Today we set foot on the island of Terceira, where a group of active hikers walked a beautiful trail along the coast, the Baías da Agualva. It was a beautifully sunny day with blue skies, green surroundings, and many singing birds. Graciosa, the last island we visited, has many invasive trees, so it was interesting to see the endemic trees here in Terceira, including the Juniperus brevifolia, Erica azorica, and the Morella faya. In the meantime, others were headed for a scenic tour to experience the beautiful vistas the island has to offer. The afternoon highlighted different walks throughout the region: a photo tour, a nature hike, or free roaming through the city of Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
4/24/2025
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National Geographic Endurance
Santa Maria
Colors were bright on this marvelous spring day in Santa Maria. The sun shined as hikers made their long descent down to Anjos. The moderate to strenuous walk started at the Church of Santo Espírito, zigzagged around grassy fields, cows, cedars, and windmills and went to where the tallest waterfall in Portugal jumps over the cliff. As the steep trail ran down to the village of Maia along the rock walls, we enjoyed the star-shaped yellow flowers of the endemic Aichryson santamariensis. Those that preferred to explore the island on the scenic tour visited the top of the island and Pico Alto, the church where Columbus’ crew stopped to pray while returning from the New World, and other viewpoints, including São Lourenço Bay, truly a postcard come to life. In the afternoon we had presentations by Angélica Bas Gómez on cetacean migration through the Azores, and National Geographic Photographer Krista Rossow instructed us on how to photograph people. The talks were interrupted by a couple of blue whales during our crossing from Santa Maria to São Miguel. The night brought us the Azorean guitar - Viola da Terra - played by Rafael Carvalho, a local master musician. It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day.
