FLORES
The Pink Island
The undulating central massif of volcanic origin dominates the whole landscape. Cones with smooth slopes rise from the top of this plateau, where craters with sharp, rocky walls have been transformed in lakes. These are the remains of a once rebellious Nature that now welcomes visitors with kindness. From the summit of the hill Morro Alto, one can see an intense green ocean where the native laurissilva forest is still present. Among the intense greens of the vegetation, there are outstanding waterfalls and streams that water a natural garden of colourful flowers, where the pink of the azaleas and hydrangeas stands out.
Interactive Trail Map
Fajã de Lopo Vaz
Category - Circular
Difficulty - Medium
Extension - 3.4 km
Time average - 2h
This round trip linear route begins near the viewpoint/picnic area of Fajã de Lopo Vaz, probably one of the first places to be settled and the name Lopo Vaz comes from one of the first settlers of the island.
Classified as Geosite integrated in Ponta da Rocha Alta and Fajã de Lopo Vaz, these detritic plataforms occur by collapsing cliffs, resulting in areas with microclimates and fertile soils.
Begin the descend on an alternating land, pavement and stairs road, among endemic vegetation such as Azorean Heather (Erica azorica), White Wood (Picconia azorica) and small water springs. Sometimes it is possible to observe the presence of wild goats along the fajã. Throughout the descend, pay attention to the possible falling of rocks from the cliff.
Reaching sea level you will encounter the first house, a black sand beach, basaltic pebbles and a water fountain. Profit to investigate this area and if weather allows it have a dive. It is up to every walker the fajã exploitation being possible to go round the house, by the right, and continue on a stone road that accesses several farming fields along the fajã.
Nowadays uninhabited, the fajã is often used as a place for bird watching being the most common ones the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula azorensis) and the Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs moreletti). There are also several types of traditional crops that due to the microclimate, renowned as the warmest on the island, originates the biggest bananas (Musa sp.), figs (Ficus sp.), grapes (Vitis sp.) and cattley guave (Psidium littorale).
Since the fajã as no way out, you must return the same way until you arrive to the starting point.
Lajedo - Fajã Grande
Category - Linear
Difficulty - Medium
Extension - 13.1 km
Time average - 3h30m
This linear route of around 13 km length connects the village of Lajedo to Fajã Grande. There are some sections where the stone ground may be slippery, being advisable caution and the wear of proper footwear.
Begin the stage at the village center and follow the markings along the road until the viewpoint. Continue on a cobblestone road towards North, passing by a viewpoint on your left with a view over the islets of Mosteiro village and Rocha dos Bordões on your right, a geological formation known by its huge vertical basaltic columns.
Continue, crossing Mosteiro and following along the road passing by places once inhabited such as Caldeira. At the top of the hill, viewpoint of Portal, it is possible to see from afar the villages of Fajãzinha and Fajã Grande.
Go down by a land road, cross the interior of Fajãzinha and choose a land road parallel to the stream until you reach the main road. Follow left visiting the watermill from 1862, still working. About 500 metres ahead there is a detour on the right to Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro, one of the touristic attractions of the island.
After the detour continue right going out to a land road, along the cliff base, accessing pastures and farming fields. Cover the last meters flanked by old stone walls until you arrive to the end of the trail, near the bathing area of Fajã Grande, where you can dive into the refreshing waters of the Atlantic. In this area there are connections with other points of the island through the trails PR 01 FLO – Fajã Grande/Ponta Delgada and PR 03 FLO – Miradouro das Lagoas/Poço do Bacalhau.
Miradouro das Lagoas - Poço do Bacalhau
Category - Linear
Difficulty - Hard
Extension - 7.3 km
Time average - 3h00
This linear route goes from the interior of the island until Fajã Grande along a length of 7,3 km. Along the trail and whenever necessary to cross a gate, always leave it closed.
Begin the walk at the viewpoint between the lakes Funda and Comprida, near the Regional Road 2-2. Following the markings, go right around the lake Comprida among the endemic flora like Buckthorn (Frangula azorica), Azores Juniper (Juniperus brevifolia) and the cosmopolitan Peat Moss (Sphagnum spp.)
Arriving to lake Seca follow left on the main road going in again on a land road that will pass aside lagoa Branca. Along this shortcut, the ground may be muddy and/or slippery, being advisable the use of proper footwear.
Continue forward until you find a lapilli road (red gravel) proceeding ahead as far as the fork, choose left until you reach a pasture. Cross the gate into the pasture where you must follow near the right side wall. At this point, profit to enjoy an excellent view over the West coast with the villages of Fajã Grande and Fajãzinha bellow.
On foggy days, pay special attention not to lose the guiding marks. Go down the cliff until you find a stone stairway on your left where you should go until Fajã Grande. Arriving to the main road proceed as far as the sea and turn right to Poço do Bacalhau, the last detour in this walk. Return to the center of the village and enjoy a dive in the waters of the Atlantic ocean.
In this place there are connections with other points of the island through the trails PR 01 FLO – Fajã Grande/Ponta Delgada and PR 02 FLO – Fajã Grande/Lajedo.
Santo Espírito - Maia
Trail Information
Category - Linear
Difficulty - Easy
Extension - 4.1 km
Time average - 2h00
This small route connects the village of Santo Espírito to the place of Maia, Southeast part of the island. Begin the trail near the church of Santo Espírito, passing by the Ethnographic Museum of Santa Maria, heading East, towards the sea. Follow the marks along the road until you reach an old windmill. From here, the dirt road winds along a wood of Australian Cheesewood (Pittosporum undulatum), passing by an old fountain and afterwards, pastures.
Great Route Flores (Stage 2 Closed)
TRAIL INFORMATION
Category - Linear
Difficulty - Hard
Extension - 47 km
Time average - 18h00
The Great Route of Flores travels along the coastal landscape of the island, connecting the main village Santa Cruz to the civil parish of Lajedo, located on the southwest coast, through a linear route with high difficulty level. Some parts of the trail have steep descents, such as the one in the Rocha do Risco, therefore this section is forbidden for people with vertigo.
This route presents a great variety of volcanic landscapes, complemented by the existence of small villages and a vegetation with a lot of endemic species, namely in the Northeast coast and in the cliffs of the West coast. Whenever possible, you can profit from the numerous bathing areas along the route and, as you walk by the rural centres, you can purchase any supplies you might need or even stop at any restaurant, namely in Ponta Delgada or Fajã Grande.
This hike has two stages of approximately 21 km and 26 km. The first one connects Santa Cruz to Ponta Delgada and the landscape is characterized by inumerous and extensive valleys with several streamlines, that led to the construction of a Hydroelectric Power Plant, located on the initial stretch. In addition, the stage runs along the northeast coast, where you can see high cliffs, inumerous islets and coves, that provides an important nesting area for several species of seabirds. As for the second stage, which connects Ponta Delgada to Lajedo, the initial low and linearized coastal line between Ponta Delgada and Ponta do Albernaz gives place to one of the most beautiful coastal landscapes of the Azores, where the lava and detrital fajãs such as Fajã Grande and Fajãzinha are separated from the central plateau of the island by a long fossil cliff, with about 300m of height, where several streamlines flow, resulting in impressive waterfalls, with the main highlight called Poço da Alagoinha - a little lagoon on the base of the cliff. Small villages such as Mosteiros, the less populated civil parish of Portugal, are a special charm to the surrounding landscapes.
You should plan your walk according to your physical ability, interests and availability. As it crosses several streamlines, be aware for flood rise after high precipitation events.