Trails and waterfalls
The walks, and what is at the end of them. Start early and take more water than you think. The beaches these trails lead to live under Praias.
11 trails and waterfalls
South
Over the canal footbridge and past Prainha — under 1 km, ~15 min — to clear rock pools in a fissure of the costão. Only there when the sea is calm; go early, it packs out.
Trail · Easy · Trail only
South
Campeche's own hill — 20–30 min up (~1.2 km) to Pedra do Urubu and a 360° over the whole south: the Lagoa, the Joaquina dunes, Ilha do Campeche, Armação. The most view for the least effort on this list.
Trail · Easy · Trail only
South
Lakeside path to a village with no road (~7 km, 2–3h one way). The end are lagoon side towns with great restaurants. Walk one way, take the boat back — the lancha runs like a bus from signed jetties (~R$4); some restaurants run you back free if you lunch there.
Trail · Moderate · Boat back possible
South
The costão walk between Mole and Joaquina, down to the mapped Praia do Gravatá — the tiny Atlantic cove, not our lagoon Gravatá. Paragliding ramp up top, a fishermen's colony below, and otters on the beach at dawn if you're lucky.
Trail · Moderate · Trail only
South
Short and steep from Sertão do Ribeirão above Lagoa do Peri (~1.2 km, under an hour), or the long Caminho da Gurita from Armação (~3.5 km, ~2h) — falls plus arguably the best high view over the lagoon, in one of the island's most isolated corners. One rocky scramble where hands are needed.
Waterfall · Moderate · Trail only
Climb up to a mirante — it's the viewpoint you're going for, not the walk. From Lagoinha do Leste beach it's ~700 m and 210 m up to Pedra do Surfista: THE postcard shot of the island. Steep and eroded; skip after heavy rain.
Trail · Hard · Trail only
Short hop from the end of Praia da Solidão (~1.5 km, 30–40 min) to a tiny 75 m cove where Bar do Quirino sometimes fries fresh fish. Side trail to Cachoeira da Solidão near the start; paid parking ~R$20.
Trail · Easy · Trail only
The one to do. Two routes in: the shorter, steeper climb from Pântano do Sul (~2.2 km, 1h–1h30), or the longer coastal path from Matadeiro (~4.5 km, 2h30–3h). Beach at the end has no road access and sometimes you can get a boat back from here if the sea is calm and its not a Sunday. Wild beach, no services — carry water.
Trail · Hard · Boat back possible
South
The walk out to Praia de Naufragados from Caieira da Barra do Sul (~3 km, 45 min–1h on a wide forest track). Ends at the 1861 lighthouse. Private car parks at the trailhead, ~R$20–30.
Trail · Moderate · Trail only
Centro
8 m fall into a 3 m-deep natural pool in Córrego Grande — 15–20 min walk from the end of the street, free. Best after rain.
Waterfall · Easy · Road access
North
From the north end of Santinho by the resort — ~2 km and 40–50 min to a 225 m summit over Santinho, Ingleses and the whole empty sweep of Moçambique. The prehistoric carvings are on the costão at the base.
Trail · Moderate · Trail only