This hike starts at Paul da Serra following a long and abrupt descent through Laurisilva forest until you reach Chão da Ribeira, a small village surrounded by mountains near Seixal. Located in a large valley overlooking the parish of Seixal, here you can find a symbiosis between man and nature. You will find many Palheiros, small traditional stone warehouses, formerly used to support agriculture. Nowadays they are an integral part of the landscape. You will notice that agriculture is still very much present in the numerous terraces that together with the Laurissilva forest define the local landscape. It is an idyllic and isolated corner of the island where the Laurisilva Forest and human activity coexist in harmony at 350 meters high. From here this hiking tour follows another trail up to Fanal. This is a very steep and quite difficult trail with around 800 meters of vertical gain until you reach Fanal and its famous centenary Laurel trees (Ocotea Foetens). There are sections of untouched lush Laurisilva forest of great beauty, and it is possible to see a great variety of endemic plant species in this walk.