Gloriadventure

     Almost anywhere you go, there is a parking area. Today was also about discovering the island by foot, so we parked our car at Lagoa do Canario parking lot. Today we went in the same area as in the second day, in the West part of the island, at Sete Cidades Volcano. This area might host the best views in the whole island. Here are many beautiful trails that can be done; even though they are in the same perimeter, they all have their unique stunning features. And what is great about this is that two of the most well rated trails are here: Vista do Rei that we already done in the second day and Serra Devassa which we did today.      Before we headed to Serra Devassa, we made a "quick" deviation from the road to see Lagoa de Santiago, north of the main street. To get to this lake we went on an iconic road which you might recognize if you've ever used Windows10. I didn't know at that time why this landscape seems so familiar to me; the goosebumps were mostl...

     Today we began with a stop at a very popular attraction from Sao Miguel island, Our Lady of Peace Chapel or also found as Miraduro Nossa Senhora da Paz. It is a white chapel on a hilltop with panoramic views over the countryside and the ocean. The most impressive feature at this chapel are the stairs that took us up to it. These are decorated with mural artwork. The legend says that the chapel was built in 18th century because sheperds saw an image of the Virgin Mary in a cave so they build the chapel over the cave. It is still visited by many pilgrims until this day. We were lucky to come here early, because at our way back, the parking lot started to get crowded. Our Lady of Peace Chapel      On our way to today's hike we came across a park so beautiful that we considered it it worth to make a little stop here. It's called Jardim da Alameda, in Furnas. The garden offers a beautiful pyramid-like waterfall, a small aquarium where you can see different ...

               On the west side of the island, you can find the most beautiful hike on the island. The trail starts at Miraduro Vista do Rei where you can admire the magnificent view of Lagoa das Sete Cidades crater lake. Translated, it means "the King's view"...indeed a landscape worthy of a king's eyes. It goes along the western edge of the volcano on a dirt road surrounded by fantastic vegetation. Miraduro Vista do Rei                This large depression on the top of Sete Cidades Volcano has an almost circular shape of around 5,3km in diameter. This volcanic caldera was formed at the time of a very explosive erruption followed by several eruptions that took place inside the caldera. These last erruptions formed the Caldera Seca, Caldeira do Alferes, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde, which we've seen today, and Lagoa do Santiago and Lagoa Rasa, which we will be seing later, on the fith day.  ...

 (comming soon)

          Montana Negra - Chinyero - is a moderate hike which I personally rate 11/10. It gives you a unique experience to walk so close to a volcano  🌋  and the best part is that you get to walk right on the cooled lava.           Volcano Chinyero is to blame for the disaster it created in 1909 by its erruption but also for the beautiful relief it created later. All the trees have their trunks black due to carbonization as effect of burning  🔥 , giving a very dramatic look of the forest.           In the sea of petrified lava you can see here to there how the beautiful living nature will eventually win over any destruction. It is overwhelming how a disaster can create such beauty. While this 12,5km walk, I found myself meditating and feeling so full of hope for this wonderful world  😌 . I was so grateful to live on this Planet  🙏 and for everything it offers us and f...

          Benijo - El Draguillo - Benijo - is a hike of medium difficulty that starts at the bottom of the mountains, in the village of Benijo, crosses the mountain on the other side, and then descends to El Draguillo hamlet, continuing along the coast until reaches back to Benijo. The hike lasted 2h 40m including our stops to catch our breath and take pictures.           It is very important to remember that the route should be done in a counter-clockwise direction (start from the right side by climbing the mountain, not from the left side along the coast). In this way, you will walk uphill only in the beginning, for the first hour. Admittedly, it is a very difficult and tiring climb and we even had moments when we wanted to give up after the first 20-30 minutes. We were asking ourselves why did we listen to the advices found on the internet and why we didn’t start the route from the left instead of the right 😂 . But later ...

          Sendero de los Sentidos, or  known as “The Path of The Senses” is a forest located in the natural reservation of Anaga Rural Park, in the north of the island. Anaga is maybe the greenest part of Tenerife, away from the crowds, noise, beaches, cities and cotidian life. In these areas you can come to relax and enjoy the beauties that this island has to offer. Enjoy the highland of mountains with sharp peaks covered with the green carpet of forests.           Sendero de los Sentidos is probably the easiest hike (more like a walk) in the Anaga Mountains. What is special about this forest is that, as you walk through it, urges you to use all your senses to enjoy intensely the beauties that the woodland has to offer. You will come across several signs prompting you to stop for a moment to take in the surroundings using one of your senses. Feel the soil beneath your feet, the texture of the logs, the moss 🌱… See the ...

          Around this rocky monolith called Roque de Taborno a group of people established and consolidated for many years. Here they found caves and shelters, access to different areas of Anaga, security thanks to the magnificent views of the entire northern coast and fertile spots for herding among other resources.           This is a moderate hike which is in the proximity of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It starts in the Taborno village, to the right side of the church. Do not take the left path because this trail is forbidden because of the risk of slipping and falling. We were planning to do it circular according to the initial trail, but at returning we noticed the signs that forbid crossing that way.          The full circuit goes like this:  Barranco de la Fajana – Era de los Cardos – Roque Taborno.  We couldn’t go all the way to circle the Taborno rock because it was extremely hot in the...

          Since we didn’t succeeded to visit Fanal Forest on our 3 rd day , we gave it a second chance today, but we took the risk and arrived there a little bit later than desired. Around 10:30 in the morning we arrived. There is a space that people use to park their car, but it cannot handle more than 5-6 cars. However, there was only one car there by the time we arrived. We were lucky enough to find the forest still in the fog. It was exactly how I imagined: a mistycal forest with old, weird-shaped trees. After a half an hour the fog disappeared and uncovered a beautiful green field with unique trees covered in the greenest moss. The atmosphere here was either a fairytale or a background of a horror movie 😊 ). We were so lucky to enjoy both of the sceneries.           The second stop was near Porto Moniz, at Ribeira da Janela. What I looked up to see here were the imposing rocks Ilheus da Ribeira da Janela. Since it is a...

          Today we slept longer. We wanted a day to “recover” and wander to different places. So we went to the opposite side from where we where (Funchal), in Porto Moniz, a little town situated in the north-west of the island. This place is popular for its natural pools. The seawater lava pools are naturally filled by the Atlantic Ocean’s high tide, offering a warm and safe setting to swim right through the imposing rocks. The scenery is unique and...oh man, do I love rocks so much!           Unfortunately, it was cloudy and we didn’t took a bath here. BUT, after enjoying this wonderful views, we then continued our today trip to Seixal. I was surprised, and I hope you will be too, to find out that the name of the city comes from some type of smooth stone (seixo) that is found in the rivers and this was used to describe the geomorphology of the region. And really ain’t talking s#!t; we got down to the beach (Praia do Porto d...