Hiking the São Miguel Gorreana Tea Plantation Trail

If you’re spending 3 or 7 days exploring São Miguel Island in the Azores, and enjoy hiking and learning about the island’s agricultural heritage, the Gorreana Tea Plantation trail should be at the top of your list. Walk all or just part of the main trail through Europe’s oldest tea plantation to enjoy stunning ocean views and lush fields of tea. Head off the beaten path to the Water trail, winding through the irrigation channels to the forest, ending at beautiful waterfalls. Wrap up your visit with a free tea factory tour and tea tastings. Here’s how to plan your visit to the Gorreana Tea Plantation Trail & Water Trail, perfect for nature and tea enthusiasts.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We recommend products we have personally used or verified. Read the full disclosure here.

Don’t have time to read the whole article?
Here is the best São Miguel day tour!
Find the top São Miguel hotels!
Reserve your rental car!

Pin this for later!

Contents

• Hiking the Gorreana Tea Plantation Trail
• Caminho da Água da Gorreana Trail (The Water Trail)
• What Else to Do at the Gorreana Tea Plantation
• Gorreana Tea Plantation Visitor Tips
• Top Tours Featuring Gorreana Tea Plantation
• How to Get to the Gorreana Tea Plantation Trail

Hiking the Gorreana Tea Plantation Trail

The Gorreana Tea Plantation trail (PRC28SMI) is the most popular walking route through the plantation. It offers a unique blend of tea fields, forests, and views of the vast Atlantic. As an added bonus, you can enjoy the views by walking all or just a short part of the comfortably wide paths. Many large tour groups visit the factory and café, but don’t venture too far onto the trails.

Pro tip: We’d recommend arriving early or late in the day to avoid the large tour groups at the factory itself.

• Length: 3.4 km (2.1 miles) loop (you can easily do just a portion)
• Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours (leave plenty of time for pictures)
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Elevation gain: 183 m (600 ft.)
• Trailhead: Just across the road from the Gorreana Tea Factory parking lot
• Restrooms and water: available in the tea factory building

After parking in the main Gorreana Tea Plantation parking lot, carefully cross the street to the tea fields. The trail steadily climbs through the planted tea terraces before leading to a woodland area with eucalyptus trees and Japanese cedar. We ran into one group of plantation workers heading for a break, but otherwise saw only other tourists on the trail.

Pro tip: Especially on the uphill, be sure to take plenty of breaks to turn around and enjoy the views over the ocean.

During your descent, you’ll have nearly constant views of the ocean. It’s photogenic from start to finish. The best lighting is typically early morning or late afternoon.

Caminho da Água da Gorreana Trail (The Water Trail)

The Caminho da Água da Gorreana, or Water Trail, follows an old waterway system that once powered the plantation and continues to supply irrigation today. It’s a local favorite and generally less visited trail, vastly different from the main Gorreana tea plantation trail.

• Length: 2 km (1.2 miles) round-trip
• Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour
• Difficulty: Easy (while easy, there are a few sets of stairs to navigate to cross the stream)
• Elevation gain: 40 m (131 ft.)
• Trailhead: Just east of the Gorreana Tea Plantation parking lot

Head east from the parking lot and you’ll see signs for the Caminho da Água da Gorreana Trilho (the main trail is on the opposite side of the road). We found the trail quite easy to follow, though we always recommending downloading an offline map (such as Alltrails, in case you need to check your directions when you don’t have phone reception).

The trail starts leading through irrigation channels, with lovely views. When you reach the stream, you’ll need to climb down stairs, cross the stream walking on rocks), then climb up again. This is the only section we considered moderately challenging. After crossing the stream, you’ll see a trail sign for Poço da Juventude, leading off to the right. This short turnoff leads to the tranquil pool shown above, which is a perfect place for a water or snack break.

Once back on the main path, you’ll pass this old structure (photo above) and ultimately reach a small and mossy waterfall. This is an out and back trail, so you’ll need to retrace your steps from here.

What Else to Do at the Gorreana Tea Plantation

Gorreana isn’t just about hiking. After your walk, be sure to leave time to enjoy the factory tour, café, and gift shop.

Factory Tour (Free)

After your hike, step inside the working factory to see the traditional tea production process in action. Wander through the factory or join a free tour. The tours are fairly brief, but we found the information on the tea plantation’s history and production processes quite interesting. You’ll observe antique machines and learn about how green and black tea are made.

Tasting & Café

The tour ends in the tasting room, where you can enjoy complimentary tastings of the house teas. Move into the café, where you can order hot and iced teas alongside pastries and tea-infused cookies. Our group enjoyed the tea-infused cookies while enjoying views of the plantation and the ocean from the terrace.

Gift Shop

This is a great spot to pick up souvenirs such as loose-leaf teas, boxed gifts, and even locally made soaps and jams.

Gorreana Tea Plantation Visitor Tips

• Location: Gorreana Tea Plantation, Maia, São Miguel Island, Azores
• Opening Hours: Weekdays 8 am – 6 pm, Weekends 9 am – 6 pm. Check website for holiday hours.
• Admission: Free
• The café terrace is an ideal spot for photos—don’t miss the shot of tea fields rolling toward the ocean.
• Visit in the morning or late afternoon for the best light and cooler temperatures.
• Bring water, especially if hiking the full loop trail. See our essential day hike checklist for more ideas on what to bring along.

Top Tours Featuring Gorreana Tea Plantation

For those who’d like to explore with a guide, these tours include hiking Gorreana Tea Plantation trail or visits to the tea factory.

• Half-day Gorreana Walk and Tea Tasting – Pickup and drop-off in Ponta Delgada, with a guided hike on the Plantation Trail, the tea tour, and tastings (4 hours). This highly rated tour is the only one we have found that includes time to hike the plantation trail. Check availability below:

• Furnas Tea Plantations, Lake and Volcano Guided Tour – Combines tea tastings with volcanic hot springs & a traditional cozido lunch. Bonus stops at Vila Franca do Campo and a pineapple plantation (8 hours). This does not include time for the hike at the tea factory, but it’s ideal for those who’d just like the tea tour, tastings, and time for a few photos.

How to Get to the Gorreana Tea Plantation Trail

The Gorreana Tea Plantation is located on São Miguel’s north coast, just a 30-minute drive from Ponta Delgada. Renting a car is the most flexible option, though some tours offer pickup. Parking is free and plentiful on-site.

We use and recommend DiscoverCars.com for our car rentals. Search for your Ponta Delgada car rental below.

Pro Tip: Don’t miss stopping at Miradouro de Santa Iria, one of the most iconic viewpoints on São Miguel. It’s a 10-minute drive west of the plantation and overlooks the cliffs and coves of the island’s north coast.

Why Visit the Gorreana Tea Plantation Trail?

The Gorreana Tea Plantation trail offers a wonderful blend of scenic walking, learning about Azorean history & agriculture, and stunning views. Visiting the tea plantation is a quintessential São Miguel experience, which shouldn’t be missed. It’s easy to combine this with a stop at the Furnas Hot Springs and Lake.

You May Also Enjoy:

• Top Tips for Renting a Car in Portugal
• Kayak Vila Franca do Campo Adventure to Vila Franca Islet
• How to Plan Your Visit to the Furnas São Miguel Hot Springs
• How Many Days in São Miguel, Azores?
• Winter in Madeira, a 4-Day Itinerary
• Where to Stay in Madeira Portugal
• Best Time to Visit Madeira Portugal
• Tenerife or Madeira, a Traveler’s Guide to Two Paradise Islands
• Top 10 Things to Do in Madeira Portugal
  

Pin this for later!