Lajedo: the First Settlement on Flores’ West Coast
Before Fajã Grande or Fajãzinha existed, there was Lajedo — the mother settlement of Flores’ entire west coast, from which settlers departed to found the area’s other villages.
The settlement that gave rise to all the others
According to historical records, the parish of Lajedo was likely the first settlement to appear on Flores’ western side, later leading to the founding of Mosteiro, Fajãzinha, and Fajã Grande — a settlement path you can now follow on foot, via trails linking these four locations.
Butter exported to the mainland
While farming in this area is mostly subsistence-level today, it once had a notable economic period: during the 1970s, Lajedo produced artisanal butter that was exported in tins to mainland Portugal.
The west coast’s most iconic trail
Lajedo is the starting point for PR2 FLO, a roughly 13 km route crossing three long coastal valleys over its first 3 km, with views of rock outcrops like Ilhéu do Cartário, before passing through Mosteiro — the least populous parish in the entire country, according to the latest census — and continuing on to Fajã Grande.
Bird colonies on the cliffs
The coastal cliffs near Lajedo hold important nesting seabird colonies, notably Cory’s shearwater, common tern, and roseate tern — species sharing this territory with the cattle that still graze the green slopes today.
Planning your visit
- Location: southwestern coast of Flores Island, Lajes das Flores municipality.
- Trail: PR2 FLO, Lajedo–Fajã Grande, about 13 km, easy difficulty, roughly 3.5 hours.
- What to see: the village church, the trail’s starting point, and views of Rocha dos Bordões along the way.
Best time to visit
July and August bring the island covered in blooming hydrangeas, making the trail even more photogenic.
Nearby highlights
Baía do Mosteiro Viewpoint, overlooking the same coastline, sits along the route.
After Lajedo, follow the trail to Fajã Grande to complete your walk through the wildest, greenest coastline on all of Flores Island.
