Pico

This short circular route begins in the garden at the centre of Prainha do Norte.

First climb up a lane which crosses small cultivated fields until you come to a tunnel, which leads to a path called the “Caminho da Ribeira de Nossa Senhora”, where there is a group of houses, most of which have been abandoned, lying on the opposite bank of the stream which runs alongside the path. Beautiful stone bridges have been built across the stream, giving access to the first houses built in this area, which today are part of the Non-movable Heritage of Pico Island.

This route begins in the central highlands of the island, next to the road of Estrada Transversal.

Start the route on the asphalt road which leads to Lagoa do Capitão [Capitan’s Lake]. Visit the lake and then take the dirt trail on the right. This path is flanked by endemic species, especially large Azores junipers (Juniperus brevifolia).

After 3 km, the trail will skirt the Piquinho Summit, with views over the north coast of the island.

This small circular route begins near an old bridge close to the Igreja Matriz de São Roque [São Roque Mother Church]. Start by going up the asphalt road and, after 80m, turn right onto a cobbled steep road near a stream.

During this initial climb, you will come across several old mills.

After 1.2 km, you turn right on the asphalt road and walk for 700m, enjoying the views to the village of São Roque.

Turn right once and descend along a watercourse and on narrow path, alongside a small wall, to the beginning of this route.

This small circular route on the south coast begins and ends in the harbour area, in front of the church of São Sebastião, from 1852, in Calheta do Nesquim, village with a rich tradition in the history of Azorean whaling. It is possible to visit here the House of Whaling Boats, nowadays transformed in a local museum of high cultural interest.

Along the way and whenever the trail follows along tarmarc roads, walk carefully and on the side of the road. It is advisable to follow the clockwise direction to better profit the views. 

This short trail begins at the Terra Alta viewpoint, between the parishes of Ribeirinha and Santo Amaro and ends in the centre of Santo Amaro. It starts with a footpath which leads down through a wood, where Victorian box (Pittosporum undulatum) is the predominant species. On the way you will come across the remains of vineyard corrals and small bridges of carved stone which indicate the importance that this route once had when it was the main link to Ponta da Ilha.

This linear route connects the village of Candelária to the place of Areia Larga, municipality of Madalena.

This route starts at the Quay of Calhau in the village of Piedade in the east of ​​the island.

Start by climbing the asphalt road for 200m and turn left on to the lane that passes through the 1854 Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Cima da Rocha [Chapel of Our Lady of the Rock]. Then follow the markings on the ground for about 2 km which will lead you through vineyards and past old houses.

This trail starts next to the lane of Caminho das Lagoas in the central highlands of the island.

After walking 500m along the lane turn right to along a shortcut near Cabeços do Mistério. After 1km you will descend on to a narrower path which has denser vegetation. Note the presence of an important group of the endemic Euphorbia stygiana and large stretches of Sphagnum here.

This trail begins at Miraguaia (Santa Luzia), ends at the Church of Santa Luzia and takes around 3h.

It begins on a descent to the sea on a path through a landscape of vineyards, part of UNESCO World Heritage, and goes as far as Lajido. On the way you will see many signs of track marks left in the lava by the ox carts that used to carry wine.

In Lajido a visit to the museum is worthwhile and there are some interesting geological formations to be seen in the area.