PR06 SMA
Areia Branca
OpenLast checked September 27, 2026
The island crossing, from Praia Formosa on the south coast to the Baía de São Lourenço in the north-east — the walk between Santa Maria's two limestone-sand beaches, which exist nowhere else in the Azores. It climbs inland through the Almagreira woods toward Pico Alto, the island's highest ground, then drops through Santa Bárbara into the São Lourenço amphitheatre of terraced vineyards. Medium, 11.7 km.
Route facts
- Start and end
- Areia Branca
- Length
- 11.7 km one way
- Official walking time
- 4 h 30 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Route type
- Point to point
- Highest point
- 566 m
- Lowest point
- 2 m
- Start coordinates
- 36.95150, -25.09842
Figures as the regional trail service publishes them on the trail's own page. A row is missing where the official sheet does not state it.
Before you go
- This route starts and finishes in different places, so settle how you will get back before you set off.