In the centre of Caldas de Reis we will find a botanical garden, originally from the 19th century and linked to the town’s thermal tradition. It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1962 and contains species from all five continents, most of which are exotic. Adjacent to it, there is an oak grove made up of more than 200 centenary specimens, of different sizes and morphology, arranged in rows on the banks of the Umia River, which will serve as the starting point of this route that will take us to the Segade Waterfall. 

After walking for about a kilometre we will find a wooden bridge that will allow us to cross the river if we want to extend our route a little more and go up to the roman bridge of Baxe, with only one arch, built in the 1st century in the place of Segade and renovated in 1729. 

In this case we will choose the short option, so we will leave the bridge on the right and continue along the dirt road. We will pass several water mills and arrive at the ruins of the old fábrica da luz (light factory), built in 1900 and active for more than 50 years, supplying electricity to the whole region until the 1920s. 

And next to it, the most awaited part of the route: the waterfall which, with a height of about 30 m, descends forming different pools with sufficient depth to take a bath, making it a great place for leisure activities, very popular with locals and visitors alike during the good weather.