Vereda da Atalaia e do Lombinho

The Vereda da Atalaia is one of the many routes available in the municipality of Calheta and is a good example of trails that run along the slopes, originally used for foraging and to supply the settlement with goods that arrived by boat. This path offers direct contact with cultivated fields and you may also encounter grazing livestock, which enhances the rural atmosphere. Wheat is often planted here, and watching the threshing process is worth noting. However, despite some revival of agricultural work by the local population, much of the land remains uncultivated. You can still spot the pleasant stone-built resting spots (poios) that beautify the landscape, with the ever-contrasting Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop. Along this route you get a privileged view over the parish of Paul do Mar; the zigzag on your right corresponds to the Vereda dos Zimbreiros, which you can also take. At the end of the trail, if you walk up a few metres along E.R. 223, you will find a staircase on the left that leads to Paul do Mar's main avenue via the Vereda do Lombinho. On this stretch you can observe banana production up close, crossing a large area dominated by this important local crop.