São João - Lourais - Fajã dos Vimes

Fajã de São João–Lourais–Fajã dos Vimes links small communities on São Jorge’s south coast by hillside paths, woodland and streams. Starting beside the café and church in Fajã de São João, it climbs northwest among plots of vines, maize and taro. Agriculture on steep parcels accompanies the departure from the fajã and illustrates the intensive use of limited ground beneath the cliff.

Beyond the woodland, the route reaches Lourais and crosses Ribeira do Salto. A dirt track begins the descent to Fajã dos Bodes, followed by the crossing of Ribeira dos Cedros, where stone can be slippery. The final section returns close to the sea and ends at the harbour in Fajã dos Vimes. Repeated climbs and descents provide a continuous reading of settlement, crops and old access routes. Each fajã has its own relationship between water, slope and coast, while the streams explain both local fertility and the route’s vulnerability during wet periods.

The São João–Lourais–Bodes–Vimes sequence also provides practical anchors for judging progress. Between each settlement, woodland and streams show how strongly these connections depend on slope conditions, particularly after intense rainfall. The route’s cultural interest and its physical demands therefore arise from the same steep coastal geography.

Start beside the café and church in Fajã de São João and climb northwest among vines, maize and taro. Cross the woodland, reach Lourais and pass Ribeira do Salto at the marked point. Follow the dirt track down to Fajã dos Bodes and carefully cross Ribeira dos Cedros. Continue along the coastal section to the harbour at Fajã dos Vimes. Arrange transport between the endpoints in advance. At Fajã dos Bodes, confirm the exit towards Ribeira dos Cedros before continuing on to Vimes.