The first edition of the Grande Rota do Nordeste transformed the northeastern corner of São Miguel Island into a moving landscape of endurance, nature, and community, bringing together dozens of participants for a two-day, 45-kilometer journey through some of the most dramatic and least explored terrain in the Azores.

Organized by the Centro Desportivo e Recreativo do Concelho do Nordeste, the event gathered 34 participants in a physically demanding route designed not only to promote outdoor sports, but also to reveal the cultural, environmental, and economic potential of the municipality of Nordeste.

“The central objective is the promotion of physical activity and sport, always with the revitalization of Nordeste at its core,” explained organizer Hélder Camarinha.

The initiative emerged partly in response to a long-discussed regional plan to create a major long-distance route across São Miguel — a proposal that has yet to materialize. Rather than waiting, the local sports and recreation association decided to move forward independently, building what participants now hope will become a recurring annual event.

Held on May 2 and 3, the route covered approximately 25 kilometers on the first day and 20 kilometers on the second, traversing coastal paths, river valleys, village centers, steep altitudes, and nature trails throughout the municipality. Organizers intentionally limited participation to avoid overcrowding and preserve both the quality of the experience and the surrounding environment.

“We made it very clear that this was not a casual walk,” Camarinha said. “The altimetry was demanding, the distances were significant, and participants needed to be physically prepared.”

The route was carefully designed to move beyond the regional roads and into places often unseen by ordinary visitors.

“We wanted people to discover the richness of our municipality — from churches to historical traces and hidden points of interest that many never encounter when simply driving through,” he explained.

Participants arrived from across São Miguel, including Ponta Delgada and Povoação, while local residents also joined the experience. The event even attracted international participation, including an Italian couple currently living in the Azores who praised both the organization and the landscapes encountered along the way.

Yet organizers insist the initiative was never solely about athletics.

One of the event’s central goals was economic and social revitalization in one of São Miguel’s more geographically distant municipalities. Local restaurants, cafés, fuel stations, and businesses benefited from the influx of participants, while accommodations and meals were coordinated through partnerships with local institutions and commerce.

“The events supported by the Municipality of Nordeste should not be viewed merely as costs,” Camarinha argued. “There is always an economic return that remains in the community.”

Logistics for the overnight portion of the event were supported by the Escola Básica e Secundária do Nordeste, which opened its gymnasium and facilities so participants could sleep on-site in improvised dormitories. Approximately twenty participants stayed overnight at the school.

Safety and support logistics were extensive throughout the route. Organizers maintained mobile assistance vehicles, hydration points, meal support, and direct trail accompaniment to ensure no participant was left behind. Fortunately, despite the demanding terrain, no serious injuries occurred.

The initiative also incorporated a charitable component. Although participation was free, organizers invited participants to contribute five euros toward a local social institution. The event ultimately raised 225 euros for Amizade 2000, with organizers planning to convert the donations into equipment or services that directly improve quality of life for the institution’s users.

Environmental sustainability was another priority throughout the project.

By limiting participant numbers and implementing strict trail-cleanup procedures, organizers sought to ensure the event left no negative ecological footprint on the municipality’s fragile landscapes. A designated team member closed the route after the final participants, collecting any debris and verifying that no waste remained along the trails.

“We wanted absolutely no negative impact on the municipality,” Camarinha emphasized.

Following the success of the inaugural edition, organizers are already preparing a second Grande Rota do Nordeste for October. Future editions may feature new routes connecting the coast with the higher elevations of the municipality or alternative trail configurations through Nordeste’s mountains and valleys.

The sports and recreation center also continues to organize a broad calendar of non-federated sports activities throughout the year, including the Sábados de Natureza hiking program, climbs to Pico da Vara, relay races, futsal tournaments, volleyball competitions, and fishing events.

For Camarinha, however, the deeper mission remains simple.

“The most important thing is for people to remain active,” he said. “Physical activity improves quality of life biologically, socially, and psychologically. What matters is movement, consistency, and participation.”

In a region often defined internationally by volcanic scenery and Atlantic isolation, the Grande Rota do Nordeste offered another vision of the Azores: one where landscape, community, sustainability, and human endurance become part of the same shared path.

Translated and adapted from an interview conducted by journalist Diogo Simões Pires for Atlântico Expresso-Natalino Viveiros, director.