The plan for today was a first proper hike. A transfer got us to Serra Malagueta and the
visitor center of the National Park in the morning. We had a bit time to check out the small exhibition here and a first encounter with cow tongue (one of the local plants) – before starting the hike down the Gomgom valley. An overall distance of about 10km was ahead of us, with 300m up and 1000m down.

We initially followed a trail along a ledge – in windy and cool conditions and through shrouded forest – until we made it down into the valley, passing abandoned farms and the Gomgom village. The hike concluded in Hortelão – for the first ponche of the trip (local cocktail from rum, and something fruity and sweet – in this case green tamarind – similar to poncha on Madeira).