Norte Pequeno to Canto da Abelheira and Faja da Neca Loop

This medium loop on the north coast of São Jorge packs a lot into roughly 11 km / 6.8 miles, with about 600 m / 1,970 ft of elevation gain. It starts near the Junta de Freguesia de Norte Pequeno on Estrada Regional, 9850-130 Norte Pequeno, Calheta, São Jorge, and follows the signed PRC06 SJO Norte Pequeno route through the parish, down old access ways to the coast, and across a string of dramatic fajãs—flat coastal platforms formed by landslides and lava debris at the base of the island’s cliffs. The official trail information lists it as a circular, medium-difficulty route of 10.9 km with an average walking time of about 3 hours. (trails.visitazores.com)

The walk begins gently through the settlement before turning onto a dirt farm track. Early on, the route passes agricultural ground and a domestic water-catchment area, then starts the more serious descent. This is where the character of the hike changes: the trail drops in switchbacks along steep sea cliffs, and the elevation loss is felt in the legs almost immediately. Because the return involves climbing back to Norte Pequeno, it is best approached as a moderate route with a few strenuous stretches rather than an easy coastal ramble. (trails.visitazores.com)

What the route is like

As you descend, the vegetation becomes one of the highlights. Official trail notes for this route mention Azorean heather (Erica azorica), Morella faya, Australian cheesewood/incense tree (Pittosporum undulatum), and Kahili ginger (Hedychium gardneranum) along the steeper sections. You may also notice taro/yam plantings (Colocasia esculenta), plus willows and New Zealand flax, plants that once supplied useful raw material for everyday rural tools and household items. That mix of native and introduced species is typical of São Jorge’s inhabited fajã landscapes, where farming, isolation, and moisture from the Atlantic have shaped the terrain for centuries. (trails.visitazores.com)

The first inhabited coastal area reached is Fajã do Mero, a small settlement tucked against the shoreline. From there, the route continues on the main path toward Fajã da Penedia. In this section, expect a blend of rough track, old access lanes, and open views over the Atlantic. The scenery alternates between cliff walls above, cultivated plots around the houses, and the broad ocean horizon below. In wet weather, these lower sections can be slick, especially where vegetation crowds the path or where runoff crosses the trail. (trails.visitazores.com)

At Fajã da Penedia, there is a side turn to the Ermida de Santa Filomena, a chapel that has been reconstructed in recent years. This is one of the route’s most meaningful cultural landmarks. The chapel reflects the long history of small, semi-isolated coastal communities on São Jorge, where religious buildings often served not just spiritual life but also social identity and continuity for families living far below the main settlements on the plateau. A regional walking guide notes that the little church in this fajã was originally built by Father António Tomé on land he owned there, and later remained in the family line, which gives a sense of how personal and local the history of these places can be. (trails.visitazores.com)

Landmarks and side areas

The route description published by the Azores trail network focuses on Fajã do Mero, Fajã da Penedia, and Fajã das Pontas, but mapping for the same trail also places Canto da Abelheira, Fajã dos Azevinhos, and Fajã da Neca along the broader loop area. Canto da Abelheira is best understood as a key turning area or access point on the coastal track system below Norte Pequeno, rather than a major village center. It sits within the network of old lanes linking the north-coast fajãs. (trails.visitazores.com)

A later fork gives access to Fajã das Pontas, where the trail drops to a **small