Nature Reserve & Recreation Park of São Miguel
The origin of the name may derive from its former woods of maritime pines (of which there are only vestiges) and the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz; nevertheless, the rows of azaleas are the main attraction, for many visitors seek the bright colours of these ornamental species: every year, during Spring, the ‘Azalea Festival’ takes place, together with dancing and singing of the local folksongs.
The Park covers an area of 50 ha and, besides the numerous leisure spots for picnics and relaxing, there is the concern for environmental education, namely due to the collections of camellias, ferns, palms and cactuses, highly valued botanically and pedagogically. Being so close to the towns of Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande and the village of Lagoa means that this Park is one of the most popular and emblematic green spaces in the Azores.
Winter TimeFrom 1 October to 30 April | Monday to Friday |
| 08h00 AM to 4h00 PM | |
| Weekends and Holidays | |
| 10h00 AM to 5h00 PM |
Summer TimeFrom 1 May to 30 September | Monday to Friday |
| 08h00 AM to 7h00 PM | |
| Weekends and Holidays | |
| 10h00 AM to 8h00 PM |
Serviço Florestal de Ponta Delgada
Rua do Contador, 23
9500 – 050 Ponta Delgada
Tel.: 296 204 600
email: [email protected]
How to get there:
There are two options, the first being the best: take the radial road of Pico do Funcho and when you arrive to Carreira, take the regional Road nr. 3 (aka Caminho da Adutora) which leads to the Reserve (sign at the entrance); the second option is to take the Ponta Delgada/Ribeira Grande speedway, and then take the Regional Road nr. 3 (aka Caminho da Adutora), which also bears a road sign.
Infrastructures in Nature Reserve & Recreation Park:
 |  |  |  |
| Parking | WCs | Forest Information Centres | Forest Ranger´s House |
 |  |  |  |
| Hermitage | Camélias | Endemic Species | Palmary |
 |  |  |  |
| Fern Garden | Bird Enclosure | Cactus Garden | Children´s Playground |
 |  |  |  |
| Maze | Lawn | Viewing Pont | Stage |
 |  | ||
| Picnic Area | Lake |
The Nature Reserve & Recreation Park of Água Retorta covers an area of 13 ha by the regional road connecting Nordeste to Povoação. Besides the regular infrastructures, it displays an enormously rich botanical heritage made up of several species endemic to the Azores and superb samples of exotic hardwood and softwood trees.
Visitors can still enjoy the first and only Natural Camping Site of the island of São Miguel. This pilot project, created according to a concept of environmental sustainability, allows camping in total communion with Nature.
From 1 May to 30 September | From Monday to Friday |
| 08:00 AM to 11:00 PM | |
| Weekend and Holidays | |
| 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM* |
* Surveillance between 10:00 AM to 4:15 PM
From 1 October to 30 April | From Monday to Friday |
| 08:00 AM to 9:30 PM | |
| Weekend and Holidays | |
| 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM |
Serviço Florestal do Nordeste
Rua do Poceirão s/n
9630 – 171 Nordeste
Tel.: 296 480 570
email: [email protected]
Note: The Natural Camping Park (pilot experience) is available for reservations from May to September. To book, please send an email to [email protected].
How to get there:
Take Estrada Regional nr. 1, in the section that connects Povoação to Nordeste, a little after the detour to Água Retorta.
Infrastructures in Nature Reserve & Recreation Park:
| |  | |
| Parking | WC’s | Park Utility Building | Birds |
| |  | |
| Endemic Species | Children´s Playground | Wild Camping | Stage |
| |||
| Picnic Area |
The Nature Reserve & Recreation Park of Cancela do Cinzeiro, also known as ‘Park of Pedreira’, is located in the parish of Pedreira and is scenically framed by extensive plots of Japanese red cedar and pastureland, protected by geometrical banksia hedges.
The collection of several trees endemic to the Azores, each tagged for pedagogical purposes, the leisure equipment for children, the roofed picnic area, and the rustic golf course, among other attractions, turn this Nature Reserve into a must-see place in Nordeste.
From 1 May to 30 September | From Monday to Friday |
| 08:00 AM to 11:00 PM | |
| Weekend and Holidays | |
| 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM* |
* Surveillance between 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
From 1 October to 30 April | From Monday to Friday |
| 08:00 AM to 9:30 PM | |
| Weekend and Holidays | |
| 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM |
Serviço Florestal do Nordeste
Rua do Poceirão s/n
9630 – 171 Nordeste
Tel.: 296 480 570
email: [email protected]
How to get there:
To access the Forest path that leads to Pico Bartolomeu, take the Regional Road nr. 1, in the section between Lomba da Pedreira and the village of Nordeste.
Infrastructures in Nature Reserve & Recreation Park:
| | | |
| Parking | WCs | Park Utility Building | Forest Ranger´s House |
| | | |
| Endemic Species | Picnic Area | Children´s Playground |
400 meters, roughly, above sea level and approximately halfway between the villages of Vila Franca do Campo and Furnas, the Nature Reserve & Recreation Park of Cerrado dos Bezerros is cut from the neighbouring Forest Nursery by the regional road.
The Reserve was created in the 1960s and displays a large variety of exotic trees — and a fine balance between hardwoods and conifers. Over the years, recreational equipment has been added to the Reserve, popular among visitors and inhabitants of the island, who enjoy the cool shade from its trees.
