At the eastern side of the island Ponta Sao Lourenco is a gem of a hike for anyone. It is 8 km. round trip. The view just from the parking lot is amazing. A warm sunny day again, perfect for a hike. We thought there wouldn’t be very many people in April, but when we arrived the parking was already quite full with cars, a tour bus, and city bus. The trail is well established with railings on cliff edges and stairs on steep parts. There are breathtaking views of the wild atlantic pounding the rocks below. The trail winds around bays of turquoise water, up and down peaks, then ends at the tip of Sao Lourenco with a steep climb and a view of a smaller island and lighthouse. At the trails end there is a building that in summer would have a cafe and washroom, but was closed to public when we went, so there were no facilities available and the area too sparse to be discreet (the store near the parking area sure was popular for it’s washroom). We stopped to have a quick bite to eat before heading back. There are over 30 species of birds that inhabit this area and you can certainly hear them. On the way back there are a couple trails which lead down to the ocean and spots to swim if you want to cool off, but we opted to head back for a swim in the pool.
