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Beautiful Vereda dos Balcoes in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

The Vereda dos Balcoes hike turned out to be one of our favourite viewpoints on Madeira Island. The short but beautiful walk through a fairytale forest is rewarded with an incredible view on the highest peaks of Madeira. From the balcony you’ll have a beautiful view on the Ribeira da Metade valley, the island’s central mountain range and all the way towards the ocean with the Penha D’Águia cliff as another landmark.

The funny thing at Balcoes viewpoint is that there are many chaffinch birds. If you take seeds you can feed the Madeiran chaffinch birds here which are very used to people. But the highlight of Vereda dos Balcoes is without a doubt the incredible view which is in our opinion one of the most beautiful views in Madeira! In this guide you will find all the other information you need before going to the Vereda dos Balcoes viewpoint. What the best time to go is, how to get there and our special ‘photography tips’ section.

Book here your private guided Vereda dos Balcoes hike including transportation

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Vereda dos Balcoes PR 11 key facts 

To be well prepared for the hike to Balcoes viewpoint, below some key facts! 

Hike distance and duration: The Balcoes hike is one of the shortest and easiest walks in Madeira. The total hike is 2,7 kilometre which will take you less than an hour back and forth. Of course the total time you spend at the Balcoes viewpoint is not included in this time. Make sure to calculate at least 20 minutes to spend at the viewpoint, especially on a clear day. It’s just so beautiful, and you definitely want to take it all in. There is also another reason to spend some more time at the Balcony viewpoint, but more about that later in this blog post!

Difficulty and incline: A said before, the Balcoes hike is one of the easiest and shortest hikes on Madeira. There is no incline, the paths are wide, flat, well maintained and clearly marked. It really is a family activity as this walk can be done by young and old. 

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How to get to Vereda Dos Balcoes

Balcoes is located in the Ribeiro Frio forest park which is the starting point of various levada walks. From the main town of the island, Funchal, it is about 50 – 60 minutes driving to the starting point of Vereda dos Balcoes. You can either drive on the highway of the island which is the coastal route, or take the road up the mountains which is 20 kilometers shorter than the highway but with more turns and incline, so in terms of time it doesn’t matter, in terms of kilometres it does. 

Once arrived at the parking area, you will see various restaurants and other facilities which belongs to Ribeiro Frio. This tourist attraction offers lush gardens, trout ponds and a few streams and small waterfalls. Before or after the Balcoes hike you can take a coffee at one of the cafes and make use of the restrooms. You will see that parking is limited here, so it’s very normal to park the car on the street side. 

If you’re short in time and you want to combine as many highlights on Madeira as possible, you can combine sunrise at Arieiro with a visit to the Balcoes viewpoint right after. 

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Best time to go to Balcoes viewpoint

We’ve been on three different times of the day to the Balcoes viewpoint, so we definitely can talk out of experience in what the best time is to visit Balcoes. 

Because Balcoes is located in between the mountains it can get misty between the peaks easily. Our first time visit was an hour before sunset, and even though it cleared up a little bit, we’d never seen the peaks of the mountains that time.

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Our second time visiting Balcoes was during midday when it looked clear up there. But then mist surprised us when entering the Ribeiro Frio forest. It was so thick that we couldn’t see anything, leaving us again with the big question how the view on Balcoes would be on a clear day.

Because we were located for a few months on Madeira we could luckily go for a third time to see if the weather Gods were on our side that time. We choose to go right after sunrise, because going with sunrise didn’t really make sense because you won’t see the sunrise and it’s still too dark in the valley to take pictures.

So we arrived around 8.30 AM and the light was beautiful, but the balcony still a bit in the shade. This might differ per season, our experience was in October. But oh boy what a luck we’ve had that day! There was no-one else around and we had a stunning clear sky with the impressive view on the highest peaks of Madeira! We quickly started to fly the drone and take pictures as long as there were no other people around. Only at about 9.00 AM the first other people arrived at the viewpoint.

