Timeline
09:00
Drive uphill from the center of Porto da Cruz to the trailhead. Look for the blue bar and the sign pointing into the mountains.
09:40
Hike the Levada do Castelejo through the pine and laurel forest. The trail takes you past waterfalls to the Ribiero Frio, one of the island's most important water sources.
11:00
Descend to the coast and head to Snackbar a Pipa. Arrive by 12:00 when it opens to secure a table before it gets busy with locals. Order the fresh fish caught that day.
12:00
Walk 14 minutes to Praia da Maiata. Use the beach time to digest your meal and enjoy the ocean view after the hike.
Local tip
The hike is about 40 minutes each way. Driving to the trailhead saves time and energy for the forest walk. Snackbar a Pipa is regarded as the best restaurant for fresh fish, so arriving at opening time helps avoid the lunch rush.
Check before you go
- Snackbar a Pipa is open Tu-Fr 12:00-24:00 and Sa,Su 09:00-22:00.
- The Levada do Castelejo hike takes approximately 40 minutes each way.
- Drive to the trailhead as the walk from town is steep.
Worth knowing
- Snackbar a Pipa is open at 11:00 only on Sa, Su
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Porto da Cruz (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).