Santana
PR11 Vereda dos Balcões, the best view for the least effort
The short answer
PR11 Vereda dos Balcões is a short, near-level walk along the Serra do Faial levada from Ribeiro Frio to a balcony viewpoint over the Ribeira da Metade valley. It needs a booked IFCN timeslot like every classified route, and it is sheltered by forest for most of its length.
Trail fee, per person over twelve
€4.50
Booked as a dated timeslot on the SIMplifica portal. Free for ages twelve and under, who still have to be on the booking.
IFCN, 2026 · check it · read August 26, 2026The facts
| Where | Santana |
|---|---|
| Type | Walks and levadas |
| How long | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Cost | €4.50 |
| Best season | Year round, though the named view of the central peaks needs a clear day |
| Permit | Yes — book before you go |
The walk
The path runs 1.5 km, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 each way from Ribeiro Frio on ER 103 to the Balcões viewpoint, and the tourism board gives 1 hour 30 minutes, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 for the round trip. It moves between 870 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 and 880 m, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026, which is flat by any standard and almost unheard of here.
Most of it runs under laurel forest alongside the Serra do Faial channel, which makes it one of the few walks that works in drizzle.
What the viewpoint shows, and when
On a clear day the balcony looks across to Pico do Areeiro, Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo at the head of the Ribeira da Metade valley. That view is the entire reason the walk is famous.
Cloud sits on those peaks often, and when it does the walk is still pleasant and the viewpoint shows nothing. Anyone travelling specifically for the panorama should check the mountain before driving up, because €4.50, source: IFCN, 2026, read August 26, 2026 is not refunded for weather.
What is not perfect about it
The best effort-to-view ratio on the island, which is exactly why it is busy. The view of Pico do Areeiro, Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo that the viewpoint is named for only exists on a clear day; in cloud the balcony looks out at grey. The chaffinches here are habituated to being fed, and feeding them is not a kindness.
Questions people actually ask
How long is the Balcões walk?
1.5 km, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 each way from Ribeiro Frio, and the tourism board gives 1 hour 30 minutes, source: Visit Madeira, read August 26, 2026 for the round trip.
Does PR11 need a permit?
Yes. It is an IFCN Classified Walking Route, so it costs €4.50, source: IFCN, 2026, read August 26, 2026 and needs a dated timeslot booked on SIMplifica before travelling.
Is it a good walk in bad weather?
The path is short and sheltered by forest, so the walking holds up. The viewpoint does not: in cloud there is nothing to see from it.
Where this came from
- IFCN: Percursos Pedestres Classificados — taxas e reservas (FAQ). ifcn.madeira.gov.pt/pt/atividades-de-natureza/percursos-pedes Read August 26, 2026.
- Governo Regional da Madeira: SIMplifica — reserva de percursos pedestres classificados. simplifica.madeira.gov.pt/services/78-82-259 Read August 26, 2026.
- Visit Madeira: PR11 Vereda dos Balcões. visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/nature-seekers/activities/h Read August 26, 2026.