Lagoa das Furnas - São Miguel PRC06 SMI

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.

Proceed along the road until you arrive to Lagoa of Furnas and follow left, by the cobblestone road, going round the lake. Along this way you will cross the Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias, a gothic construction from the 19th century, the garden Mata Jardim José do Canto and by the house Casa dos Barcos (Rural Tourism). Further ahead you will find the Furnas Environmental Interpretation Centre and the surrounding area with several leisure places, ruins of ancient ovens of coal production and the biggest classified norfolk island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) in Europe.

Follow the road along the lake bank, through a very accessible flat dirt road where it is possible to see several wooden sculptures. Pass the crossing with the trail PRC 22 SMI – Grená/Pico do Ferro and continue until the area of Caldeiras. This place, due to the geothermal activity, provides one of the tourism advertisings of the island and where is done the famous traditional Cozido à Portuguesa, using the internal heat of the Furnas volcano.

After enjoying this scenery, continue passing by the crossroad to the viewpoint of Pico do Ferro (PRC 22 SMI – Grená/Pico do Ferro) and by the area of the ticket booth until reaching the regional road, where you should follow left. Proceed, carefully, along the road until you arrive the village center, place where the trail ends.