Ponta Delgada – Fajã Grande

Linear trail that connects the parish of Ponta Delgada to Fajã Grande, crossing the northwest area of the Flores through scenery of great beauty and strong landscape diversity. It is a route with uneven terrain, steep elevation changes and sections near cliffs, so it is not recommended for those who suffer from vertigo.

The first section runs from the centre of the parish of Ponta Delgada to Ponta do Albarnaz. Along the way, views open up towards the island of Corvo, you cross pastures and enclosed valleys and reach the Albarnaz Lighthouse, inaugurated in 1925. There is also a viewpoint here with wide panoramas over Ilhéu de Maria Vaz and the geossite of Ponta do Albarnaz – Ponta Delgada, where the island’s oldest lava flows are found, dating back approximately 2 million years.

In the intermediate section, the paths are wide and well-marked, crossing some watercourses and passing through several examples of endemic flora. Views continue over Ilhéu de Maria Vaz and Ponta do Albarnaz, with Corvo in the background, and, to the west, over Ilhéu de Monchique, a geossite located 1500 m from the coast that marks Europe’s westernmost point.

In the last 4 km, from Rocha do Risco onwards, the first glimpse of Fajã Grande appears. The paths follow along the cliff edge, with the open ocean to the west, between forests of myrtle juniper (Juniperus brevifolia). In the final segment, between Ponta da Fajã and Fajã Grande, several waterfalls cascade down the high fossil cliff, approximately 300 m high.

In terms of natural features, the Natural Reserve of Ilhéu de Maria Vaz stands out, an important nesting site especially for the yellow-legged gull (Larus michaellis atlantis), and the Protected Landscape Area of the Central Zone and Cliffs of the West Coast, habitat for birds such as the Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis) and the common tern (Sterna hirundo). Because of the watercourses and stone ground, which can become slippery, take extra care after rainy days and wear appropriate footwear.