Hiking Polgadas | Aventour Azores Adventures

The tour of Polgadas is another different access to Fajã da Caldeira Santo Cristo. It starts in Urzal, from there we’ll go all the way up to Pico da Ovelha, where we can see the 5 islands of the central group of azores. Along the coast we can see the lagoons of Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo and Cubres.

We will go on to east, through the central mountain range of the island where we’ll start the descent using the trail of Polgadas. There are many endemic species that we find along the way, including the Sphagnum, which is an extremely important moss for water retention.

The first part of the descent includes stone steps which will bring us to the valley of Polgadas. This zone is an excellent place for herding because it is protected of the characteristic strong winds in the north coast of the island.

Along this route we can probably see goats. Once domestic animals, after the earthquake on January 1st, 1980, they were set free and became wild.

Being the Aventour the only company operating in this path, we have a perfect contact with nature without noise from other Trekkers. Leaving the valley we will look at the ocean and hopefully see the nearby island of Terceira. We begin the descent to Fajã da Caldeira de Cima, where we will find the traditional trail to access to Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo (PR1).

Arriving at this fajã, we take the PR1 trail to Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo. Here we will stop to have lunch followed by a visit to the fajã. You can also swim in the lagoon in this fajã and then visit the Interpretation Centre.

The last part of this route is a pedestrian track between this fajã and Fajã dos Cubres, a trail along the coast, passing by two more fajãs: Tijolos and Belo. It has an extension of 5 km that will take approximately 1 hour hiking. Arriving at Fajã dos Cubres our transfers await us.

Walking Trail Polgadas

The Polgadas Pedestrian Trail is an old access route to Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo on the Island of São Jorge in the Azores.