Ponta da Ferraria to Mosteiros Coastal Trail

The trail starts at the Ponta da Ferraria thermal sea pool, reached by bus from Ponta Delgada to Ginetes or by car, with parking at the pool itself; no permit is required. The point-to-point route covers 9 km with about 200 m of cumulative elevation gain, rated moderate, following coastal cliffs and pasture along São Miguel's western tip to the black-sand village of Mosteiros. The path alternates between grassy farm tracks, packed dirt clifftop trail, and short paved village stretches; exposure is moderate along the unfenced cliff edges, and shade is scarce for most of the route, which runs largely in the open along the coast. Landmarks include the tidal thermal pool at Ponta da Ferraria, where seawater heated by volcanic vents mixes with the ocean at low tide, sweeping views of the Ilhéus dos Mosteiros islets as the trail approaches the finish, and pastureland dotted with traditional stone-walled fields. A reasonable turn-around point for a shorter walk is the midpoint headland overlooking the islets, roughly 4.5 km in. There are no refuge huts along the trail, and no reliable drinking water source, so hikers should carry what they need. Public transport does not run between the two endpoints on a fixed schedule, so hikers typically arrange a car shuttle or return by taxi from Mosteiros. The route is best combined with a soak in the thermal pool either before starting or after finishing, timed around low tide when the pool is accessible.