Salto do Rosal
Salto do Rosal is a gorgeous waterfall near Furnas on the Isle of São Miguel (Azores), Portugal.
The roads on São Miguel are in a perfect condition and along the coast some parts are even a highway. From Ponta Delgada it was a 45 minute drive to Furnas and near the trailhead I saw a small parking near a fence along the road (gps 37.745338, -25.328695). From here it is only an easy 20 minute walk (of great beauty) to the base of Salto do Rosal. I used an offline map of Osmand to find the way, but after crossing the fence there are signs for Salto do Rosal.
What I didn’t knew was, that I entered a park where you had to pay admission for…. Later on when we drove a few hundred meters further, to the chapel at Furnas lake, where I saw an official entrance. Here you have to pay admission to enter the park. But there weren’t any signs at the fence where we entered the park that it wasn’t allowed. A little bit confusing.
Nevertheless we enjoyed this gorgeous waterfall very much although there was little water in Salto do Rosal. The waterfall surprised me and I never saw such a beautiful nature. So may plant and flowers we don’t have at home. The end was the highlight of the day. The moment we saw the watefall it was the ‘wow factor’. It is also possible to bath a little in the pond in front of Salto do Rosal.
On the way to the waterfall there is an old house (ruin) that is gorgeous to see and very photogenic. We also crossed a very tall tree, I think it was a sequoia.
I think Salto do Rosal is one of the most beautiful places you can visit on São Miguel and certainly one of the better waterfalls you have to visit.