Hike São Jorge, Serra do Topo to Caldeira de Santo Cristo and Faja dos Cubres

0900 hrs Wed 29 June 2016, taxi picked us up at Velas Marina and took us eastwards to the Serra Topo (700 m ), arriving there at 0935 hrs. The weather was not terribly inviting as we and our friends prepared for the 10 km hike down to  Faja dos Cubres (at sea level)!

 

The information board at the start of the hike

 

 

Entering the low cloud - our elevation 700 m above sea level

 

Unfortunately, visibilty in the cloud and drizzle was very poor so we missed out on probably superb views

 

Natural shelter

 

Almost below the cloud

 

Many Hydrangers en route

 

Who's going to give way?

 

Luckily, they did!

 

One of the many rustic gates

 

One of the many waterfalls

 

A much larger one

 

Our first objective, Faja da Caldeira de Santo Cristo comes into view with its large sea lake

 

Awesome coastline

 

 

 

Jeannette feels at home - a dijk!

 

 Faja da Caldeira de Santo Cristo

 

 

Our lunch restuarant

 

Which was amazingly crowded considering there is no car access, only quadbike 

 

 

Our final destination, Faja dos Cubres

 

Arrived at 1550 hrs at Faja dos Cubres and called for our taxi to take us back to Velas Marina after a thoroughly enjoyable hike

 

On the way back, the island of Graciosa was clearly visible form the taxi