3. Salto do Cabrito Waterfall
Salto do Cabrito Waterfall is another must-visit spot on São Miguel Island. It's an impressive waterfall located in the town of Ribeira Grande, one of the most important towns on the island. This spot is truly magical, combining the grandeur of the waterfall with the natural beauty of the surroundings.
At Salto do Cabrito, water drops from 40 meters and forms a natural pool that invites you to cool off. Additionally, there's a viewpoint at the top of the waterfall that offers stunning views of the surroundings. However, climbing up there isn't suitable for those with vertigo. Be careful!
As it's very close to Caldeira Velha, it's a place that's often visited on the same day, so you can take advantage of your swimsuit. If you visit Caldeira Velha before Salto do Cabrito, you'll likely find quite a few people at the waterfall area. It's a very popular spot on São Miguel Island and tends to get crowded from noon onwards. If, on the other hand, you decide to visit Salto do Cabrito first thing in the morning, you can avoid the crowds.
You can reach Salto do Cabrito by car and park at this parking lot. However, it's highly recommended to take the hiking trail that leads to Salto do Cabrito: the PRC29 SMI trail. This trail starts from the parking lot of the Termas das Caldeiras, is circular, and has a distance of 8.5 km, so it takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete. Keep in mind that you'll need to add the time you'll spend enjoying Salto do Cabrito and its surroundings to this.
The trail is simply incredible. On it, you'll feel like you're in the middle of the jungle, with the added bonus of seeing small fumaroles emerging from the side of the path, a truly impressive experience that we consider essential on São Miguel Island for hiking enthusiasts. However, it's a route not suitable for those with vertigo as it includes several walkways and stairs at a considerable height, which could be a bit intimidating.
If you're an adventurous person, you can't miss the opportunity to go canyoning at Salto do Cabrito. In this guided activity, you'll descend a canyon and navigate several waterfalls surrounded by lush nature.
And don't worry if you've never been canyoning before! It's an activity suitable for most ages and all levels of canyoning experience.
There's just one catch: it's very popular and, since it's done in small groups (8 people), it tends to sell out quickly. So don't wait to book if you don't want to miss out on this experience!
>> Book the canyoning activity at Salto do Cabrito here.