São Roque do Faial combines specific hiking options with viewpoints and insights into the Laurissilva forest. When planning a Madeira getaway, first consider how much time you have: Vereda dos Balcões is classified as easy and takes about one hour and 30 minutes. The Levada de Baixo e Vereda do Lombo Grande route is moderately difficult and takes three hours and 30 minutes. This lets you match your planned excursions to the time available during your trip.
Two Hikes, Two Timeframes
Vereda dos Balcões is 1.5 km long, with a further 1.5 km for the return journey. It starts on the ER 103 in Ribeiro Frio and leads to the Balcões viewpoint. From there, you can see across the Ribeira da Metade valley and the landscape shaped by the Laurissilva forest. On a clear day, Pico do Areeiro, Pico das Torres, Pico Ruivo and Penha d'Águia are also visible.
The Levada de Baixo e Vereda do Lombo Grande route starts and ends at Residencial San Roque in São Roque do Faial. It covers 3.8 km, with an additional 3.8 km for the return journey. The Levada de Baixo section passes agricultural fields cultivated by local residents. From Lombo Grande, the route continues to the source of Levada do Castelejo. Its longer duration and moderate difficulty offer a different kind of excursion from Vereda dos Balcões. As trail conditions can change, it is advisable to check them before setting out.
Ribeira Frio and the Laurissilva
Several hiking trails start in Ribeiro Frio and pass through the Santana Biosphere Reserve. Among those starting at the Ribeiro Frio viewpoint are PR 10 Levada do Furado and PR 11 Vereda dos Balcões. Parque Florestal do Ribeiro Frio also offers opportunities to observe the flora and fauna typical of Madeira. On Vereda dos Balcões, hikers may encounter native and endemic species in the Laurissilva forest.
The Ribeiro Frio viewpoint is on the ER 103 in São Roque do Faial and offers views of the green mountains on Madeira’s north coast. Other viewpoints have their own distinctive features: Lombo dos Palheiros offers a panorama of the north coast, with imposing mountains in the foreground. From there, you can also see the centre of the municipality of São Roque do Faial and Penha d'Águia. At the Empenas viewpoint, Madeira’s mountains are in view, with the Atlantic Ocean in the background. Empenas can be reached via the road to Achada do Teixeira, shortly after passing Picarouto.
Culture and Regional Context
The area’s cultural history also offers specific points of interest: cedarwood from São Roque do Faial was used for the roof of Funchal Cathedral and the tabernacle of the Church of São Jorge. A watermill still stands in Fajã do Cedro Gordo de Baixo, illustrating a social and cultural aspect of the area.
In June, a festival in honour of São João Batista is held at the chapel in Achada do Cedro Gordo. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the exact dates in advance. Cultural events and historical connections thus complement hiking and nature observation as different ways to shape your stay.
São Roque do Faial is one of six parishes in the Santana area. The hiking trails in the Santana Biosphere Reserve span more than 120 km in total. This regional context complements an overview of the individual local trails and helps put the hikes into the wider context of Santana.
Discover more destinations: Ribeira Da Vaca.
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