Pico da Barrosa

Pico da Barrosa

Portugal, europe

Length

21 km

Elevation

936 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, road trip enthusiasts, listen up! If you're heading to São Miguel in the Azores, you HAVE to conquer Pico da Barrosa! This mountain pass climbs to a cool 936 meters (that's 3,070 feet!), and trust me, the views are worth every inch.

You'll be cruising on EN5-2A, a winding, paved road that's definitely on the steeper side. But hey, that just adds to the adventure, right? The route carves through incredible volcanic landscapes - keep your eyes peeled! Once you reach the top, you're rewarded with panoramic views of both the North and South Coasts. Seriously breathtaking stuff!

The road itself is about 21 kilometers long and features around 16 hairpin turns, connecting the towns of Ribeira Grande and Lagoa. The journey is exhilarating, so embrace those twists and turns!

Heads up: There's a rough 4x4 track branching off towards Poios Brancos for those who want to get *really* off the beaten path, and the equally scenic EM513 Road leads to Alto de Vaires. At the summit, you'll find a parking lot and some communication towers. Don't let those towers distract you from the epic scenery. Get ready for some seriously stunning vistas!

Where is it?

Pico da Barrosa is located in Portugal (europe). Coordinates: 38.9463, -8.3779

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Road Details

Country
Portugal
Continent
europe
Length
21 km
Max Elevation
936 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
38.9463, -8.3779

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