São Lourenço PR8 Intro

On the last day after hiking to Pedra Rija and Caldeirão Verde I and Serhii decided to hop on a short hike before the airport. Out of the options we had, the one that made most sense time- and location-wise was the PR8 route Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço. We assumed we won't be able to go the whole way through, so instead we took it slow and enjoyed the sights.

At the Miradouro de São Lourenço (viewpoint) we came across a group of Polish hikers discussing the creation of cliffs and mineral formations, one of them saying:

Stalaktyty kurwa, stalagmity kurwa, speleothemy kurwa, kras kurwa!

I think he was very knowledgeable on the topic! The whole route was very nice, with low grass and flowers everywhere, and tons of hikers going back and forth. The whole way is paved with light steps on steeper areas, so it's accessible to tourists of all levels. Eventually we ran out of sightseeing time and had to turn back to make it in time for the plane boarding.

The way back was uneventful, but I want to point out that the area is very windy while you stay in the open (always) and the direct sun also burns the skin quite easily, so clothing needs to be chosen carefully. Eventually we reached the parking lot at the start of the hike, took a poncha for the road and headed to the airport. If only we knew beforehand that our flight would be cancelled last-minute...