Balcões is one of the most popular sights in Madeira. A small viewing platform with railings rises on a high rock promontory above a deep wooded valley and offers spectacular views of Madeira's mountainous interior.
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Often the view is obscured by fog, but if you're lucky you'll be able to see the highest peaks on the island - the entire ridge from Pico Arieiro (1,818m) to Pico das Torres (1,847m) and Pico Ruivo (1,861m) to Pico das Pedras (1,302m).
The balconies are reached by a 1.5 km long flat path called Vereda dos Balcões (marked PR 11), which starts near the trout breeding station in the Ribeiro Frío reserve and takes the average trained hiker no more than 45 minutes one way.
There is a free car park at the start of the route, as well as a bus stop for lines 56, 103 and 138 running between Funchal, Faial and Santana, see timetables: horariosdofunchal.pt.
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