Santo Espírito - Maia

PR04SMA links Santo Espírito with Maia over 3.9 kilometres and is temporarily closed. It must not be entered beside the church, from Maia or through intermediate farm accesses while that condition remains. When available, the crossing leaves Santo Espírito, passes a former windmill and fountain, then enters rural lanes among pasture and small cultivated plots.

Caminho da Lapa follows spring areas and former washing places before reaching Ribeira Grande. The roughly 80-metre Cascata do Aveiro dominates the slope above Maia and provides the route’s principal natural landmark. Below it, terraced vineyards descend towards the bay, organised by walls and stairs. Two former wine presses dated 1579 show the long history of wine production on this steep hillside.

The route finishes beside Maia bathing area after a sustained descent. Rated easy and taking around two hours when open, it brings together water heritage, windmill, vineyards and one of Santa Maria’s best-known waterfalls. The rating does not remove the danger of high stream flow or wet steps. Any future visit depends on explicit reopening, a new condition check and transport between the two endpoints.

Do not enter PR04SMA while it is closed. The line starts at Santo Espírito Church, heads east past the former windmill and fountain, and joins Caminho da Lapa. It passes spring areas, reaches Ribeira Grande and the Cascata do Aveiro view, then descends among terraced vineyards and wine presses to Maia bathing area. After reopening, confirm the complete waymarking and arrange collection in Maia; never use farm tracks to bypass interruptions. The full 3.9-kilometre route remains closed; choose another open trail and reconsider this itinerary only after reopening has been expressly confirmed.