The Government of the Azores, through the Santa Maria Natural Park, in collaboration with the Regional Directorate for Tourism, has introduced some changes to two pedestrian trails of Santa Maria that will have more viewpoints. One of them will even offer the possibility of practising mountain biking in protected forest area, an activity whose popularity has seen an exponential increase.

Hence, the PR2SMA trail that began in Pico Alto and ended in Baía dos Anjos was significantly changed. It is now a small circular route that runs through a forest area located in the protected area for the Management of Habitats and Species. This change will adjust the supply needs to the popularity of circular trails.

In turn, PR1SMA - North Coast was also subject to interventions with the aim of enhancing its scenic value and bringing it closer to the Ponta dos Frades fossil deposit proposed by the Marine PalaeoBioGeography Group of the University of the Azores.

The Regional Secretariat for Tourism and Transport, through the Regional Directorate for Tourism, assures the management of the Network of Classified Pedestrian Trails in the archipelago and the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and the Environment, through the Regional Directorate for the Environment/Natural Parks, ensures the maintenance and cleaning of the trails located in protected areas, such as the case of four of the five pedestrian trails of Santa Maria.

Information on the changes to both pedestrian trails is available at the official site of the Azores Tourism at http://trilhos.visitazores.com/pt-pt/trilhos-dos-acores/santa-maria.