Azores Hiking Trails
With high mountaintops, dramatic volcanic landscapes and green lush pastures with colorful flowers all by the endless blue of the ocean, the Azores archipelago is one of the most rewarding experiences for travelers wanting to combine an exotic vacation with physical activities outdoors. The Self Guided Walking Tours take you around the whole magnificence of the Azores Natural Reserve.
The trekking trails pass through the deep and scented eucalyptus, incense and acacia woods and will entice you with the sight of many an endemic plant, like the Heather, the Sierra Grape or the Tamujo. In an ascent of a couple of kilometers, you can pass from the dramatic panoramic views over the Sao Miguel coast to the winding slopes of Lagoa do Fogo and Vila Franca do Campo. As you hike, you are required to preserve the habitat, so do not pollute or damage the natural environment in any way, that’s the only rule!
Examples of Self Guided Walking Tours
A 2 hour trail is the circular Faial da Terra – Salto do Prego. We start walking along the river bank and head towards the village, from which we can enter a beautiful forest of acacias and incense. We’ll pass a dilapidated water mill, orchards and walk over a bridge before climbing to the dramatic waterfall uphill.
One of the last stops is Sanguinho village, after which the sidewalk path will take us back to our starting point.
A shorter, linear trail only about 2 kilometers long and lasting some 45 minutes is the Picodoro Ferro – Caldeiras da Lagoa das Furnas. Starting at the Iron Peak Viewpoint, the path winds through the winding hills, passing the scented endemic plants and a water line. This is also a spectacular place for bird watching.
Cha Gorreana and Furnas are other exciting hiking trails you can explore, but we don’t want to spoil the surprise.
Book one of the Azores trails below for a wonderful experience!
- Vista do Rei and Sete Cidades trail
- Mata do Canario trail
- Serra Devassa trail
- Praia/Lagoa do Fogo trail
- Cha Gorreana trail
- Pico do Ferro/Lagoa das Furnas trail
- Furnas Trail
- Faial da Terra trail
Come to the Azores and see for yourself!
But, if you are not a fan of walking you can always enjoy the beauty of our land from a comfortable car with an Azores Tour.