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What to expect during the Vereda dos Balcoes hike

The Vereda dos Balcoes hike is one of the shortest but also most popular levada walks on Madeira. The 1,4 kilometre one way takes you through the beautiful Laurissilva Forest and follows Levada da Serra do Faial all the way to the incredible Balcões viewpoint. It can get crowded with people, so the earlier you go, the better. When we went right after sunrise, we were for about 45 minutes alone at the viewpoint. Only around 9 AM people started to arrive at the Balcoes viewpoint. 

Once you’ve parked the car, simply follow the “Balcões” signs to the path. You will slowly make your way deeper into the forest with some beautiful views along the trail. At a certain point you will pass through a narrow pathway accompanied by huge rock walls covered in vines and moss which creates a beautiful natural hallway.

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Despite Vereda dos Balcoes is just a short walk, there is a lot to see if you look around. In specific seasons the flowers along the trail are in bloom and you can spot different kinds of birds. There are a few lookout points along the trail from where you can look down into the valley. 

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The real highlight of this hike is the view from the balcony which is, on a clear day, tremendously stunning. As said before, we had to go three times to get a clear view on the third try. So if you’re the one catching the clear view on your first visit, you can be very lucky! 

From the Balcoes viewpoint you can see the highest peaks of Madeira consisting of Pico Ruivo (1861m) and Pico do Areeiro (1817m). The valley below the balcony is the Ribeira da Metade valley with the island’s central mountain range behind it. If you look to your right you can see all the way towards the ocean with the Penha D’Águia cliff as another landmark.

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The Balcoes birds and cat

Besides the incredible views at Balcoes, there are other fun things to do and see. The little Madeiran chaffinch birds are always around at Balcoes and live in the trees around. They are very used to people and will patiently wait to eat some seeds from your hand. So if you have some nuts or seeds with you, you can feed them right from the balcony! But as with everything involved with animals, please respect their habitat and don’t feed them anything else then little seeds. 

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All the three times we went to Balcoes, we also saw the white grey cat. He was hanging around all the time. Asking for attention from the people, checking out the birds and just enjoying the view. He must be living around, but I don’t know if its a cat from someone or a ‘wild’ cat. But if you see him, give him a hug from me 🙂

Precautions for levada walks and hiking in Madeira

For a safe hiking experience in Madeira it is important to take the following safety precautions. There have been accidents in Madeira on levada walks and in the mountains in the past, which doesn’t directly make hiking in Madeira dangerous. But you do always have to keep in mind that the weather in Madeira can change suddenly. Or that landslides take place, branches can fall or paths can be slippery. In case of any emergency you can call 112.

Below some of our tips for a safe Madeira hiking experience

  • Wear suitable clothes, always bring an extra jacket and put your hiking boots / shoes on with good grip.
  • Take enough water and some snacks with you such as nuts, (dried) fruits etc.
  • Always bring a headlamp on your hikes in Madeira because some of them include walking through a tunnel.
  • Take a whistle with you in case you get lost or slip from the path.
  • Book a qualified guide when you want to be sure on your first levada walk. Most of the levada walks are flat and easy, especially the well known levada’s in Madeira. You can find a detailed description in our blog about the 20 best levada’s in Madeira. But if you prefer a qualified guide next to you when walking in Madeira, you will not only learn more about the nature but you will also be 100% safe and don’t have to worry about navigating your way through the forest.
  • When hiking alone on Madeira, prepare yourself and collect all the updated information about the trail you plan to follow. Are the trails open? No landslides? On the website of Visit Madeira you can find the up to date info of the walks which are open and closed.
  • Calculate the time you’ll need to finish the hike so you’ll be back before dark.
  • Inform the hotel or accommodation you are staying which walk you are going to do.
  • Do not go off the designated path.

Happy hiking!!

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What is a Levada?

If you’re coming to Madeira for the first time, you might question what the word ‘Levada’ actually means. This word specifies the different Madeira hiking trails because they follow the so called levada. But what is the origin of these Levadas and what is their purpose? 

Levadas are little canals of water that wind through the mountains and translates as “carriageway”. These water canals are irrigation systems developed to distribute water from the wetter regions in north Madeira to the drier and sunnier parts in the south where lots of plantations are located. The levadas cover a total distance of about 2500 kilometer from the heart of the Laurissilva forest to the most rocky slopes.

