Padrão Alminhas/Salto da Farinha

This trail connects the parishes of Achadinha and Salga, combining nature and historical memory along the way. It starts at Jardim da Achadinha, where you’ll immediately encounter two historically significant landmarks. One is an obelisk marking the landing of Liberal Troops in 1831, a pivotal episode in the struggle between liberals and absolutists that paved the way for constitutional monarchy in Portugal. Nearby stands the Padrão das Alminhas, a monument associated with the Cult of Souls, a devotion the parish has maintained since the 17th century.

Shortly after setting off, you’ll come across Casa João Melo, a space dedicated to the life and work of this Azorean writer and the preservation of local culture. From here, the path leads towards the Risco area, where the trail runs alongside a water channel that once supplied an old mill, marked by several waterfalls along the way. As you climb the slope, it’s worth taking a detour to Poço Azul, a spot of rare beauty and one of Achadinha’s most iconic attractions.

Further ahead, you’ll reach a fork in the path with two options: turning left takes you back to Jardim da Achadinha; turning right continues towards the valley of Geossítio do Salto da Farinha, a point of significant geological and landscape interest already in Salga territory.

At the Fojo picnic area, it’s worth making a small detour to the base of Salto da Farinha waterfall. It’s an impressive cascade, 40 metres high, that forms a small pool at its base. The name dates back to when grain was milled there.

Returning to the main path, the walk ends at Miradouro do Salto da Farinha. From this viewpoint, you can see a river valley with slope deposits and a pebble beach, sometimes covered by sand. The waterfall marks the end of Ribeira das Coelhas, which plunges into the sea over the steep cliffs of the north coast. This entire area belongs to the formations of Vulcão da Povoação, the oldest polygenetic volcano in São Miguel, now extinct.