Salto do Prego – Sao Miguel Island – The Azores

Distance: 2.8 miles out and back (4.5 km)

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 2 hours

Recommended Gear: Hiking boots, bathing suit

The hike to Salto do Prego on Sao Miguel Island in the Azores is short and sweet, but the view of the falls would be worth hiking all day for. Salto do Prego is easily in the top 10 must-visits on Sao Miguel, and for an island replete with natural splendor, that is really saying something.

Getting There

The trailhead, located in Faial da Terra on the east side of Sao Miguel Island, is a 1.5 hour drive from Ponta Delgada and a 35 minute drive from Furnas. If you are coming from the west, follow route EN1-1A until you reach a sign for the town of Faial da Terra and Miradouro do Por-do-Sol. Take a right at the sign and follow the steep winding road for 3.25 miles (5.2 km) into town. Once you reach the small town of Faial da Terra, you will take a left at the first intersection where you should see a sign for Salto of Prego. This narrow road passes several old houses before arriving at the (very small) parking area.

The Hike

The trail begins by running along the left bank of a small river. There is privately-owned farmland along the way, so you’ll see some fruit trees off to the right and don’t be surprised if you end up sharing the trail with some aggressive chickens.

Once you cross the river via a small wooden footbridge, the trail begins to gain some elevation. It gets fairly steep at times but it’s such a short hike that it’s never terribly strenuous. There are several signs along the way that will point you in the right direction of the falls.

The Falls

You will likely hear the falls before they actually come into view during the final descent to the lagoon. It isn’t the tallest or the most powerful waterfall you’ll ever see, but the cascade surrounded by a canopy of thick green vegetation makes it feel like a jungle oasis. You are allowed to swim in the pool at the base of the falls, but since we visited in February, it was just a little bit too brisk for us. Viewing the falls from dry land was more than sufficient.

Read More: Top Things to do on Sao Miguel Island







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