Pinhal da Paz

A few minutes east of central Ponta Delgada, a hillside of pines and tree ferns hides one of the island’s favourite afternoon escapes. The forest reserve of Pinhal da Paz offers playgrounds, picnic clearings and an easy loop trail — a calm patch of woodland that makes a gentle counterpoint to the volcanic lakes of Sete Cidades on the other side of the city.

A forest for the city

The reserve covers roughly forty-nine hectares on the slopes above the city, at about 240 metres of altitude. Older maps know it as the Mata das Criações, and the present name joins the original pine wood with the small chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz on the estate. Laid out from inherited farmland and planted with pines and other trees, it has grown into one of the most emblematic forest parks of São Miguel.

Clearings and trails

The path of Creations loop runs a short circuit through the trees, past tree ferns and flowering shrubs, in under an hour at a stroll. Families come for the large children’s playground and its maze, for the picnic areas with grills and for the fitness circuit that climbs the slope. Birds move through the canopy, and the shade keeps the air fresh even in the middle of summer.

What to see

• The loop walking trail through pines and tree ferns
• The children’s playground and its maze
• The picnic and barbecue clearings
• The fitness circuit on the upper slope
• The small chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz

Practical information

The reserve lies just outside Ponta Delgada on the road towards the east of the island, and local buses and cars both reach the entrance. Weather in the hills is fresh and changeable: bring a layer even on a bright day, and plan picnics with what you bring. Facilities and opening times vary — check official information before going.

Image credit: Pinhal da Paz by José Luís Ávila Silveira/Pedro Noronha e Costa — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.