The Legend tells you what the arrows í mean and how the terms "right" and "left" are used.

Outline of Tracks
and  Classification

Cabeço dos Tarrafes - Morro Negro - Porto Ferreira - Fundo das Figueiras

To the smugglers harbours of the East Coast, we have to leave the densly populated agricultural valley of Rª de Norte climb to the lighthouse tower on top of Morro Negro, where the birds play in the upstream winds of a splendid panorama view.  Goat tracks take us futher to the wild coast of sandy beaches and the impressive rocks at  Praia Mosquito.  From the former smugglers harbour of Porto Ferreira, an abandoned road connects back to civilization at Fundo das Figueiras.

5 liters of drinking water per person, solid shoes, sun protection, our map, a compass and eventually binoculars for bird-watching are strongly recommended. When temperatures rise, walking times and water consumption go up as well!
 

Starting Point
is Cabeço dos Tarafes [CABEC], the southernmost of three villages in Rª de Norte. A dustroad, today only transitable for 4x4 ìè was once layed out to build and service the lighthouse tower. We follow it up to the top of the lonesome hill of Morro Negro.[MNEGRO]

The panorama view is a good reason for a longer rest. Bird-watchers, keeping quiet in the shadow of the tower, get very close to sea birds and desert ravens playing in the upstream winds from the North-East.

To continue, there are two ways possible:

Version 1 for the well equipped: There is sort of a turntable for cars a few meters below the lighthouse tower. From here a simple éziehenden goat track prolongs horizontally to the next rigde [MNEG11] and disappearing in the steep slope. Without visible track we just hike down ë to the little planalto of Tabuleiro  [MNEG13].

Version 2 for sandals and sport shoes: Not much slower and much more comfortable is to descent çthe paved road to the foot of the hill   [MNEG01] and take another goat track  é, circling its foot and leading out to Tabuleiro [MNEG13].

Before éreaching the very northern tip of Tabuleiro [MNEG14], a little trail descentsì from the sholder down to the ground of tiny Rª Preta, follows the groundline of the slope for about 100 m é before heading out ì into the plain of gravel and sands, descending smoothly to the shore.

Following the ridge éof the limestone plateau, some wonderful rocks, laying out in the whitewaters, challenge every photographer.  A camera, wide-angle lens, polarization filter, tripod and an ambitioned photographer can show what they are able to produce - and wait for hours for the right moment!

Strolling the beach further North é after half an hour the prominent peninsula of Porto Ferreira marks the endpoint. The former access road is still visible ç from far away but mainly covered with sand - and therefore easily lost when trying to follow it. Nevertheless, navigation is no problem, as ist is always redetected in a distance.

Having said good bye to the eastern coast at the pass of Selada Ferreira [PFERD05] the visitors ë find back to the soft valley of Rª do Norte.

In Fundo das Figueiras, smaller shops at the square next to the Church [FIGU02] offer drinks from the fridge!