PS PR1 Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã Hiking Trail begins on the regional road ER 111 (Porto Santo) and ends on ER Terra Chã, a distance of 2.7 km (2.7 Km + return), lasting 1h and 30m (one way), at an altitude between 450m and 184m. This route in the absence of springs, it is recommended to take water.
Following the path that leads to the top of the White Peak, hikers find a huge prismatic geological formation in which the path was hewn called by Rocha Quebrada. After the climb ending in a failed rock crab Cabeço, the path runs between a landscape with tree predominance of cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) until you find the junction which connects on the right side to Terra Chã; the left of the White Peak (Pico Branco) , the second highest peak of Porto Santo.
The common name of coniferous trees Cypress (macrocarpa Cupressus) found this location were planted at the beginning of the century. XX, whose handiwork of building walls to ground support and planting of trees, reflects the seriousness of the disappearance of natural vegetation and soil erosion.
White Peak has this name due to the existence of a white stone column, and also because there exist many white species lichens with common name urzela (Rocella sp.), Which grows on the rock, which was exported from Porto Santo for the production of paints and other related specialties.
The area of ??Pico Branco and Terra Chã, part of the Natura 2000 network, the Habitats Directive, for existing flora of endemism such as Nettle (Urtica portosanctana) Erisimum arbuscula, Molarinha (Fumaria muralis subsp. Muralis var. Laeta) and vitiates costae. This is the only site of the holy island of Porto where it was registered the highest number of copies of the best-preserved indigenous flora due to meet refugees in inaccessible cliffs or even inaccessible. Here the indigenous vegetation is predominantly shrubby and herbaceous.
In this place can be observed two species of seabirds such as Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea borealis) and the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo).
The numerous natural viewpoints that this path offers allow us to glimpse much of the island of Porto Santo. This path was traced way for the passage of donkeys laden when local sowed barley Terra Chã. The return by the same path.
Distance: 2.7 Km (+ 2.7 Km Return)
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.30 minutes
Start/Finish: ER 111 / ER Terra Chã
Highest point/Lowest point: 450 m / 184 m
Warning tips: Take drinking water;