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Hiking in the Azores: Various Islands with Stunning Nature and Hikes
Hiking in the Azores: The Most Beautiful Hiking Trails and Practical Tips
The Azores have always fascinated me, and last year I finally decided to visit this green gem in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Over the course of two weeks, we explored São Miguel, Terceira, and Faial. And it’s really true: these islands are a true hiker’s paradise.
What makes hiking in the Azores so special? The volcanic landscapes, lush nature, and well-maintained trails make every adventure unique. In this blog, I’ll share my favorite hiking routes, helpful tips, and experiences.
Why Go Hiking in the Azores
The Azores consist of nine islands, each with its own unique character and countless hiking opportunities. What they all have in common is their unspoiled nature and peaceful atmosphere. During your hikes, you’ll walk past crater lakes, through ancient forests, and over volcanic peaks with breathtaking views.
Best time to visit:April through October is ideal for hiking in the Azores. The weather is more stable, and nature is at its most beautiful. It can get very crowded during the summer months, though. I visited São Miguel and Terceira in November, and that turned out to be an ideal month for hiking as well, though of course it can vary from year to year.
Climate: Temperatures range from 16°C in the winter to 26°C in the summer. Because it’s located in the Atlantic Ocean, you can always expect a shower.
The time difference between the Azores and the Netherlands is 2 hours (it is earlier in the Azores).
The Azores: A Sustainable Destination
The Azores are the first archipelago in the world to have earned the international certificate for sustainable destinations, awarded by an organization accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. They are constantly striving to improve in order to meet their goals and enhance sustainability.
The archipelago is an autonomous region of Portugal; the official language is Portuguese, but with a different pronunciation. The dialect, whose sounds are reminiscent of French, is called Micaelense. English is also generally spoken very well on the islands.
The Most Beautiful Hiking Trails in the Azores
During our trip, we tried out a few hikes, and these are my absolute favorites.
1. Lagoa do Fogo Hiking Trail, São Miguel
Distance: 11 km | Duration: 4 hours | Difficulty: moderate
This hike was one of the highlights of my trip. The trail takes you to the impressive crater lake, Lagoa do Fogo. We started the hike early in the morning, which was a smart move: the sky was clear, and the view of the lake was phenomenal.
The trail is well marked, but some sections are challenging. Be sure to wear good hiking shoes and bring plenty of water.
Tip: Use the SpotAzores app to check if visibility is clear at attractions such as Lagoa do Fogo.
2. Sanguinho Trail to Salto do Prego, São Miguel
Distance: 4.5 km | Duration: 2 hours | Difficulty: moderate
This trail starts in Faial da Terra and takes you through the abandoned village of Sanguinho, eventually ending at the beautiful Salto do Prego waterfall. It felt almost magical to walk through the dense vegetation and suddenly come upon the waterfall.
Bring your swimsuit—a dip in the ice-cold water is wonderfully refreshing.
3. Caldeira, a crater on Faial
Distance: 8 km | Duration: 3 hours | Difficulty: moderate
On Faial, we walked around the impressive Caldeira, a massive crater with a diameter of 2 kilometers. The trail runs along the crater rim and offers spectacular views. On a clear day, you can even see the islands of Pico and São Jorge.
4. Monte Brasil, Terceira
Distance: 7 km | Duration: 2.5 hours | Difficulty: easy
Monte Brasil, an extinct volcano, offers a leisurely hike with stunning views of the city of Angra do Heroísmo. This hike is perfect for a quiet day, and it’s especially beautiful here at sunset.
Take a walk through Europe’s oldest tea plantation, enjoy the view of the vast tea fields, and learn about tea cultivation on São Miguel. Read more about this walk and about São Miguel.
Useful Tips for Hiking in the Azores
Would you like to take an organized vacation to the Azores? Then check out Priolo Travel. They are an excellent Azores specialist.
Always check the weather forecast beforehand: The weather in the Azores can change quickly. Be sure to bring a raincoat and extra layers of clothing.
Use hiking apps: We used Komoot and Azores Trails to plan our routes and download offline maps.
Wear sturdy shoes: Shoes with good traction are essential, especially on the muddy trails around crater lakes.
Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks, especially on longer hikes like the Lagoa do Fogo trail.
Book your accommodations and any rental car in advance.
Accessibility of the Azores
During the summer months (April through October), Transavia offers direct flights from Amsterdam to Ponta Delgada that take about 4.5 hours. This is usually the most affordable option.
Ryanair operates weekly flights from Brussels-Charleroi to Ponta Delgada
From May through September, Eurowings operates flights from Düsseldorf to Ponta Delgada
TAP Air Portugal offers other options—including connecting flights and flights during the winter months—to São Miguel, Terceira, and Faial. One advantage of this way of traveling is that you can make a “stopover” (lasting 10 days) in Lisbon or Porto, allowing you to combine your trip to the Azores with a city break. Prices start at €250–300 round-trip. For more information, visit www.flytap.com
Island Hopping in the Azores
It takes some planning and preparation if you want to go island-hopping in the Azores. That’s because not all of the islands are connected by boat. Ferry routes change with the seasons. Book your ferry crossings or flights in advance so you don’t run into any surprises regarding price or accessibility.
From São Miguel, the ferry currently only goes to Santa Maria
The islands of São Jorge, Pico, Faial, Terceira, and Graciosa are connected by ferry
Flores and Corvo can be reached by ferry
By plane: Azores Airlinesoffers flights between all the islands of the Azores, but it’s also possible to use ferry services between the islands of the Western Azores (Corvo and Flores) and the Central Azores (Pico, Faial, Terceira, Graciosa, and São Jorge). Check their website for current flights and schedules between the islands.
Hotels in the Azores
Our tips for sustainable accommodations in the Azores:
Quinta do Icaro on Terceira: 7 unique wooden villas for 3–5 people with a saltwater pool. Close to the natural pools of Porto Martins and Praia da Vitória Beach.
Quinta do Bom Despacho: near Ponta Delgada. Sustainable accommodations in a beautifully renovated farmhouse with an organic garden and a swimming pool. They use renewable energy and serve local products.
Pico do Refúgio: also on São Miguel, in Ribeira Grande. A charming complex of former tea plantations converted into apartments. Here, you’ll sleep surrounded by green hills with a view of the ocean. A perfect spot for nature lovers.
Aldeia da Fonte: located on Pico, in Lajes do Pico. An eco-resort nestled among the trees with spectacular ocean views. An ideal base for whale watching or climbing Pico Volcano.
Hotel do Canal on Faial. A small-scale hotel in Horta. Within walking distance of cozy cafés, such as the famous Peter Café Sport. Simple yet comfortable, the staff is happy to offer tips on the best hikes in the area.
Azores Wine Company: in Picos. In Madalena, a unique destination for wine lovers. Here, you’ll literally sleep among the vineyards in stylish rooms featuring modern architecture. Sample the local wines and dine at an excellent restaurant.
Car Rental in the Azores
As for transportation on each island, you can take scheduled buses on the main routes on São Miguel and Terceira, but these generally won’t take you to the sights or trailheads.
The easiest way to explore the islands is to rent a car. There are several car rental companies, but we chose AutAtlantis. When signing the rental agreement, we opted for the “Super Relax Pack,” which reduces the deductible to a maximum of €100.
Whale and Dolphin Watching
The Azores are surrounded by a unique ecosystem with nutrient-rich waters, where you can spot 28 species of whales and dolphins, including bottlenose dolphins, as well as whales that pass through the Azores during their migrations, such as spotted dolphins, sperm whales, and even blue whales, which are most commonly seen toward the end of winter.
Traditional whaling gave way to “whale-watching” long ago. The best time to spot whales is from May through September. If you don’t want to go out to sea, you can visit one of the information centers or try to spot them from one of the observation towers.
An excursion starts at around €60 per person and is generally conducted using a Zodiac, but you can also choose to go out on the water on a catamaran or fiberglass boat. Before you set out, you’ll receive a briefing about the ocean, what you can expect to see (no guarantee you’ll see anything!), and a review of the safety procedures. The excursion lasts about 3 hours.
São Miguel, Terceira, Pico, and Faial are the best islands for a whale-watching tour. You can book the tour on-site.
With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.
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We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.
We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
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If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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