Fajã d’Além

A circular route of approximately 5 km on the north coast of São Jorge, designed for those wanting to discover Fajã d’Além, a small and remote place. The walk starts near the Ermida de Santo António and follows, right from the beginning, along an earth path.

When you reach a fork, take the left option and begin descending towards the fajã. It is during this descent that some of the trail’s best viewpoints open up: the Fajãs d’Além, do Ouvidor and da Ribeira da Areia come into view and, on clear days, you can still spot the islands Terceira and Graciosa offshore.

Once inside the fajã, the path passes between rural houses and small agricultural plots with traditional crops, alongside some support structures such as wine cellars and a water mill, known as sr. Moisés’s mill. It is a place where time seems to have stood still and where the residents, welcoming people, maintain their traditional ways.

The return journey is made via the eastern side, climbing up the cliff face. Along the way up you will find springs and streams flowing down the cliff, and an old stone staircase that becomes quite slippery when it rains, so extra caution is advisable on those days. The slope has the advantage of offering various perspectives of Fajã d’Além as you gain height.

Once you reach the regional road, turn right and follow the signs until you rejoin the initial section, now travelled in the opposite direction. From here it is simply a matter of continuing until the ermida, where the walk began.