Great Route - Stage 2: Ponta Delgada - Lajedo

Crossing a large part of the island's littoral between Santa Cruz and Lajedo parishes, the Great Route of Flores presents a high difficulty level trail. 

This walking trail is divided into two stages: the first from Santa Cruz to Ponta Delgada, and the second from Ponta Delgada to Lajedo. Along the two stages stand out the beauty of the landscapes over the sea and the ground cover plants, including many altitude and coastal species. Stage 1 of the Great Route of Flores covers the Costa Nordeste Protected Area for the Management of Habitat or Species, and Stage 2 the Costa Sul e Sudoeste Protected Area for the Management of Habitat or Species, the Costa Nordeste Protected Area for the Management of Habitat or Species and the Zona Central e Falésias da Costa Oeste Protected Landscape Area.

Leaving from the Casa do Povo (local support house for the people), start Stage 2 following by a road between agricultural fields until you find, after a few kilometres, a crossroad where you should continue to the south, with the Maria Vaz Islet approximately at your right. Behind stays the Ponta do Albernaz Lighthouse that can be visited.

After a climb and still on the road, find the entrance to a footpath and follow the signage of the trail PR03FLO until you find the Ponta da Fajã place on the Fajã Grande parish. Continue on the road and a footpath until you find the regional road where there is, at the right, a dirt path parallel to Ribeira Grande (stream) that leads you to Fajazinha parish.

Cross this parish and, after climbing the slope, walk until you find the Mosteiro parish. Following to the south, you will find, at the right, a beautiful view of the Rocha dos Bordões and the coastline. Passing through the Mosteiro parish, it is possible to find again a footpath that, going to the south, leads to Lajedo parish.