Travel Guide Ribeiro Frio

Ribeiro Frio ("cold river") has gardens and sow pens. At an altitude of 860 m, it is the starting point of two famous levadas, that of Balcões and that of Portela. You can, by a staircase, reach in 20 minutes the path leading to Balcões, a breathtaking viewpoint on the massifs of the heart of the island (if the weather is clear). From the promontory, you can enjoy the view of the mountains, which sometimes gush out of the mist and then veil themselves for hours on end. The levada to Portela starts just in front of the path to Balcões. This is another popular hike: it is no problem at all. Watch the trout in the levada!