São Miguel

Begin this walk at Ribeira Grande hot springs, going down the asphalted road and turn left heading Lombadas/Monte Escuro until you find a pipeline.

Continue left on the asphalted road and turn right, transpose a wall and follow along the way to gain access to the Fajã do Redondo Dam.

This roundtrip linear route until Rocha da Relva allows the hiker to visit one of the few detrital fajãs (cliffs) of São Miguel. Go down along a paved road until the first detour on the left, towards Rocha do Cascalho.

This trail, on the North coast of the island, connects the villages of Lomba da Maia to Maia, passing by one of the most beautiful natural beaches of the archipelago, Viola beach. Begin the trail at the center of the village, in front of the church Igreja Nossa Senhora do Rosário and follow the marks through the interior of the island towards the sea.

This linear roundtrip until the banks of Lagoa do Fogo begin in a dirt road that accesses farming lands and pastures. During the climb you will pass by the ruins of an ancient factory where fibers were produced from a plant introduced, the New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax).

Continue climbing until you reach a fork, follow right by a wood of Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), until you arrive to a Levada (an irrigation channel), on which the trail proceeds. It is advisable to wear proper shoes due to the presence of muddy areas on the extension of the Levada.

This circular route at Ribeira Funda (Fenais da Ajuda), begins near the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Aflição. Go down the tarred road until you reach a fork. Here, follow left by the pasture side until the entrance of a wood of Japanese Cedars (Cryptomeria japonica), Australian Cheesewood (Pittosporum undulatum), Fayatree (Morella faya), Cabaceira (Pericallis malvifolia), among others.

This trail begins near Mata do Canário, East part of the Sete Cidades ridges, and ends at the village.

Walk down the dirt road to your right until you reach the tarmac road. Turn left, continue along the aqueduct, known as Muro das Nove Janelas, rebuilt in 1830 in order to supply Ponta Delgada.

Proceed ahead by an ascending dirt road, with japanese cedars (Cryptomeria japonica) on the left side. Go up the hillside until you reach the first viewpoint to Sete Cidades lakes, Pico da Cruz.

This circular route in Furnas begins at the parking place, at the entrance of the village, near Largo das Três Bicas.

Follow the marks along the village, passing by Igreja de Santana and Poça da Dona Beija until you reach a crossroad where you should continue towards Pico do Milho. From the top of this elevation it is possible to profit the view over the valley of Furnas.

This small circular route in Faial da Terra begins near the bus stop. Go up the asphalted road until the fork where you should continue straight by a dirt road, always along the left bank of the stream. Along the trail, the vegetation is thicker, with the Australian Cheesewood (Pittosporum undulatum) and the Australian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) as predominant species.

Along the trail there are several orchards on both banks of the creek, belonging to small family farms. We ask the hikers not to pick fruits along this track.

This circular route along the tea plantations begins at the parking place of the Gorreana tea factory.

Working since 1883, it is the oldest tea plantation in Europe. The used plant – Camellia sinensis – for the green and black tea, was introduced in the island in 1750, brought by the ships returning from the East.

Carefully cross the gate on the way out of the factory towards the gate accessing the tea plantations.

This circular route northwest of the island, in João Bom (Pilar da Bretanha), begins at the Regional Road, on a resting place. Go down along the road and follow the marks on your left, passing by a minimarket. Further ahead you will find a little Chapel on your left side and finally the street Rua da Relvinha on your right, where you should follow.