2. Salto da Farinha Waterfall
Salto da Farinha Waterfall is another hidden gem on São Miguel Island. It's a 40-meter waterfall that cascades forcefully amidst a lush oasis of vegetation, reaching its most impactful level during the rainy season. Either way, in our opinion, reaching Salto da Farinha is a must for any nature lover visiting the Nordeste area.
Situated between the villages of Achadinha and Salga, this waterfall is often visited on the same day as Poço Azul due to its proximity, another essential gem of São Miguel Island.
The easiest way to reach Salto da Farinha is by car, following the local road from Achadinha to Salga. After about 2.5 km, you need to turn off this road to the right to reach the parking lot of Salto da Farinha Viewpoint. From there, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the waterfall and the sea.
From the same viewpoint, you can descend to the waterfall following a well-maintained trail for about 10 minutes. At the base of the waterfall, you'll find another viewpoint underneath it. I recommend bringing your camera because the photos from there are stunning. Just keep in mind that the best time to visit Salto da Farinha is after a period of rain, as the waterfall may run dry if it hasn't rained for a while.
Another way to reach Salto da Farinha (and our favorite) is by hiking the PR21 SMI Trail from Padrão das Alminhas to Salto da Farinha. This trail is perfect for nature lovers and has an added motivation: it also passes by Poço Azul, another natural wonder you shouldn't miss. It's a linear trail of medium difficulty, with a length of 4.9 km, so it takes around 2 hours to complete. Since it's linear, remember to add 2 more hours for the return trip, but we assure you it's worth it.
