São João – Lourais – Fajã dos Vimes

Linear trail along the south coast of São Jorge, connecting Fajã de São João to Fajã dos Vimes, climbing up to Lourais and descending again via Fajã dos Bodes. Watch the weather: after periods of heavy rain, it’s best to avoid the section between Lourais and Fajã dos Vimes, as crossing the streams becomes difficult.

The walk starts near the café in the fajã, among the narrow streets with traditional cobblestones and typical small houses of the place. Pass by the church and head northwest towards Lourais. Just as you leave the fajã, you’ll cross small traditional cultivation fields with vines, corn and yam, which then give way to forests of Morella faya, incense trees (Pittosporum undulatum) and Picconia azorica. It’s worth stopping on the climb to look back and see Fajã de São João below you. Near the top, just before Lourais, you’ll need to cross Ribeira do Salto, whose name comes from the large waterfall that forms there.

After Lourais, the trail becomes descending and follows an earth path towards Fajã dos Bodes. Halfway down you’ll encounter Ribeira dos Cedros, which you should cross carefully due to the slippery ground. From here the view opens up ahead, with the islands of Pico and Faial, Fajãs dos Bodes and dos Vimes and the village of Calheta. As you descend, the endemic vegetation from higher elevations, such as heather (Erica azorica) and bilberry (Vaccinium cylindraceum), gradually gives way again to forests of incense trees and Morella faya, until you reach Fajã dos Bodes.

From there, simply follow the signage along the coast to Fajã dos Vimes. The trail ends at the leisure port, a great spot for a swim in the Atlantic. Here you can connect to other trails on the island: PR 02 SJO Fajã dos Vimes – Serra do Topo, PR 09 SJO Fajã dos Vimes – Fragueira – Portal and GR 01 SJO Grande Rota de São Jorge. Within the fajã itself, you can visit the craft workshop where traditional quilts are made and try a coffee grown and prepared right there.