Can we call these the most beautiful cliffs of Madeira? It is fantastically beautiful, the São Lourenço walk, let's leave it at that. Ponta de São Lourenço is located on the peninsula in the east of Madeira. You start at Ponta de São Lourenço and end at the Ponta do Furado viewpoint. Beautiful views during the entire walk, and it is not even that difficult. You can walk it in 2,5 hours (only the last part is steeper, which is tough with 25 degrees of sun on your head). 

The following applies to this walk, as to several of Madeira's sights: it can be a lot busier in the morning than in the afternoon. In the afternoon it also cools down a bit and there is often a breeze, so it's a great walk. Even though this walk is not very strenuous; It's better to leave the flip-flops at home.

Vereda dos Balcões is a very simple, but also beautiful walk. With a bit of luck you park the car in the parking lot, but if it is already full, you park it along the road (do as the locals do). It is 1,5 kilometers to Balcões viewpoint (and 1,5 kilometers back). We walked it in our flip-flops and were back at the car after just over an hour. Before the start of the hiking trail there is a small tent where you can get coffee, beer and a boiled egg, but we would save the appetite for during the hike. After about 500 meters (or so) there is a small hut at the edge of the path, with small seats made from pallets and with views over the surroundings. Very cute, very nice.

At the viewpoint you have birds that have become so used to walkers that they sometimes come and sit on your hand or shoulder (sometimes there is a little bird seed, and that helps too).

Vereda dos Balcões is a good stop on the way to Pico do Arieiro.