PR04 SMI Mata do Canário - Sete Cidades 09-08-2018
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 8.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,030 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 2,602 ft
- Max elevation
- 2,788 ft
- TrailRank
-
63
5
- Min elevation
- 816 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 5 hours 9 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1228
- Uploaded
- August 23, 2021
- Recorded
- August 2018
near Santa Bárbara, Açores (Portugal)
Viewed 2150 times, downloaded 103 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Official walking trail PR04 SMI waymarked red-yellow, as described on
https://trails.visitazores.com/en/trails-azores/sao-miguel/mata-do-canario-sete-cidades
One of the nicest walks that I know on São Miguel, which takes you through the beautiful scenery above Sete Cidades, offering breathtaking views but avoiding the crowds at Vista do Rei.
Our trail time includes a 45 min lunch break.
The trail is mostly on dirt roads and presents little technical difficulties, with only a somewhat steeper descent at the end, hence also great for less experienced walkers.
The walk first takes you up to Pico da Cruz, one of the highest points in the western part of São Miguel, then you follow the smoothly descending crater rim before a final descent into Sete Cidades.
Thus, since you go up to 850 m altitude, would be good if cloud cover is above so that you can fully appreciate all the great views, but most of the walk is below 700 m. There is hardly any shade on the walk, so if the sun is really burning, be prepared and take enough water (none to be had on the way).
The trailhead is located at a parking lot near Mata do Canário.
At the end of the walk, in the center of Sete Cidades, there are usually taxis waiting that can take you back to your starting point, if you have left your car there. On a busy day in summer, you may have to wait some time, though.
https://trails.visitazores.com/en/trails-azores/sao-miguel/mata-do-canario-sete-cidades
One of the nicest walks that I know on São Miguel, which takes you through the beautiful scenery above Sete Cidades, offering breathtaking views but avoiding the crowds at Vista do Rei.
Our trail time includes a 45 min lunch break.
The trail is mostly on dirt roads and presents little technical difficulties, with only a somewhat steeper descent at the end, hence also great for less experienced walkers.
The walk first takes you up to Pico da Cruz, one of the highest points in the western part of São Miguel, then you follow the smoothly descending crater rim before a final descent into Sete Cidades.
Thus, since you go up to 850 m altitude, would be good if cloud cover is above so that you can fully appreciate all the great views, but most of the walk is below 700 m. There is hardly any shade on the walk, so if the sun is really burning, be prepared and take enough water (none to be had on the way).
The trailhead is located at a parking lot near Mata do Canário.
At the end of the walk, in the center of Sete Cidades, there are usually taxis waiting that can take you back to your starting point, if you have left your car there. On a busy day in summer, you may have to wait some time, though.
Waypoints
Car park
0 ft
PR4SMI Trailhead
PR4SMI Trailhead on parking lot near Mata do Canário
Panorama
0 ft
Possible Detour to Boca do Inferno
At this waypoint you could make a possible detour to the Miradouro Boca do Inferno (adds about 1300 m). The views are already great here from the trail.
Panorama
0 ft
Miradouro da Boca do Inferno
One of the best viewpoints on São Miguel but we did not visit it on this trail.
Summit
Waypoint
0 ft
Diversion for Picnic km 5.5
Here we diverted a couple of hundred meters from the track in order to do a picnic in the shade of a forest. You can skip that.
Waypoint
0 ft
Start of descent to Sete Cidades
Religious site
Comments (2)
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Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Easy
It's nice although it is very easy to follow so it can become boring
Hi Adriana, thank you for your comment. You are quite right. The track is indeed very easy to follow, the major attraction are the views. That's why I recommended it especially also for less experienced walkers, or if you go with children. Looking for more thrills? Try circling Lagoa do Fogo. If the water level is high, you may have to swim a few hundred meters 😉.