This hike leads to Lagoa Amélia and is a mossy crater lake. It is located at an altitude of 1475 m in the central mountain massif in the Mé-Zóchi district.
You can park in the botanical garden. There, a staff member had offered to be our guide. We found the 20€ per person for this quite easy hike (if you also walk back the same way) very high and after much discussion we declined. Later, when we returned, the head of the house told us that it was actually compulsory to take a guide. However, we do not know whether the price was really correct.
In the end, we had paid 10€ for the care and protection of the national park, which we were of course very happy to do.
The way there is a moderately difficult climb, good hiking gear is a must here as it is always very wet and slippery. There are many birds to watch.
On site at the moor, caution is advised! There is danger to life, please make sure you can walk on the floating grass with a long stick, below it is more than three metres deep in the middle (marked with a stick stuck in the water)!!!!
For the way back, we wanted a bit of a change and walked the trail over Pico Morro Palmira.
This part is extremely challenging, very steep, very slippery and connections of the path are sometimes hard to find. We had cursed several times. :D But it is a beautiful piece of jungle and at the end you walk through idyllic fields with beautiful views into the valley. But please only use this path if you are looking for an adventure, preferably with walking sticks! :D