PR4SMI Mata do Canário – Sete Cidades trail

What the sources say (research)

• Starts near Mata do Canário on the east side of the ridge, follows the Muro das Nove Janelas aqueduct (rebuilt 1830), climbs to the Pico da Cruz viewpoint and runs along the crater ridge, used as a stage of the Azores Rallye, round the Blue Lake. [Azores Trails, checked 14 Oct 2026]

• Joins PR3SMI and descends the Arrebentões road, ‘very slippery and inclined’, to the São Nicolau church in the village. Linear, medium, 11.7 km, about 3 hours. [Azores Trails]

• Linear: you need a lift to the start. AzoresBus line 208 runs direct from Sete Cidades (Lagoas) to Ponta Delgada Marina on Saturdays at 16:25–18:30 and Sundays/public holidays at 18:05–20:00; the PDF shows no weekday departure from this stop. Neither bus returns you to the trailhead. [AzoresBus line 208 PDF, checked 14 Oct 2026]

• Trailhead node in OpenStreetMap: 37.8318112, -25.7530781 (ER 8-1ª, Santo António). Use the GPS track on the Azores Trails page. [OSM]

• PR4SMI was not on the official closure list on 14 October 2026; check the alerts before setting out. Other official trails and safety rules: hiking in the Azores.

Open questions