2 DAYS| Ponta Delgada - Nordeste - Povoação - Ponta Delgada

Arriving at the municipality of Nordeste from the north side of the island, you will find the parish of Salga, where you can opt for a detour to Salto da Farinha (1). Drive in the direction of Nordeste for about 5 km, until Park Ribeira dos Caldeirões (2), where you can see the amazing waterfall of Ribeira dos Caldeirões and the ruins of several water mills. Continue by the National Road (about 1 km), then turn right following for 7 km towards Planalto dos Graminhais (3). Here you find a Priority Habitat rich in peatlands that extends over an area of approximately 80 ha. After returning to the main road, stop at the viewpoint of Vigia da Baleia (4)  in the parish of Algarvia (6 km ahead), which  offers a great panoramic view of the village of Nordeste, with a range of  accommodations for the night, either along the route or in the village itself. On the following day, start your journey along the main road and, after 7 km stop at the Nature Reserve & Recreation Park of Nordeste (6), where you have a playground, an endemic plants nursery and an exercise and picnic area. Afterwards, go to the Nature Reserve & Recreation Park of Cancela do Cinzeiro and visit the Interpretation Centre of Priolo (7).
Here you can find out about the actions developed under the LIFE “Priolo” Conservation Project, and explore the park of endemic and native plants of the Azores. The signs in the car park will lead you by a 4.5 km track, to the viewpoint of Pico Bartolomeu (8), which offers wonderful views of the hills of Povoação and Furnas, as well as the surrounding countryside. Return along the same track and head towards Tronqueira road. After about 6.5 km (from Pico Bartolomeu), you will find an unpaved track which marks the start of Tronqueira. Follow for 16.5 km to the viewpoint of Tronqueira (9), and enjoy the spectacular views of the impressive mountain of Pico da Vara. This route also takes you past several areas restored by the actions of the LIFE “Priolo” and LIFE “Sustainable Laurel Forest” projects, and – with a little luck – you may spot the rare “Priolo” or Azores Bullfinch, which is found only in this area of the island, and nowhere else in the world. Follow the Tronqueira road to the main road and visit the Nature Reserve & Recreation Park of Água Retorta (10),with its playground, picnic area and a camping site. Continuing on the main road for more 7 km you will arrive at the Museum of Wheat (11). Here you can see the tools used in the harvesting of wheat and the permanent exhibition on the cultivation of cereals in São Miguel. A little further on, we suggest you to pay a visit to the LIFE “Sustainable Laurel Forest Project” (11), where you will see how Azorean plants are raised in the plant nursery.  Follow the main road for about 13 km until you reach the Furnas Valley, where you can stop at the Hot springs of Furnas and visit the Microbial Observatory of the Azores (12).
About 1.5 km further on, visit the stunning botanical garden of Terra Nostra Park, where you can take a break and bathe in a wide pool of hot volcanic ferruginous waters. Since you are in Furnas, enjoy a visit to the Nature Reserve & Recreation Park of Furnas, where you can see the plant and trout nursery. Continue on to Lagoa das Furnas (approximately 3 km) and enjoy its luxurious landscape and fumaroles. There, you can also visit the Monitoring and Research Centre of Furnas (CMIF).  Return to Ponta Delgada, either by the north road or along the south.

          
                       

3 DAYS | Ponta Delgada - Povoação - Nordeste - Ponta Delgada

Arriving at the municipality of Povoação from the south of the island (around 47 km), you will find the stunning Furnas Lake where you can walk and enjoy the nature and also visit the Monitoring and Research Centre of Furnas (CMIF). Continue a little further on (1.5 km) to Furnas, see the hot springs of Furnas and visit the Microbial Observatory of the Azores (1). Continue for about 13 km towards the village of Povoação, visit the Museum of Wheat, the Cooperative Celeiro da Terra and the nurseries of the LIFE “Sustainable Laurel Forest Project” (2), and spend the night in one of the several accomodations that this municipality has to offer. On the following day, start your journey heading towards the municipality of Nordeste. After about 7 km, turn right to the road of Tronqueira. Follow this road, enjoying the scenery of the mountains of Tronqueira, until you reach the Nature Reserve & Recreation Park of Cancela do Cinzeiro, where you can visit the Interpretation Centre of Priolo (3). Afterwards, stop at Pico Bartolomeu (4), about 11 km further on and to take a rest in the village of Nordeste (5). Continue your journey along the main road, towards Povoação, make a detour to the parish of Faial da Terra (about 23 km) where you can stroll through the village of Sanguinho and dive in the waterfall of Salto do Prego (6). Return to the main road and continue to Povoação for a second night. On the third day, start your journey in the direction of Furnas, heading to Salto do Cavalo (7). Follow this road and return to the municipality of Nordeste. Once on the main road, continue for about 13 km, climbing up to Planalto dos Graminhais (8). Return to Ponta Delgada along the north side of the island, taking a break at the viewpoint of Salto da Farinha, at Salga (9).