Black Mysteries Trail - PRC01 — Attraction in Praia da Vitória

Honestly... Had a blast here. I hadn't taken this amount of photographs since coming to the Azores a week and a half prior. It was such a gorgeous day despite the muddy trails and slight overcast. You will hike through about 5 different distinct flora and climactic zones including a Japanese cedar stand, both mature and young (with the occasional fabulous orange colouring); pastoral, cultivated grassland; Azorean heather, juniper, laurel and basalt field; Azorean blueberry and Cape Myrtle. This hike is like an adult fun house: you get to purposefully use every limb and learn to appreciate the steadfastness that the feel of pokey basalt on your butt can provide you as you scramble down some of the more technical areas. You'll experience balancing acts on the boarded walkways and cookied stump tiles, and narrow corridors down the water carved channels/walking paths, and strategic foot placement between the abundant cedar roots.

Felt a little homesick the night before but not...

Trail Review: Mudpit Madness

Mudpit Madness is a trail best suited for those who relish childhood memories of hopscotch and muddy adventures. However, for those seeking scenic beauty or a serene hiking experience, this trail falls short. With endless pits of mud and treacherous tree roots littering the path, navigating becomes a constant battle against slipping and sinking. Disappointingly, there are no notable sights to compensate for the challenging terrain, making Mudpit Madness one of the worst trails I've encountered in my extensive hiking experience. Additionally, the trail is poorly marked at times, adding to the frustration. This is one of the few times in my life that I could not wait for the trail to end. To add insult to injury, at the end of the trail, hikers must contend with the danger of not getting killed by passing cars. Unless you have a peculiar affinity for hopscotch or a masochistic love for mud, I would not...

Beautiful hike with a great variety of terrains and views. It was quite muddy, but every severely soft bit of trail had wood planks, tree stumps or other stepping stones installed. The rest was manageable by stepping on countless roots or lava rocks. Walking sticks highly recommended for balance. It is possible to hike in non-waterproof boots, but might require more care in choosing each step carefully.

The last 3/4 mile is a relaxing stroll on a tree lined road. The main hike pretty challenging at times.

At the trail head is also the entry to Gruta do Natal, a gorgeous cave that can be explored in 30-minute self guided tours, or as part of a tour group. (Check opening times for that one though, as it appeared to open around...