the PR11 Vereda dos Balcões is for you! This hike is simple, yet offers unique views and it’s located in one of the most stunning parts of the island of Madeira: the Ribeiro Frio valley!
Planning a trip to Madeira? Check out these posts!
About Vereda dos Balcões (PR11)
Vereda dos Balcões is by far the easiest hike in Madeira. The trail is short and mostly flat, with no particular difficulties along the way. At the end of the hike you will walk on a beautiful balcony while the views open up on the impressive peaks of Madeira.
Vereda dos Balcões is located in the Ribeiro Frio, on the northern side of Madeira. You’re in the heart of deep valley surrounded by a lush, cold and beautiful forest, part of the Parque Natural de Ribeiro Frio. There’s also waterfalls, bridges and other places worth visiting, so make sure to plan your visit accordingly and save some time to explore the valley.
DID YOU KNOW? Ribeiro Frio means cold river in Portuguese, and it’s here that most Canyoning Tours in Madeira are organized.
The total distance for the Vereda dos Balcões hike is just 3-kilometres round-trip. This makes Vereda dos Balcões a great option for those who aren’t particularly interested in doing exhausting hikes, or for those who are looking for a relaxing walk, maybe after an intense hiking day.
How to get to Vereda dos Balcões
The starting point of Vereda dos Balcões is located on the ER 103 road, 17 km north of Funchal. It’s about 35 minutes by car from Madeira’s capital city. Vereda dos Balcões is also easy to reach from the beautiful town of Porto da Cruz, which is just 12km or 20 minutes by car away.
The exact starting point is next to John’s Poncha bar, and you can see it in the map below.
AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE:
There is also a secondary starting point of the trail, which makes the trek even shorter but involve a little incline. This other starting point is located next the Restaurante Snack Bar Faísca, a couple of hundred meters from the previous one.
BY CAR:
The drive to Ribeiro Frio is a very pleasant one. You’ll definitely won’t get bored driving, as the landscapes keep changing over and over for the entire way.
There is a small parking lot between John’s Poncha and the beginning of the trail. However, this spot gets full quickly and those who come later leave their car on the side of the road, as there’s no other option nearby.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
From Funchal, take the bus n°56, bus n°103 or bus n°138 from Funchal to Sao Jorge. This route is operated by the company “Horarios do Funchal“, and you can check its schedule here. Please make sure to check the timetable first, as not every bus stops in Ribeiro Frio.
Vereda dos Balcões – Hike Details
The starting point of the hike is located on the side of the road. You can easily spot the sign indicating “Balcões”, as well as a smaller wooden sign which shows directions to PR11 – Vereda dos Balcões. You really can’t miss this trail.
The whole hike sits at about 860m above sea level, so even though the trail is flat the temperature can be quite low during winter months. Keep that in mind and dress according to the current weather.
The 1.5km trail is very straightforward. After about 800 meters from the beginning of the trail you will also find a small snack bar called “Flor da Selva“, which serves soups (4.50€), omelettes (8€), salads (8€), sandwiches (3-6€), fish and meat (9-14€) and more.
Right after the snack bar you will pass through a a passage carved out of the rocks. Once again there are signs indicating the Viewpoint of the Vereda dos Balcões, so you can’t really miss it.
The final part of the hike swings through the dense forest of Madeira, which hides the surrounding views. Once you reach the end of the trail however, the Balcões reveal an outstanding view over Madeira’s highest peaks.
Here you will also find many cute birds. The shops along the trail sell seeds to feed them, so make sure to stop buy it if you want to interact with them.
Best time to visit
Vereda dos Balcões can be visited year-round. There are no major differences between summer and winter months here. During winter (Dec to Apr), the temperatures are lower and the path can be muddy after it rains.
For what concerns the best time of the day, you want to avoid sunset. That’s because the viewpoint is facing west, which means the mountains will be completely in shade. Morning is the best time to visit Vereda dos Balcões, while mid-day works fine too.
What to do nearby
Try canyoning
Ribeiro Frio is the perfect place to try canyoning! We joined a canyoning tour while in Madeira and we loved every minute. Read more on our full guide.
Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike
The best hike you can do on the island of Madeira. Set off for a lifetime adventure and hike Madeira’s highest peaks. Find everything you need to know on our detailed guide.
Levada do Caldeirao Verde
Our favourite levada trail in Madeira, Levada do Caldeirao Verde is a must when visiting Madeira. You can read more about it on our dedicated post.