Poço da Alagoinha

Flores gets more rain than anywhere else in the Azores, and the Poço da Alagoinha - also called Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro - is what that produces: an amphitheatre of basalt where water emerges from the whole face of the cliff and comes down in something like twenty separate falls, some threads and some substantial, into a still green pool at the bottom, with the rock covered in moss, fern and dripping vegetation. It is reached by a path of about twenty minutes from the road near Fajãzinha, largely level but wet and slippery, crossing a stream. Swimming in the pool is discouraged and at times prohibited. The whole western side of Flores is like this on a smaller scale, with the fajãs - flat shelves of land at the cliff base - and waterfalls along the coast road. Flores has few flights and weather cancels them regularly.

What you actually see

• The falls - around twenty separate drops down one basalt amphitheatre.
• The pool - a still green basin at the base of the wall.
• The vegetation - moss, fern and constant dripping across the whole face.
• The rainfall - the wettest island in the Azores, and why this exists.

When to go

May to September for the path and flights; the falls are fullest after rain, which is most of the year. One to two hours including the walk.

Honest expectations

The path is muddy and slippery in every season. Swimming is discouraged and at times banned. Flores has limited flights and fog cancels them frequently - allow spare days. Facilities near the site are minimal.

Nearby

Fajã Grande is on the coast below; Rocha dos Bordões is south.