PR 11 – Vereda dos Balcões
The Bird Sanctuary
Distance
1.5 km (Return)
Durée de l'accord
45 minutes
Difficulté
Très facile
Statut
✅ OUVERT
🕐 Meilleure période pour visiter
💡 Conseil de pro : This is a massive tour bus stop. If you arrive at 11:30, you will be walking in a line. Go early (08:30) to have the birds and the view to yourself.
⚠️ Niveau de difficulté technique
Why Hike Vereda dos Balcões?
Les PR 11 is the highest reward for the lowest effort on Madeira. In less than 20 minutes of flat walking, you reach one of the island’s most spectacular viewpoints.
It offers a direct line of sight into the deep Ribeira da Metade valley, framed by the highest peaks (Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo). Plus, it is famous for the friendly Poussinets (Tentilhões) that land on your hand.
Carte des sentiers
From Ribeiro Frio (Restaurant) to the Balcony Viewpoint.
Guide étape par étape
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1
Ribeiro Frio (Départ)
Park on the roadside in Ribeiro Frio. The trail starts on the left side of the road (if driving uphill), marked by a large sign.
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2
The Forest Walk
The path is wide and flat, winding through ancient Laurel and Mahogany trees. It is shaded and cool.
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3
The Balcony
You arrive at the “Balcões” (Balcony). It is a railed stone platform jutting out over the valley.
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4
Le retour
Return exactly the same way. Stop at the souvenir shops in Ribeiro Frio for a Poncha or coffee.
📸 Les meilleurs endroits pour prendre des photos
Hold out your hand with a few seeds. Be patient. Capture the moment a Chaffinch lands on your fingers.
On a clear day, the view of the central mountain range (Pico Ruivo) rising out of the green valley is majestic.
The forest here is dense and humid. The tree trunks are covered in moss and ferns, creating a magical green atmosphere.
Installations et commodités
Comment s'y rendre
Drive up the ER 103 from Funchal or Santana until you reach the small settlement of Ribeiro Frio.
🛑 Avertissement de stationnement
Parking is strictly roadside and limited. Police often ticket cars parked on yellow lines or blocking the bus lane. Be careful.
Le point de vue du conducteur
🚘 Busy Mountain Road
Beautiful but congested.
Notre recommandation de location : Because parking is tight, a **Small Car** (like a Fiat Panda or Renault Clio) is much easier to squeeze into a gap between two buses. This is Madeira Island has plenty of compact options.
Matériel essentiel
- Baskets : No hiking boots needed. The path is flat dirt.
- Veste : Ribeiro Frio is often 5-10°C colder than Funchal.
- Seeds: Only if you want to feed the birds responsibly.
🍹 Après la randonnée : où manger ?
Restaurante Ribeiro Frio
Located right at the start. It is famous for its fresh trout (farmed right across the street) and tomato soup. It has a cozy fireplace for cold mountain days.
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