Salto do Cabrito Waterfall & Hike: Exactly What You Need To Know Before Going

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This post is part of our itinerary on São Miguel. To check out the full itinerary along with a map of what we did each day, be sure to get the details on our post!

Azores Webcams

Be sure to check the weather forecast before setting out, as conditions on the island can change rapidly. It’s a good idea to use the local webcams to see real-time weather in the specific area you’re planning to visit. Webcams are found here and here! The first link is our favorite as it’s overlaid on a map of the islands to help you plan!

PRC29 SMI – Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande & Salto do Cabrito

This is one of the most popular trails on São Miguel Island! This trail is a 5-mile loop with a 951-foot elevation gain. Along the trail, you’ll visit a waterfall, hike through forested paths, and you’ll get to see the Hydroelectric Power Plant of Salto do Cabrito, among other great scenery.

Finally, you’ll also visit Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande, where you have the option to start or end the hike with a bite to eat near Baloiço da Matriz or in town.

Where To Park

The first option for parking is just off EN5-2A. (Red star on the map above) This area has plenty of parking and will lead you on foot, very close to the waterfall, if that’s all you really want to see. We did see one person drive down the super steep, curvy road, so it’s doable, but we’d recommend parking and walking. You can find this lot located here.

The other parking area is located right near Baloiço da Matriz. This area is not located directly near the waterfall, so you’ll have to complete the full loop hike or do a portion out and back. There is also a really great food truck here, and you can stop by after your hike as well.

We parked at the first option because we weren’t aware of the two locations! It worked out pretty well, but it would have been nice to start and end right by the food truck with nearby restrooms and other restaurants.

Parking Area to Salto do Cabrito

Start hiking! This route is based on the first parking area noted above and follows the entire 5-mile loop. First, head down the road from your parked car and make a right just past the water tanks/fenced-off structure. The road that leads down to the hydroelectric plant is very steep here, but make your way to the bottom.

At the bottom, continue hiking toward the buildings and stay to your left to reach the waterfall. Don’t go up the stairs just yet, as you’ll come back to those after. The waterfall will likely be busy in the summer months with other folks cooling off in the water or taking a rest. Spend some time here and enjoy the scenery!

As we walked toward the waterfall just after the steep road, there was a person selling pina coladas, so you’ve got that going for you if you need a refreshment! The waterfall is beautiful!

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Salto do Cabrito to the Hydroelectric Power Plant of Fajã do Redondo

After enjoying some time at the waterfall, backtrack toward the Hydroelectric Power Plant of Salto do Cabrito and take the steep stairs on your left. This part of the hike is VERY steep and could be scary for those who don’t like heights.

Continue up the stairs and use the catwalks here to follow the trail. You’ll be able to look right through the stairs and catwalks below, so beware if you don’t like this sort of thing. There are railings here, but you may have to move out of the way for oncoming hikers, which would be tricky.

At some points, there is only a railing on one side, so please be careful as you hike along the catwalks here.

Continue hiking, and you’ll reach the decommissioned Hydroelectric Power Plant of Fajã do Redondo. Cross the bridge and walk past the old buildings.

Hydroelectric Power Plant of Fajã do Redondo to Baloiço da Matriz and Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande

As you follow the trail through the woods and up the hill, you’ll reach a section that follows some large pipes. Follow the pipe until you reach the road. Then, when you reach the fork in the road, continue to the left.

If you continue to the right, you can visit other points of interest, but we skipped this section to shave off a bit of time.

Next, follow the paved road, and you’ll eventually reach Baloiço da Matriz. Here you’ll find a parking area and refreshments as needed. Follow the road down around the curve toward Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande. At the junction, turn right to visit the town, or turn left to continue the hike.

Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande

If you head to town, you’ll find a few attractions here. First is the Termas das Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande. There are thermal baths that you can visit. Additionally, the Geothermal Interpretative Center, “Casa das Caldeiras”, is also here.

Finally, you can check out the restaurant, Restaurante Caldeiras Da Ribeira Grande. Here you can get some traditional food, including Cozido, which is a stew cooked in the nearby volcanic fumaroles used for cooking!

🫖 While you’re in the area, don’t miss the Chá Gorreana Tea Factory!

Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande To The Parking Area

Lastly, it’s time for a hike back to the parking lot. You can retrace your steps here or continue on the loop. To continue the loop hike, follow the road back to the junction from Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande and go straight.

Here you’ll be hiking on the brick road and under some beautiful groves of London Plane trees. Look for horses in the pastures as you walk. It’s not the most interesting part of the hike, but it was very quiet and peaceful.

When you reach the first junction with another road, turn left. Follow this road until you reach another junction. Then turn right and immediately left on the next road. Here you’ll be surrounded by very tall dirt walls.

Follow the road down to the stream and cross the bridge, walking back up the hill. Follow the trail, and eventually you’ll walk under a bridge, and the trail will end on the main road, EN5-2A.

Turn left/follow the road. From here, when you reach the first spot that you can turn left, follow this road. This is the road that you turned onto to reach the car park. Walk up the steep hill, and your 5-mile hike is complete!

Final Thoughts

This was a super fun trail! We weren’t sure where to park for this hike, and it worked out fairly well. I think if we did it over again, we would have parked near Caldeiras or Baloiço da Matriz to start and end near the food trucks and restaurants. That being said, it was still a great hike.

The most fun part of the hike was definitely climbing the steel stairs and hiking along the catwalks high up in the trees! Yes, it was a bit sketchy to see right through the walkways, but it was super cool with great scenery.

You definitely need to add PRC29 SMI to your list of hikes to do in the Azores, because you really can’t miss the Salto do Cabrito waterfall. At the end of our hike, we actually ended up driving back to get some food at the food truck right near Baloiço da Matriz. We had some delicious bolo do caco (garlic bread), a Bifana (traditional pork sandwich), and of course, some passionfruit Kima!