Land of volcanoes and forests

Another easy trek in the south of the island is the one that leads up to the tip of San Lorenzo, a rocky ridge over the ocean that provides wonderful colours. Being a volcanic island, the eruptions of the past have formed earth layers, creating particular colourful shapes. Some of these can be discovered along the trek called 'Ponta de São Lourenço along the promontory that takes this name. It was here, back in 1419, that the Portuguese ship San Lorenzo landed after spotting a strip of land in the distance. This place, unknown on maps at the time, appeared to early visitors as a paradise covered in lush forests. The route, about a four-hour walk, is a continuous up and down, of low difficulty with several viewpoints from which to admire rocks emerging from the sea, valleys and stretches of coastline. The rocks seem narrow in places and the passage takes your breath away. We start in Baia de Abra, at the point where the road ends and enter the (signposted) path that steps down into a valley. The final destination is the Casa do Sardinha, with the peak above and the natural arch that opens up along the coastline.