Winter TimeFrom 1 October to 31 March | Monday to Friday |
| 08h00 AM to 4h00 PM | |
| Weekends and Holidays | |
| 10h00 AM to 5h00 PM |
Summer TimeFrom 1 April to 30 September | Monday to Friday |
| 08h00 AM to 7h00 PM | |
| Weekends and Holidays | |
| 10h00 AM to 8h00 PM |
Serviço Florestal de Ponta Delgada
Rua do Contador, 23
9500 – 050 Ponta Delgada
Tel.: 296 204 600
email: [email protected]
Infrastructures in Nature Reserve & Recreation Park:
| | |  |
| Parking | WC’s | Forest Ranger´s House | Deer Enclosure |
| | | |
| Bird Enclosure | Children´s Playground | Picnic Area |
Covering an area of approximately 1.40 ha, the Nature Reserve & Recreation Park of Fajã do Rodrigo is located between the Tronqueira Rural Road and Ribeira do Guilherme (a stream), in the ‘Pico da Vara/Ribeira do Guilherme’ ZPE (Zone for Special Protection), thus playing a very important role in the implementation of pedagogical actions and environment awareness.
The original plots of the old forest nursery where the Reserve is located are still as they used to be, the difference being the flora endemic to the Azores that now there planted. These small plantations of wildberry (Vaccinium cilyndraceum), tree heath (Erica azorica), white-wood (Picconia azorica), sheepberry (Prunus azorica), Morello wild cherry (Prunus azorica), buckthorn (Frangula azorica), English holly (Ilex azorica), and Azores juniper (Juniperus brevifolia) are part of the diversity and exuberance of the surrounding scenery, allowing visitors a direct contact with Nature and, at the same time, the opportunity to enjoy a leisure-oriented place.
Temporarily closed
Serviço Florestal do Nordeste
Rua do Poceirão s/n
9630 – 171 Nordeste
Tel.: 296 480 570
email: [email protected]
How to get there:
Take the road to Serra da Tronqueira.
Infrastructures in Nature Reserve & Recreation Park:
| | | |
| Park Utility building | WC’s | Endemic Species |
On the highest point of this reserve there is a belvedere offering a magnificent view to the centre of the island of São Miguel, covered in small volcanic cones (the Picos) and the bright green of the pastureland.
Recently inaugurated, the Information Centre for Game Species of Macela offers visitors a wider knowledge of the species hunted on the island; the visitor is given the chance to observe, up close, species as the European rabbit, the common quail, the grey partridge, the red-legged partridge, ducks, the rock pigeon which, together with the Eurasian woodcock and the common snipe, are the game species in the Azores.
Winter TimeFrom 1 October to 31 March | Monday to Friday |
| 08h00 AM to 4h00 PM | |
| Weekends and Holidays | |
| 10h00 AM 5h00 PM |
Summer TimeFrom 1 April to 30 September | Monday to Friday |
| 08h00 AM to 7h00 PM | |
| Weekends and Holidays | |
| 10h00 AM to 8h00 PM |
Serviço Florestal de Ponta Delgada
Rua do Contador, 23
9500 – 050 Ponta Delgada
Tel.: 296 204 600
email: [email protected]
How to get there:
Take the secondary road nr. 5 to Lagoa do Fogo, then take the detour up to Cinco Caminhos, where you can find the forest path bearing a sign of the Reserve.
Infrastructures in Nature Reserve & Recreation Park:
| | | |
| Parking | WCs | Forest Ranger´s House | Animal Enclosure |
| | | |
| Wildlife Information Center | Viewing Point | Picnic Area | Children´s Playground |
his forest nursery located in Furnas benefits from the enormous affluence of visitors to the idyllic valley. In its well-tendered plots grow oak trees, chestnut trees, among other hardwood species; but the largest production is of Japanese red cedars, a tree that found in the Azores conditions quite similar to those of origin, thus becoming a very important part of the Azorean landscape.
In order to promote fishing for sport, the Aquaculture Station of Furnas produces rainbow trout — the several phases of growth can be observed in the various tanks there available — for the replenishment of the fresh-water streams of São Miguel, namely those of the Lagoa do Fogo Mountain.
Winter Timefrom 1 October to 31 March | Monday to Friday |
| 08h00 AM to 4h00 PM | |
| Weekends and Holidays | |
| 10h00 AM to 5h00 PM |
Summer Timefrom 1 April to 30 September | Monday to Friday |
| 08h00 AM to 7h00 PM | |
| Weekends and Holidays | |
| 10h00 AM to 8h00 PM |
Serviço Florestal de Ponta Delgada
Rua do Contador, 23
9500 – 050 Ponta Delgada
Tel.: 296 204 600
email: [email protected]
Infrastructures in Nature Reserve & Recreation Park:
| | | |
| Parking | WC’s | Park Utility Building | Forest Ranger´s House |
|  | |  |
| Animal Enclosure | Fish Farm | Bird Enclosure | Nurseries |
The proximity of the historical centre of the village of Nordeste and the existence of fitness equipment, combined with a pleasant picnic area and traditional wood burning ovens, turn this Park into an attractive choice for many visitors.
Right at the entrance of the Nature Reserve & Recreation Park there is an extensive nursery, and the plots divided by azaleas — which bloom in spring — make this the largest nursery for the production of endemic plants in the Azores. The conditions of this infrastructure also allow visitors to follow the growth of several autochthon and endemic forest species, whose purpose is to promote the revival of the natural habitats of the Azores.
From 1 May to 30 September | From Monday to Friday |
| 08:00 AM to 11:00 PM | |
| Weekend and Holidays | |
| 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM* |
* Surveillance between 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
From 1 October to 30 April | From Monday to Friday |
| 08:00 AM to 9:30 PM | |
| Weekend and Holidays | |
| 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM |
Serviço Florestal do Nordeste
Rua do Poceirão s/n
9630 – 171 Nordeste
Tel.: 296 480 570
email: [email protected]
Infrastructures in Nature Reserve & Recreation Park:
| | | |
| Parking | WC’s | Forest Information Centres | Bird Enclosure |
| | | |
| Deer Enclosure | Children´s Playground | Picnic Area | Nurseries |