The origin of the levadas goes back to the 15th century when the first canals were created to irrigate the sugarcane plantations. Back then sugar was also known as the “white gold” because it was considered as the main engine of Madeira’s economy in the 15th & 16th century. The narrow water canals have ever since the important task to deliver precious water along far distances to banana plantations, vineyards, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens, as well as to hydro-electric power stations on the island.

But nowadays, the levadas are also a great way to discover Madeira’s stunning nature with landscapes and species of flora and fauna that are unique in the world.

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Best Madeira guided levada tours

If you want to explore some of the best levada walks in Madeira, then it is highly recommended to book a guided tour. Your guide can tell you everything about the flora and fauna, you can’t get lost and you don’t have to worry about any preparation except the right shoes and clothing, All of these tours include air conditioned transport with hotel pick up and drop off, certified guides and sometimes also lunch. You can reserve now and pay later, with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.

Our recommendation of Levada Tours:

General travel must haves for Madeira

Before we dive into some of the best levadas in Madeira, let’s check a few things to make your travels in Madeira easy and safe.

Have you thought about how to get around in Madeira? A car is the easiest way to drive around the island.
Read in our complete guide everything about car hire in Madeira

  • Book your rental car here and compare the providers to get the best deal.
  • Book your scooter or motorbike here to get around in Madeira. Most of the scooters you can drive with driving license (A1/A2/A) from 18 years old, or from 25 years old with a car (B) license. The motorbikes have a minimum age of 20 or 21 with A (moto) license.

Do you prefer a private driver for the day and the freedom to create your own itinerary?

Did you already book your accommodation? 

Are you insured during your travels?

  • Buy your travel insurance here. Safetywing not only includes coverage for travel delay, lost checked luggage, emergency response, natural disasters and personal liability. But also covers all your medical expenses for hospitalisation.

More Madeira travel inspiration

I hope you enjoyed this full guide about the Vereda dos Balcoes hike. You have to be a bit lucky, but on a clear day this viewpoint is one of the best in Madeira! For more Madeira travel inspiration and the must visit destinations, head over to our other blog posts about Madeira island.

50 best things to do in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

40 best photo spots in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

30 best viewpoints in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

30 best hikes in Madeira – The Complete Guide

25 best things to do in Funchal – The Ultimate Guide

25 best waterfalls in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

20 best levada walks in Madeira – The Complete Guide

20 best restaurants in Madeira – The Complete Guide

15 best sunrise viewpoints in Madeira – The Complete Guide

15 best sunset viewpoints in Madeira – The Complete Guide

12 best beaches in Madeira – The Ultimate Guide

12 best Funchal restaurants – The Complete Guide

All about Poncha – The Ultimate Guide about Madeira’s traditional drink

All about Madeira wine – The Ultimate Guide

Car hire Madeira – Everything you need to know

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5 Comments

  1. Hi Ilse,
    thank you for such detailed description of everything needed to know to make most of travel to Madeira 🙂 I just have one question …
    I am looking for levada walks where there aren’t any tunnels on the way, since I have a fear of tunnels. I didn’t find any mention – is there one on the way on Vereda dos Balcoes PR 11 walk? Also, are there any other easy (levada or other) walks with no tunnels and small incline you would recommend?
    Thank you so much!
    Sabi

    1. Hi Sabi, Thank you so much for your kind comment! Vereda dos Balcoes doesnt have a tunnel and with Levada do Rei PR 18, Levada dos Cedros PR 14 and Levada das 25 Fontes PR 6 you are also safe. Levada das 25 Fontes does have some incline, but it’s not that hard. You can detailed guides of these hikes on our blog as well. Wishing you a wonderful time in Madeira!

  2. Marjoleine says:

    Hi ILse, what a beautiful pictures and very special video 👍. We’ve enjoyed watching. The Vereda dos Balcoes hike looks ……. wow !
    And of course we will give the cat a hug when we ever meet him/her😉😊.

  3. What a marvellous place to wander around! Are these photo’s shot with your new Sony’s – they are freaking awesome!

    1. Thanks a lot Glenn!! The pictures are a mix of the Panasonic and Sony pictures, but if you look carefully you can see the difference 😉 With the blue leggings we had our Sony’s, with the black leggings we still had our Panasonics 🙂

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