Incredible Santa Maria Trek Map 5 Days

This is a basic overview of the Great Route of Santa Maria Island trek and a general map. This Santa Maria trek map follows the hiking route that circles the small Azores island in 5 days. This trek map also highlights and utilizes the Ilha a Pé eco shelters.

☛ The Ilha a Pé shelters must be booked directly through the owners in advance. Booking through Ilha a Pe means that you'll be sleeping 4 consecutive nights in the eco-shelters following the trail counterclockwise from Vila do Porto.

While it is possible to hike the Great Route of Santa Maria without using the shelter system, Ilha a Pe's shelter system is definitely the easiest and most organized way to enjoy this spectacular trek on the Azores Islands.

Here's the 5-day standard trekking itinerary and Santa Maria trek map for the GR01SMA.

 ⁉️ If downloading the map, please verify that the map is correct and follows the waypoints. Oftentimes, there are daily updates to the site, map platforms, and other external issues that may cause a bug in downloading. Be mindful that this map is solely for entertainment purposes. See my full disclosure here. Always hike responsibly and respect the mountains by following a no-trace philosophy, avoid hiking alone, be conscious of the weather and personal limitations, and do not stray from the visible trail

Santa Maria Trek Map | Vila do Porto in 5 Days

• Circular Trail

  • The trail circles the Azores island of Santa Maria from the main city of Vila do Porto in a counterclockwise direction

• Official Trail Name: Grand Route of Santa Maria (Great Route of Santa Maria)

  • GR01SMA
  • Trail Markers are found throughout the way but an offline Santa Maria trek map is extremely useful
  • Look for official signboards and white and red blazes. Sometimes the blazes will be white, red, and yellow which also indicates the trail is a marked day hike

• Difficulty: Challenging, due to the steep ascents and descents.

  • Please don’t underestimate this trek.

• Official Distance: 49 miles (78.6 KM)
• Excursion Duration: The Grand Route of Santa Maria Island takes 5 days / 4 nights if utilizing the Ilha a Pé shelters.

It's best to sleep a night or two in Vila do Porto before starting on the Santa Maria Island Trek.

➜ Browse all the Places to Sleep in Vila do Porto

Schedule | Santa Maria Trek Map | 5 Days

• Day 1 | Vila do Porto – Malbusca | 8 Miles / 13 KM | + / – 5 Hours
• Day 2 | Malbusca – Lapa | 10.75 Miles / 17.3 KM | + / – 7 Hours
• Day 3 | Lapa – Norte | 10.25 Miles / 16.5 KM | + / – 8 Hours
• Day 4 | Norte – Raposo | 7.65 Miles / 12.3 KM | + / – 6 Hours
• Day 5 | Raposo – Vila do Porto | 15 Miles / 24.1 KM | + / – 7.5 Hours

🥾 My personal mileage for the Grand Route of Santa Maria trek with some detours was 53 miles (85.3 KM)

Day 1 | Vila do Porto – Malbusca

• Distance: 8 Miles (13 KM)
• Duration: +/ - 5 hours, dependent on weather, breaks, and fitness level
• Highlights:

  • Views all-day
  • Alternative Path to the secluded beach

Day 2 | Malbusca – Lapa 

• Distance: 10.75 Miles (17.3 KM)
• Duration: +/- 7 hours
• Highlights:

  • One of the most scenic days of the Santa Maria trek
  • UNESCO Geopark
  • Ribeira de Maloas
  • Views of Gonçalo Velho Lighthouse
  • Climbing through the old stone pathways of the vineyards
  • Maia village
  • Detour to the base of Cascata do Aveiro
  • Forest Path to Lapa

Day 3 | Lapa – Norte 

• Distance: 10.25 Miles (16.5 KM)
• Duration: +/- 8 hours
• Highlights:

  • Another scenic day of the Santa Maria trek
  • Santo Espirito Village with the church, bakery, cafes, and museum
  • The entire Bay of São Lourenco

  • Climbing the steep pathways through the terraces of the vineyards
  • Panoramic viewpoint of São Lourenço (Ponta do Matos)
  • Norte Coastal Views

Day 4 | Norte – Raposo 

• Distance: 7.65 Miles (12.3 KM)
• Duration: + / – 6 hours
• Detour to Baia Do Raposo (Round-Trip) | 1.25 Miles (2 KM) | + / – 2 Hours
• Highlights:

  • Village of Santa Barbara
  • Forest Trail to Pico Alto
  • Viewpoint

  • Visiting the Baia do Raposo and the old watermill

Day 5 | Raposo – Vila do Porto 

• Distance: 15 Miles (24.1 KM)
• Duration: + / – 7.5 hours
• Highlights:

  • Forest Trail to Red Desert
  • Unique Barreiro da Faneca (Red Desert)
  • Quiet Path Along the West Coast of Santa Maria

5-Day Santa Maria Trek Map & More

Want all the logistics that accompany this 5 Day Santa Maria trek map? Get more detailed information, useful tips and tricks, details on the shelter system, photo inspiration, and how much this incredible Azores island multi-day trek costs. Follow along with this complementing blog post:

The Great Route of Santa Maria Trekking Guide in the Azores

Disclosure: This is part of my Hikes & Adventures series, which means these treks can be strenuous and challenging. These are my experiences and I am not an expert. Please have all the proper equipment, verify the weather conditions, use professional resources, do your own research, and take into consideration your own physical abilities and/or limitations. These guides are for entertainment purposes only. Please see my full disclosure for more information here.

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