Vereda dos Balcões (PR 11): the short levada walk from Ribeiro Frio
PR 11 follows a levada from Ribeiro Frio to the Balcões viewpoint. The almost flat walk is 1.5 km each way. Book your entry slot online before setting off.
- Status
- OpenOpen. IFCN table dated 14 September 2026 · checked by islandmadeira.com at 18:21 Madeira time.Fetch the current trail status from the IFCN page; one live request per 30 minutes for the whole site, otherwise the last check is shown.
- Length
- 1.5 km (+ 1.5 km back)
- Time on the route board
- 1 h 30
- Highest and lowest point
- 880 m and 870 m
- Start and finish
- Ribeiro Frio (ER103) to Balcões
- Fee
- €4.50 per person, booked onlineBooking on the SIMplifica portal, fees as of 2 June 2026. Free for children aged 12 or under and for residents, with a booking.
- At the start
- parking, toilets, restaurant, bus stop, forest post, information board, trout hatchery (Ribeiro Frio)
- Weather now
- 25.0 °C at Pico do Areeiro, 1,818 mThe nearest IPMA station, observed 14 September 2026 at 17:00, Madeira time
From Ribeiro Frio to Balcões
Start beside the ER103 in Ribeiro Frio. Follow the Levada da Serra do Faial towards Balcões. The viewpoint looks over the Ribeira da Metade valley and the parish of Faial.
Laurisilva forest fills the valleys ahead. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since December 1999. The forest also forms part of the Natura 2000 network.
Look for the Fajã da Nogueira hydroelectric plant. It supplies the municipality of Santana. On clear days you can see the central mountain range and Penha d'Águia.
You might spot Madeira firecrests or Madeira chaffinches. The firecrest is the smallest bird on the island. Trocaz pigeons appear less often. I'd leave some time at the viewpoint to look for birds.
The walk out and back
The board allows 1 h 30. The path stays between 870 m and 880 m. You return to Ribeiro Frio along the same route. I'd pick this walk if you want little change in height.
PR 11 is open. Check the route status before travelling to the start.
Footing and weather
Wear non-slip footwear for a path that can be slippery. Take warm and waterproof clothing. The weather here changes often.
The live reading here comes from the Pico do Areeiro IPMA station. It's the nearest station to this route. Check Madeira's weather before you leave.
Booking the Vereda dos Balcões
Entry costs €4.50 per person. Register on SIMplifica to make the booking online. You can't book or pay at IFCN offices.
Choose a timed entry with places available. You can book for today or tomorrow until the slot fills. There's about 15 minutes of leeway either side of your booked time.
Children aged 12 or under enter free. Madeira residents need their resident card and citizen card for free entry. People with a disability of 60% or more enter free with one companion. Free entry always needs a booking.
A day fee for two or more routes is €9.00. The three-day fee is €22.50. The seven-day fee is €52.50. These options don't include PR 1.
Each route still needs its own reservation during that period. The portal applies the cheapest fee automatically.
Refunds or date changes are possible only when IFCN closes or restricts the route. Rain alone isn't a reason for a refund. Neither is illness or a change of mind. A missed flight means losing the fee too.
Email IFCN with your request within 10 working days. A weather warning doesn't close a trail automatically. Check its status before asking for a refund.
Getting to Ribeiro Frio
There's parking at the start in Ribeiro Frio. A bus stop and toilets are here too. There's a restaurant and a forest post. You can check the information board before walking.
For a taxi, contact Táxis Santana on +351 291 572 540. Back at Ribeiro Frio you'll find the trout hatchery. It raises rainbow trout to restock the island's streams.
On your own or with a tour
A guide is optional on PR 11. The east jeep trip with Balcões includes 60 minutes for the walk. The Santana jeep day allows 30 minutes at Ribeiro Frio and the trout farm. If Balcões is your priority, pick the trip with time for the walk.
Another route from Ribeiro Frio
PR 10 Levada do Furado also starts at Ribeiro Frio. It leads to Portela. See the routes page when planning that walk.
What the route board asks
- The weather changes often: take warm and waterproof clothing.
- The path may be slippery: wear non-slip footwear.
From the IFCN board at the start of the route. Taxis listed on the board: Táxis Santana +351 291 572 540.
4x4 days that stop here
- Madeira 4x4 Jeep Tour : Pico Arieiro & Santana Traditional Houses4x4 day on the east with 60 minutes for the Balcões walk. From €55 per adult, 7 hours to 8 hours. 5.00/5 from 78 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor; on Viator alone 5.0 from 5 reviews.
- Jeep Tour To Santana: Laurissilva Forest Full-Day East-Side4x4 day on the east with 30 minutes at Ribeiro Frio and the trout farm. From €65 per adult, 8 hours. 4.65/5 from 46 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor; on Viator alone 4.8 from 13 reviews.
Routes next door
- Levada do Furado, PR 10Ribeiro Frio to Portela
Questions before you go
How long is the Vereda dos Balcões walk?
Walk 1.5 km from Ribeiro Frio to the viewpoint. The return follows the same path for another 1.5 km. For PR 11 the board allows 1 h 30. Leave some time to look across the valleys.
Is the Balcões walk steep?
No. It follows an almost flat path between 870 m and 880 m. The ground can be slippery. Wear shoes with a non-slip sole. Pack warm clothes and waterproofs for weather that can change often.
Where can I park for the Balcões walk?
Parking is at Ribeiro Frio near the start on the ER103. You'll return here after visiting Balcões. There's a bus stop at the start too. For a taxi to Ribeiro Frio, call Táxis Santana on +351 291 572 540.
Do I need to book the Balcões walk?
Yes. Choose your entry time online with SIMplifica after registering. The fee for PR 11 is €4.50 per person. Children aged 12 or under pay nothing. You'll still need a booking for free entry. Arrive within about 15 minutes of your chosen time.
What can I see from the Balcões viewpoint?
The viewpoint overlooks the Ribeira da Metade valley and Faial. Laurisilva forest covers the valleys. Clear days bring views of the central mountains and Penha d'Águia. Look out for Madeira firecrests and chaffinches too. Trocaz pigeons are a less frequent sight.
Do I need a guide for PR 11?
No. You can follow PR 11 on your own with an entry booking. The jeep trip with Balcões sets aside 60 minutes for this walk. It suits you if you want Balcões as part of a day around eastern Madeira.
Can I get a refund if it rains?
Rain on its own doesn't qualify. A refund or a new date is possible only if IFCN closes or restricts the route. Check the current access status before changing your plans. Send your request to IFCN by email within 10 working days.
Sources
- IFCN, table of classified routes: status and length. IFCN table dated · checked by islandmadeira.com ; re-read every few hours.
- IFCN, route board PR 11 at the start of the route: distance, time, heights, description and cautions, read 14 September 2026.
- IFCN, fees and bookings FAQ, updated 2 June 2026, read 14 September 2026.
- Viator, tour prices, ratings and programmes, as of 13 September 2026.
Who checked this
Roman Antonov, editor. The status comes from the forest service table, the figures from the board at the start of the route and the fee rules from the IFCN FAQ, each with its date above. If something on the ground has changed, tell me.
Tour links go to Viator, where we may earn a commission at no cost to you. It does not change which walks are listed. How we earn.