PR 11 - Vereda dos Balcões

Vereda dos Balcões is a short 1.5 km long trail (+ 1.5 km return), that takes you to enjoy the views from the Balcões Viewpoint. Beginning at regional road ER 103, in Ribeiro Frio, this trail is easy and takes about 1:30 hours alongside Levada da Serra do Faial. The Vereda dos Balcões trail will be an opportunity to come across indigenous and endemic species, offering different shades of green to the Laurissilva forest.

While hiking, pay attention to the tree species of the Lauraceae family and the exotic species distributed along the edges of the trail. At the end of Vereda dos Balcões, you will arrive at the Balcões viewpoint, where you can take a glimpse at a magnificent scenery. You will find valleys covered by the dense green area that characterises the Laurissilva.

From here you can also see the Hydroelectric Power Plant of Fajã da Nogueira and, on clear days, the central mountain range of the island, with Pico do Areeiro, Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo standing out. On the way back from Vereda dos Balcões, on the same trail, you can visit the Ribeiro Frio Forest Park, where you will find the Aquaculture Centre, which includes a rainbow trout nursery.