Hiking in the Azores

Furnas, known as the thermal hotspot of the Azores, is located inside a geothermal caldera, which is a large depression formed by previous volcanic eruptions, in the center of the island of São Miguel.

Today, we'll explore the Furnas crater lake to observe its steaming, bubbling calderas. At the end of the day, you can optionally visit Terra Nostra Park (known for its centuries-old trees) and enjoy a soak in the natural thermal pools. Overnight in Furnas.

**Departure on 05/07/25 we are going to Lago da Siete cidades.

We ascend through a forest of eucalyptus, pittosporum, and acacia trees, then follow a stream before reaching the shores of Lagoa de Fogo. Our route offers superb views of the south coast of São Miguel, Vila Franca do Campo, its islet, and the Ribeira da Praia.

Along the way, we stop in Porto Formoso on the North side to visit a "Casa de Chá", the only place in Europe where the production of the camellia that produces tea is grown and processed.

Please note that this route takes place entirely within a designated Nature Reserve. It is everyone's responsibility to contribute to its protection and ensure its biodiversity by preserving this natural habitat. Overnight stay in Ponta Delgada.

**Departure on 05/07/25 we are going to Lago do Canarios or the cetacean excursion as an option.

Today, we're heading to Lagoa das Sete Cidades to discover one of the most beautiful calderas in the Azores. Two lakes (Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde) are nestled in the immense crater of this volcano, offering an impressive and surprising landscape.

**Departure on 05/07/25 we are going to Lago do Fogo.

We'll depart for the Serra Devassa area, home to the largest number of lagoons on São Miguel Island. Among others, we'll discover Lagoa do Canário, Lagoa das Éguas, Lagoa Rasa, and Lagoa do Carvão. This hike takes us around a series of volcanic lakes that cascade along a ridge. The occasional mist adds to the unique atmosphere.

For those who wish, it will be possible to replace this day of hiking with a whale watching excursion* (supplement: €70)

*NB: As this 3-hour outing is subject to weather conditions, your guide may reverse some days of this trip so that it can take place in the best conditions.

**Departure on 05/07/25, we are doing a tour around Lake Furnas

We take a flight to the island of Sao Jorge and are transferred to the village of Velas where we settle in for 3 nights.

We then explore the area around Velas and we can even take the opportunity to swim in natural pools.

Depending on the domestic flight schedule to Sao Jorge Island, the program may be adjusted.

Fajas are mountain landslides that have formed plateaus. Here, they occurred along the coast. These fajas, due to their size, are unique in Europe.

After a transfer to Serra do Topo, we descend to reach the Santo Cristo caldera and then to the salt lake of the faja, then we follow a coastal path to reach the faja das Cubres,

After breakfast, we set off by vehicle to Serra do Topo.

Today's hike is a coastal hike where we take the customs officers' path to the faja de Sao Joao, then we continue towards the faja das Vimes.

On the way, we will have the chance to visit a coffee plantation which will be followed by a lovely tasting.

Early in the morning, we boarded the boat to reach Pico Island, then settled in Madalena for 3 nights.

Next, we continue our journey to Gruta da Torre. We venture underground to explore a volcanic tube (an ancient lava flow that formed a tunnel), then descend towards the sea to discover the vineyards growing directly on the lava, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We then walk to our accommodation, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim.

A day at the mercy of the weather. We set off to climb Portugal's highest peak: 2351m. The sheer elevation gain is breathtaking, with so much lava accumulation. Nature has been frozen in time, leaving behind the traces of volcanic eruptions. When we reach the edge of the caldera, we are treated to an unforgettable sight and the feeling that, at any moment, the lava tubes could still spill forth the earth's lifeblood. Note

*In case of bad weather, other walks await us along the seafront.

Pico is divided into two parts: the caldera and another small volcanic cone that forms the summit (called "Little Pico"). The ascent of Pico is limited to the caldera, as climbing Little Pico is extremely dangerous (very abrasive volcanic rock, unstable terrain, etc.). The latter is never included in the itinerary.

Today, our vehicle drops us off on the plateau at 750 meters altitude, where the Pico volcano stands guard nearby. We take a mule track along one of the main routes that once crossed the island from north to south. First, through open terrain with beautiful viewpoints, then through undergrowth, it's a pleasant hike that leads us to Vila de Sao Roque.

Last night in Madalena.

Of all the landscapes in the Azores, one in particular has a taste of ash. In 1957, the western part of Faial Island was shrouded in smoke. A volcano erupted from the churning waters. In a single explosive year, Capelinho covered the lighthouse and its village in ash.

This morning we are going to the port to take the boat to the island of Faial, where we are settling in for 3 nights in Horta.

For this first exploration of the island, we will visit Capelinho to discover this lunar landscape on the edge of the ocean.

We set off again this morning for a hike in the kind of atmosphere we come to the Azores to find. We begin our hike from the edge of the Faial caldera crater. It's a dormant volcano, 2 kilometers in diameter and 400 meters deep, whose origins date back 500,000 years.

We then leave this caldera, covered in lush laurel vegetation, often shrouded in mist, adding a touch of mysticism to the atmosphere. Next, we descend along ancient paths to finally reach the foothills of the ancient Ribeirinha volcano, which emerged 800,000 years ago.

Weather permitting, we may modify this hike to include a tour of the Caldeira do Faial.

Depending on your flight schedule, transfer to the airport is at your own expense.

*Hotel - airport transfer included if you booked the flight with us.