Monthly notes

Activity in Sete Cidades

PRC5SMI Serra Devassa trail

Official 9.1 km loop through the lake uplands east of the Sete Cidades crater, up Pico das Éguas and past the Grota do Inferno view; medium, about 3.5 hours.

Address
Starts near the Muro do Carvão aqueduct, Serra Devassa, Ponta Delgada, São Miguel
Open in Google Mapstrails.visitazores.com

Hard with kids

9.1 km, rated medium, with a climb to about 873 m. Our reading of the trail data.

The notes

What the sources say (research)

  • Circular, medium, 9.1 km, about 3 h 30. [Azores Trails, checked 14 Oct 2026]
  • Starts near the Muro do Carvão, the remains of the Muro das Nove Janelas aqueduct (about 150 m of arches) that once carried water from the Canário and Empadadas lakes to Ponta Delgada. [Azores Trails]
  • Passes Lagoa do Carvão, the Caldeirão and Empadadas lakes, climbs Pico das Éguas (about 873 m) with the Éguas lakes, which the page calls the highest on São Miguel, then reaches Mata do Canário and the Grota do Inferno viewpoint over the Blue, Santiago and Rasa lakes. [Azores Trails]
  • The route crosses springs and water-collection zones; the page asks walkers to protect the local ecosystems and water resources. [Azores Trails]
  • Closures: PRC5SMI was not on the list of temporarily closed trails on 14 October 2026. [Azores Trails alerts]
  • Transport to the trailhead has not been verified; arrange your return before setting out.

Open questions

NearbyOther
Schematic map with 1 numbered places around PRC5SMI Serra Devassa trail; the numbered list next to it has the same places.1PRC5SMI Serra Devassa trail0.5 kmN
  1. 1PR4SMI Mata do Canário – Sete Cidades trail

Further afield: PR3SMI Vista do Rei – Sete Cidades trail (5 km), Lagoa das Sete Cidades: kayak and SUP (6 km). Straight-line distances from the centre point, not driving times.

Schematic: positions from each place's coordinates, no roads or coastline. Not for navigation.

Activity

Lagoa das Sete Cidades: kayak and SUP

Paddle the calm crater lake under the green caldera walls; several firms in Sete Cidades rent SUPs and sit-on-top kayaks. Prices and season: ask locally.

  • OK with kids
  • Seasonal
Researched

last checked

Activity

PR3SMI Vista do Rei – Sete Cidades trail

Official 7.5 km linear trail from the Vista do Rei viewpoint down to Sete Cidades village; easy, about 2 hours, with one steep, slippery stretch.

  • OK with kids
Researched

last checked

Activity

PR4SMI Mata do Canário – Sete Cidades trail

Official 11.7 km linear trail along the Sete Cidades crater ridge, past the Pico da Cruz viewpoint, down to the village church; medium, about 3 hours.

  • Hard with kids
Researched

last checked