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Explore Madeira

📡 Today's status

The IFCN's official status, read every day. Green only when the IFCN writes « aberto » with no reserve.

● Open · ABERTO

The easiest walk in the Laurissilva: 1.5 km almost flat (870 – 880 m) from the ER 103 at Ribeiro Frio to the Balcões viewpoint, and 1.5 km back, about 1:30 in all. The path follows the Levada da Serra do Faial between native and endemic species — laurel-family trees on one side, exotic species along the edge on the other. At the end, the balcony overlooks valleys entirely covered by native forest, with the Fajã da Nogueira hydroelectric plant below and, on clear days, the central range: Pico do Areeiro, Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo in a row. On the way back, the Ribeiro Frio forest park houses the aquaculture centre and its rainbow-trout nursery. Continuous shade, a wide path: ideal with children or as a first contact with the UNESCO-listed forest.

Highlights

  • Balcões viewpoint
  • View of the three peaks
  • Ribeiro Frio trout
  • Flat and family-friendly
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1.5 km
Elevation gain
10 m
Duration
1:30 (round trip)
Price
€4.50 (over 12) · SIMplifica booking · free for residents and under-13s
Municipality
Santana
🎟️ Book on SIMplifica🗺️ See the route on the map📍 Start🏁 End

Track for guidance only.

Places within 2 km of the route

  • 🌿 Nature

    Parque Florestal do Ribeiro Frio (Posto Aquícola)

    The Ribeiro Frio forest park, in Santana, shows the flora of Madeira's original forest: laurel, folhado, til, vinhático and endemics such as isoplexis, massaroco, estreleiras and the mountain orchid; the firecrest, chaffinch and trocaz pigeon, all endemic, can be seen. The Posto Aquícola has bred rainbow trout since 1960 to restock the island's streams — renovated in 2019, it receives thousands of visitors a year; entry costs €3 for those over 12. Start of PR 10 Levada do Furado and PR 11 Vereda dos Balcões; frequent fog.

    Park free · trout farm €3 over 12
    🗺️ See it on the map
  • 🌿 Nature

    Parque Florestal das Feiteiras (Poiso)

    At Chão das Feiteiras, in the Poiso area — one of the places most visited by Madeirans, on the road to Pico do Areeiro — a wide upland plain whose relief allows the organised grazing of a flock of sheep, within the Poiso forest perimeter (municipality of Machico). Several picnic areas with tables, benches, fountains and fireplaces, with spots for your own stove, a camping area and public parking; no toilets or catering, public-transport access possible.

    🗺️ See it on the map
  • 🔭 Viewpoint

    Miradouro do Ribeiro Frio

    On the ER 103, in the parish of São Roque do Faial, the Ribeiro Frio lookout overhangs the site of the same name, in the heart of the northern Laurissilva: laurel, folhado, til, vinhático. Frequent fog gives the landscape its enigmatic aura. It is the starting point of PR 10 Levada do Furado and PR 11 Vereda dos Balcões, where you meet the Madeira firecrest, the Madeiran chaffinch and, more rarely, the trocaz pigeon.

    🗺️ See it on the map
  • 🔭 Viewpoint

    Miradouro dos Balcões

    The balcony over the Ribeira da Metade valley, a picture of monumental proportions dominated by the greens of the Laurissilva; on clear days, the central massif with Pico do Areeiro, Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo, and Penha d'Águia. You reach it by the Vereda dos Balcões (PR 11), 1.5 km almost flat from Ribeiro Frio along the Levada da Serra do Faial — access €4.50 with SIMplifica booking — among endemic laurels (laurel, til, vinhático, folhado) and exotic broadleaves such as oak and plane. The endemic chaffinches readily come close to visitors. The lookout itself has no fee.

    🗺️ See it on the map