The Azores (Açores) are a chain of nine volcanic islands scattered across the mid-Atlantic, roughly 1,400 km west of mainland Portugal. Known for crater lakes, dramatic sea cliffs, thermal springs, and green pastureland, the archipelago offers whale watching, hiking, and diving in a landscape often compared to Ireland and Hawaii combined. Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel, is the archipelago's largest city and main gateway.
Top trails
Routes worth lacing up your boots for.
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1
PR1 SMI - Sete Cidades Caldera Loop
A circular waymarked trail descending from the Vista do Rei crater-rim viewpoint into the Sete Cidades caldera, circling the twin Green and Blue lakes before climbing back to the rim.
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2
PR8 SMI - Faial da Terra to Salto do Prego
A waymarked trail following the Ribeira Faial da Terra streambed through laurel forest to the twin-drop waterfall of Salto do Prego, with a natural pool at the base.
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3
Lagoa do Fogo Trail from Pico do Carvão
A steep descent from the Pico do Carvão viewpoint through native scrub to the crater lake of Lagoa do Fogo, within the Sete Cidades protected landscape, with a return climb to the rim.
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4
Ponta da Ferraria to Mosteiros Coastal Trail
A coastal path linking the natural thermal sea pool at Ponta da Ferraria to the black-sand village of Mosteiros, crossing cliffs and pasture on São Miguel's western tip.
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5
PRC1 TER - Serra de Santa Bárbara Loop
A short waymarked loop around the twin nested craters at the summit of Terceira's highest point (1023m), through cloud-forest vegetation with island-wide views when clear.
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6
Montanha do Pico Summit Ascent
The ascent of Montanha do Pico, mainland Portugal's highest mountain at 2351m, climbing volcanic scoria from the Casa da Montanha ranger station to the crater rim and the Piquinho secondary cone.
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7
Mistérios Negros Trail, Pico
A loop through the black lava fields (mistérios) left by the 1562 and 1718 eruptions, crossing the stone-walled vineyard currais of Pico's UNESCO World Heritage landscape.
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8
Caldeira do Faial Crater Rim Trail
A waymarked loop around the rim of Faial's 400-metre-deep volcanic caldera, through cedar and heather cloud-forest with viewpoints down into the crater floor.
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9
Ponta dos Capelinhos Volcano Trail
A trail across the ash-grey landscape left by the 1957-58 Capelinhos eruption, passing the half-buried lighthouse at the western tip of Faial.
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10
PR1 FLO - Poço da Alagoinha Trail
A short waymarked trail through laurissilva forest to the waterfall and natural pool of Poço da Alagoinha, one of dozens of cascades on Flores' green volcanic slopes.
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11
Caldeira Funda e Caldeira Rasa Loop, Flores
A loop around two adjoining crater lakes in southwest Flores, Caldeira Funda (22m deep) ringed by wildflowers and the shallower Caldeira Rasa (16m deep), both within a protected nature reserve.
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12
PR1 SJO - Fajã dos Cubres to Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo
A coastal-cliff trail linking two of São Jorge's fajãs, the lava and landslide platforms at sea level, from the lagoon at Fajã dos Cubres to the clam beds of Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo.
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13
Serra do Topo to Fajã dos Cubres Descent
A long descent from the high central ridge of São Jorge at Serra do Topo, through laurel forest and pasture down to the fajã lowlands on the north coast.
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14
Caldeira and Furna do Enxofre Trail, Graciosa
A trail around the rim of Graciosa's central caldera to the entrance of Furna do Enxofre, a lava cave with a sulphurous underground lake reached by a spiral stone staircase.
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15
Pico Alto Trail, Santa Maria
A trail to the summit of Pico Alto, Santa Maria's highest point at 587m, passing former radar installations with views over the island's patchwork farmland and the ocean.
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16
Trilho do Caldeirão, Corvo Island
A climb from Vila do Corvo to the rim of the Caldeirão, a 2.3-kilometre-wide volcanic caldera with small lakes and islets on its floor, on the smallest inhabited Azorean island.
Trail difficulty levels
Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.
Mostly flat, well-marked paths. Suitable for families and casual walkers.
Some elevation gain, longer distances. Requires basic fitness.
Significant climbs and exposure. Requires good fitness and route-finding.
Technical terrain, scrambling, or alpine conditions. Experience essential.
When to hike
Seasonal conditions in Azores.
- Spring
- April-June: green landscapes, wildflowers, and the most reliable clear-sky windows for crater and summit views
- Summer
- July-August: warmest and driest, but also the busiest season on São Miguel and Pico; mornings are clearest before afternoon cloud builds over the calderas
- Autumn
- September-October: settled weather often returns after summer, with fewer visitors on the trails
- Winter
- November-March: wet and windy on all islands; the Montanha do Pico ascent and high ridge trails such as Serra de Santa Bárbara are best avoided
Local hazards
What to watch out for on the trail.
Hazard: Sudden cloud cover and fog on volcanic summits and crater rims, which can obscure trail markers with little warning
Hazard: Unfenced drop-offs at caldeira and fajã cliff edges - stay well back from unprotected rims
Hazard: Slippery volcanic rock and scoria, especially after rain
Hazard: Rapid weather changes between islands; conditions at the coast can differ sharply from the interior highlands
Hazard: Mandatory registration and GPS tracker recommended for the Montanha do Pico ascent, which has no barriers near the summit
Hazard: Limited mobile phone signal in parts of the interior on Pico, Flores, and Corvo
Hazard: Free-roaming cattle and farm dogs on some rural fajã and pasture paths