Cascata da Calcada dos Gigantes

Santo Espirito, Azores Region, Portugal

About Cascata da Calcada dos Gigantes

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Cascata da Calcada dos Gigantes (or Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes) drops beneath a 200m long basalt rim facing the southern shore of Ilha Santa Maria in the Azores (or Açores).

This basalt wall is said to be 20m tall, which suggests that this waterfall must be at least that tall.

Santa_Maria_138_06192024 - Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes or Cascata da Ribeira do Maloás or Cascata das Figueiras
Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes or Cascata da Ribeira do Maloás or Cascata das Figueiras

As you can see from the photo above, this may have been the only waterfall on our early Summer 2024 Portugal trip that lacked a good flow.

However, I’d argue that the geological oddity of being a basalt waterfall combined with the precipitous yet gorgeous ocean views along the trail made this still a worthwhile excursion.

As for the timing of this waterfall, it’s fickle in that its drainage isn’t substantial so it needs to have a bit of a good rain followed by a visit shortly thereafter in order to see the falls perform.

On average Santa Maria Island is one of the Azores’ drier islands and gets on average 2-12 days of rain in a given month (with July being the driest at 2 days of rain and December being the wettest at 12 days).

Santa_Maria_082_06192024 - Context of the basalt stretch beneath some pastures containing the Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes
Context of the basalt stretch beneath some pastures containing the Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes

Therefore, perhaps the state of the Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes during our visit late June 2024 shouldn’t have been surprising.

If we had the ability to come back to the Açores whenever we pleased, then I’d probably time our visit for the early- to mid-Spring months to see this waterfall perform.

As for accessing the waterfall, I started from an unsigned turnoff for a 4wd track by a private farm (see directions below).

Then, I followed the 4wd track that went around someone’s private farm before the path eventually reached the end of the 4wd track, where there was an interpretive sign about the Ribeira dos Maloás.

Santa_Maria_041_06192024 - Looking back at the cliff-hugging part of the trail along the southern shore of Ilha Santa Maria on the way to the Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes
Looking back at the cliff-hugging part of the trail along the southern shore of Ilha Santa Maria on the way to the Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes

After the sign, the trail became more appropriate for hiking instead of off-roading.

It eventually clung to the rim of sea cliffs offering very nice coastal views of the southern shore of Ilha Santa Maria.

After about 200m from the interpretive sign, the trail then veered inland towards the edge of a ravine backed by a basalt wall, and this was where the waterfall made its drop beneath some cow pastures.

Continuing along the rim of this ravine, I eventually got to the start of the basalt wall, where there was a trail that descended steeply to the level of the creek.

Santa_Maria_119_06192024 - Making it to the plunge pool fronting the Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes
Making it to the plunge pool fronting the Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes

After crossing the creek, I continued upstream to get right up to the plunge pool of the Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes fronting its trickling waterfall.

As a consolation prize for my efforts despite the waterfall’s disappointing performance, I noticed that there were frogs in and around the creek and plunge pool.

After having my fill of this place, I went back the way I came, where I wound up spending about an hour away from the car covering about 2km in total distance (1km each way).

Granted, a lot of that hour was spent just trying to stay quiet for the frogs to show themselves (so I could take pictures of them) after their initial fight-or-flight response when I first showed up.

Santa_Maria_109_06192024 - Zoomed in look at a handful of frogs showing themselves at the plunge pool of the Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes after I paused long enough for them to let their guard down
Zoomed in look at a handful of frogs showing themselves at the plunge pool of the Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes after I paused long enough for them to let their guard down

By the way, I noticed that GoogleMaps and Wikipedia had also referred to Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes as Cascata da Ribeira do Maloás as well as Cascata das Figueiras.

The former seems to imply that the seasonal creek the waterfall is on is called Ribeira do Maloás.

Authorities

The Cascata da Calçada dos Gigantes is located on the island of Santa Maria of the Azores Autonomous Region of Portugal. It is managed by the Municipality of Vila do Porto. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you can try visiting the official Azores tourism website.

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Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.

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Tagged with: santo espirito, santa maria, azores, acores, portugal, basalt



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Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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