Grande Rota do Oeste

The Grande Rota do Oeste crosses western Terceira from the Lagoa das Patas forest reserve to Mata da Serreta. Over two stages, the walk links recreation areas, pasture, upland relief and pockets of semi-natural forest. It passes through a sector where lagoons and damp ground alternate with broad rural landscapes, revealing how altitude and climate influence the vegetation.

As the route progresses west, it approaches the cliffs and coastal environment of Serreta while retaining a strong connection with the island’s interior ridges. This demanding crossing is designed to be divided over separate days and shows the transition between worked land and denser natural areas. Changes in relief and plant cover give each stage its own character: the first links Lagoa das Patas with Pico Negrão, while the second continues from Pico Negrão to Mata da Serreta. Together they provide a wide-ranging view of western Terceira.

Lagoa das Patas, Pico Negrão and Mata da Serreta provide clear anchors for organising the crossing. Between them, distance and changing ground make the experience fundamentally different from a short circuit: walkers move through an extended landscape and must sustain route awareness rather than relying on a quick return to the starting point.

Divide the crossing into its two designated stages. The first runs from the Lagoa das Patas forest reserve to Pico Negrão; the second resumes there and ends at Mata da Serreta. Confirm each day’s start and finish, arrange transport and accommodation, and follow the grand-route waymarks at farm tracks and trail junctions. At present, use only the open stage between Pico Negrão and Mata da Serreta. At Pico Negrão, confirm the stage transition and do not enter the section belonging to the closed stage.