Travel Guide Mosteiros

A picturesque bathing spot in São Miguel. Here, the coast is cut into bays and rocky inlets. There's a natural swimming pool and a beautiful black sand beach, but beware: the sea can be dangerous. Offshore, the islets of Mosteiros and Pico das Camarinhas are home to remnants of the island's primitive vegetation. Gaspar Frutuoso, in his chronicle Saudades da Terra, relates a legend according to which the Mosteiros region was part of the great mantle worn by the giant Almoural, whose body was the island of São Miguel; the Mosteiros islets are said to be the tip of one of the feet protruding from the waves.Today, the village is home to just over 1,000 souls and offers a pleasant place to take a break between narrow cobbled streets, ocean views and natural pools. It's also a lovely spot from which to watch the sun set, or enjoy a picnic on the beach or rocks surrounding the pools.