Ponta Delgada Walking Tour & Salto Do Cabrito: A Detailed Look

So, if you are thinking of seeing Ponta Delgada, then you may want to do it on foot. And it’s almost a given that while in the Azores, seeing Salto Do Cabrito is basically something you need to see. This review looks at both, basically combining a walk around town with a nature trip to a powerful waterfall.

View the complete list and travel insights here

First Impressions of Ponta Delgada

So, Ponta Delgada is the main town on São Miguel Island in the Azores, that little collection of volcanic islands that are way out in the Atlantic. We actually started with a walk around its streets to get our bearings. You will often see people describe it like your normal European city, and that’s maybe true, but it has its own vibe that I felt. It’s sort of relaxed. Plus it seems, it’s very well kept, too.

We basically walked by the Portas da Cidade, which means City Gates, and those arches actually give you the first idea of what is out there to be seen. You will see that they look pretty good on all the photos tourists upload, but in real life you will notice how they almost catch the light. Walking on, so too you find churches like the Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião. They feature, usually, volcanic stone, which that lends this serious, almost old, feel to every block around town.

For some people who enjoy taking photos, then that place can feel, seemingly, like the right sort of vibe, since this isn’t all that fast paced or with glass buildings. It almost has that older vibe like in Italy or Portugal, and you might want to get lost on the side streets. Street corners come with little cafes where we ended up basically hanging out and that’s where you may want to consider getting some food.

Things to Know About a Ponta Delgada Walking Tour

Now that you’re planning on hoofing it around, you will want to know some tips. Many people almost skip planning it well. So I am just going to run though some stuff. That really goes, before just looking at Google Maps and hoping for the best.

• Decide on the type of Tour: Guided walking tours exist. Also self-guided ones also work well. So it really just depends what I am in the mood for. The tours can give history and facts. If that isn’t your thing then just walk. The Azores are super safe and I usually do my own thing, so to get to see just what I want.
• Best Time is Morning: It usually means better light. So get those vacation pictures taken. Plus it often also gets less people around that way, as it’s often less packed early on.
• Plan Your Path: See what you feel like visiting, then note it all on a maps tool on your device. A lot of things can be seen, so that means not wasting a lot of time walking back and forth, unless I plan to.
• Look at the Weather: Rain gear is pretty crucial. The weather shifts around, and it sometimes changes without notice. It can go sunny to really rainy pretty quick. So I keep an eye out before stepping outside, so I don’t end up wet like a cat.
• Comfy Walking Footwear: So the city is on hills. Make sure you don’t ruin your vacation, and that too you won’t be sliding all around on the stone. Sneakers make all the difference to your stamina for exploring.

Exploring Salto Do Cabrito: Getting There

Now let’s zoom into a waterfall called Salto Do Cabrito, that translates into something like ‘Kid’s Jump’. So it’s kind of interesting as the translation means it is almost related to little goats.

Okay, you can use public transportation, it can drop you in a settlement nearby, but I really think a car makes a bit more sense, to drive yourself. What happens is that, seemingly, you go from Ponta Delgada up north towards a zone called Ribeira Grande. Now instead of stopping there, almost as if by purpose, you have to keep heading onwards towards the mountains in that place.

Eventually, I often find that some areas feel more closed off when driving in these kinds of settings. Just watch out when you do, since roads in places like this seem pretty slim. Also, at a certain time, then almost all phone service vanishes into nothing, very conveniently! In the long run, a hint might be using offline maps like maps.me. It has walking trails and everything else you will probably want. Keep heading in the trail and you are there.

Find additional tips and recommendations here

Hitting the Hiking Trail

Once you show up at the starting point, so too you are right away thrust into some vegetation. I seem to notice you will walk alongside metal piping a great deal, which doesn’t really scream nature. It sort of is odd at the start.

As a person walks more towards the destination, it may appear the scene grows more green. You tend to come across moss. Then eventually the sound shifts and grows loud with, actually, the crash of moving water. Getting closer always gives an added pump.

Now getting down to the bottom near the falls has what people have called pretty challenging parts to it. When I look at it, it seems people should at least have a fair level of fitness before, seemingly, considering to go down. Loose rock can seem unstable and it might not suit people that dislike the feeling of falling. After being careful, it could be you end up at the pool that catches all that crashing water coming from way up high. Usually, then, people take tons of photos and just almost stop there to hang out for some time, near nature and that very loud roar.

The Return Trip and Extra Details

For going back from seeing the falls, the hill appears even steeper. I guess you may have gravity against you now! A little water and snacks could basically be critical for anyone who isn’t really in top form.

After you clear that little pathway, the walk is usually what people say is manageable for more people, even if those same people say it can be hot when that sun does, clearly, shine on you. It does seems nice being so high up surrounded by trees. Plus it sounds so much less noisy, away from the falling water, as a side note.

For stuff people ask often, it feels like doing all of this doesn’t take, often, much more than a few hours, even if that hike itself has a round trip nearing four kilometers. So that part near the bottom shouldn’t be attempted unless people basically do their prep homework so, to be safe first. What seems really common is taking images. When the sun seems just right that light almost goes right down inside there. Otherwise, what I can say about that experience is the sheer power. It also might let many, often stressed people recharge a little with an outdoors getaway to nature, too it’s almost guaranteed.

The sequence combines exploring urban tourism and something else in a natural outdoors environment. So if this reads as of value to you, you now can have the gist of it for when planning something, you know?

#PontaDelgada #Azores #SaltoDoCabrito #TravelReview #IslandLife #Hiking