Quatro Caminhos do Faial da Terra

Circular trail that crosses the parish of Faial da Terra and enters partly into the geossite of Caldeira da Povoação. It begins in the centre of the parish, following the marks along a path that serves the cultivated lands. Along this first section you will cross the Regional Road several times and pass by the old Whale Lookout, the post from where sperm whales were once spotted and located.

From here the trail gains altitude. It climbs along an earth path framed by traditional boxwood barriers (Buxus sempervirens), until the point where two trails intersect: the PR 18 SMI – Vigia da Baleia and the PRC 40 SMI – Quatro Caminhos do Faial da Terra. At that crossing continue straight ahead and make the left detour to Pico dos Bodes, a viewpoint refurbished in 2007 with urban and landscape interventions, from where the view opens over the entire coast, from Faial da Terra to Vila Franca do Campo.

The return is made by the same path back to the road, then turning left to descend towards Faial da Terra. This section crosses a forest dominated by incense trees (Pittosporum undulatum) and Japanese cedars (Cryptomeria japonica), interspersed with agricultural pastures, and gradually reveals the landscape over the parish and Fajã do Calhau.

Near the end you can add a detour to Aldeia do Sanguinho, a place under recovery where you will find typical houses, small agricultural farms and several specimens of sanguinho (Frangula azorica), the endemic plant of the Açores that gave its name to the location. The following descent is made along a stone-paved path that winds down to the stream, and should be walked carefully due to the slippery surface and steep gradient. Then follow the street to the initial panel, where the trail ends. At this point there is still the possibility of connecting to other points on the island through the PRC 40 SMI – Quatro Caminhos do Faial da Terra, the PRC 09 SMI – Sanguinho or the PR 11 SMI – Ribeira do Faial da Terra.