This visit to São Jorge Island had one goal: to visit the “Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo”. This is perhaps the best known Fajã of the island and a place that deserves a visit for its natural beauty, isolation and peacefulness presented to those looking to truthfully relax. But as with so many good things in life, the best part of the trip was on the road and not on the destination.

This hike starts at the Serra do Topo, next to the car parking lot, close to the wind farm. We started with a small ascent but from there on the path is always downhill. The descent takes just over an hour but it took us more than that because we choose to do some stops and to slow down to enjoy the amazing views filled with the typical Azorean green that contrasted with different shades of blue from the sea and the sky.

The zigzagging trails, that descend continuously and often with intense slopes, will certainly guarantee some pain in the legs, however the sense of immersion in nature totally compensates the physical effort.