Rocha da Relva - São Miguel PRC20 SMI

ALERT: FOR SAFETY REASONS, WE ADVISE YOU TO USE THE TRAIL UNTIL THE "PRAIA" AREA.

This roundtrip route until Rocha da Relva allows the hiker to visit one of the few detrital fajãs (cliffs) of São Miguel. Go down along a paved road until the first detour on the left, towards Rocha do Cascalho.

This descend until the sea (approximately 600m) passes some wine cellars, houses but mainly vineyards restricted to the traditional way in basalt rock. This structures, besides protecting from the sea spray, provides a milder environment for the crops giving them a distinctive taste. Once you reach the sea level, profit to relax in a resting area and, if time allows, it is also possible to dive into the Atlantic waters.

Go up until the original detour and choose left towards Rocha da Relva. Along the descend you will pass several summer houses, vineyard and orchard farms, as well as some house and pack animals, being the donkey the most characteristic. Very useful for the inhabitants of the Rocha, these animals are a mean of transportation for materials and basic goods, until their destination. This place is well appreciated for farming and leisure due to its micro climate that benefits the development of the vineyards and other crops. It is requested to the hikers to not pick fruits or other products during the walk.

Along the trail you will find fountains, a resting area and a shrine in honor of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos. Reaching the end of the walk, near the last houses, you have to return the same way, until the starting point.