PR 11 - Vereda dos Balcões

This trail begins on regional road ER 103 at Ribeiro Frio. Following the levada da Serra do Faial, it provides access to the Balcões viewpoint, where it offers beautiful panoramic views over the deep valley of Ribeira da Metade and the parish of Faial.
At the Balcões Viewpoint you will encounter a splendid scenery, completely covered by verdant valleys, characteristic of the Laurisilva Forest – classified as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site since December 1999, and an integral area of the Natura 2000 Network.
The Fajã da Nogueira Hydroelectric Power Plant, fully visible from this point, bears witness to the value that this Forest represents for Madeira Island, producing electricity with retained water that supplies the entire municipality of Santana.
On clear days, you can spot the Central Mountain Range of the Island, and the magnificent geological panorama that is the rocky mass of Penha d'Águia.
This is also an ideal location for birdwatching, as there is a great variety of species that stand out at this viewpoint, such as the Bisbis (Regulus ignicapillus madeirensis), the Tentilhão (Fringilla coelebs madeirensis) and the very rare Pombo Trocaz (Columba trocaz trocaz).
On your return to Ribeiro Frio, take the opportunity to discover at the Ribeiro Frio Fish Farm the Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) breeding ponds, whose main objective is trout production for restocking the waterways of Madeira Island.