The 7 best hikes in the Azores

Lush, temperate and filled with extraordinary vistas, the Azores are heaven for nature lovers and outdoors enthusiasts. Dozens of hiking trails follow well-marked paths cutting through hills, small woods and pastures, and twisting up and down the islands’ rugged basalt coasts and rocky peaks. Taking their time to savor the journey rather than the destination, hikers here uncover these Atlantic Ocean islands’ protected nature reserves, parks and quasi-untouched landscapes in their wildest state.

If you plan to set out walking in the Azores, pack your hiking boots and trekking poles. You’ll need them, even on the trails classified as easy; uneven terrain causes many trails to be deemed moderate or hard. A mix of both official hiking trails and other paths that offer superb views and sometimes better accessibility, our list will delight anyone who wants to experience the beauty of these islands on their own two feet.

These are the seven best hikes in the Azores.

1. Caldeirão, Corvo

Best hike for exploring the smallest of the Azores

Distance: 6km one way
Time commitment: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy

The smallest island in the Azores, Corvo is also the most isolated, boasting only one town, whose 400 people cluster in the lowlands near the ocean. What’s on the rest of the speck? Pastures and a water-filled crater of the inactive volcano that created the island: Caldeirão.

Estrada do Caldeirão starts at the only roundabout in Corvo – across from the post office – then snakes up the island through farmland and moss-covered hills, its inclination gently increasing the further along you get. With any luck, you’ll see only the occasional farmer driving by, look into the wide eyes of grazing cattle – and savor the feeling you have the island entirely to yourself.

If you’re staying on the island, walk up to Caldeirão as early in the morning as possible before the tour boats from Flores arrive: during peak season, seemingly every visitor to the island makes a beeline for the lagoon. Instead, brave the fog and wind for a hopefully clear view of the lagoon, then walk toward town before lunch. For travelers on the island for just a few hours, hitch a ride or pay someone to drive you up (about 10 euros per person), then walk back.

2. Monte da Guia, Faial

Best hike for joining exercising locals

Distance: 3km out and back
Time commitment: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy

In good weather, plenty of locals park near Fábrica da Baleia de Porto Pim in Horta and take to the mostly flat path on foot or bicycle up to Monte da Guia. Although it never truly gets busy (most tourists drive up for sightseeing purposes, or hike the Entre Montes PRC08 FAI trail instead), be prepared to share the road with folks on their daily exercise outings.

Near Forte de Nossa Senhora da Guia, a must-stop viewpoint offers one of the most spectacular views of nearby Mt Pico. And be sure to take some time to appreciate the view over Porto Pim Bay and Horta from the church at the top of the hill.

3. Mata do Canário, São Miguel

Best hike for iconic landscapes

Distance: 11.8km one way
Time commitment: 3 hours each way
Difficulty: Moderate

The most visited of the Azores, São Miguel has iconic lagoons and viewpoints that often pop up on social media as quintessential Azorean landscapes. Along the Mata do Canário trail, you can find one of those envy-inducing photo ops as you walk downhill on rough (sometimes steep) and slippery terrain, with eyes locked on the famous blue and green lakes of Sete Cidades.

While you can park your rental car near the starting point, it’s simpler to drive to Sete Cidades and hire a taxi (around €15) to drop you at the trailhead and walk just one way. The trail ends near Igreja de São Nicolau in the center of town.

4. PR01 SJO, São Jorge

Best hike for remote villages and family fun

Distance: 9.5km one way
Time commitment: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

The most famous trail in the archipelago comes with a true reward midway: São Jorge's most isolated and hard-to-reach village, Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo. If you’re on the island in the summer (most accommodations and restaurants are closed off-season) and have time to spare, split this hike in two and spend the night at Caldeira before heading to the final stop at Fajã dos Cubres.

It’s also a good trail to do as a family if you’re traveling with older kids who can handle the walk, with plenty of resting stops along the way.

The route starts at Serra do Topo via a narrow, slightly uphill dirt path lined with thick vegetation. Since the trail begins to go gently downhill after about 50m, zigzagging around hills and cliffs, a trekking pole and hiking boots with good grip come in handy – even more so if it has recently rained.

5. Fajã de Lopo Vaz, Flores

Best hike for sheer natural beauty

Distance: 3.4km out and back
Time commitment: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

Ask any Azorean which island in the archipelago is the most beautiful, and they’ll tell you it’s the one where they live (of course) – rivaled only by Flores. I second that – for Flores is both my home island and a place whose natural beauty is unbeatable.

Fajã de Lopo Vaz is one of the most famous hiking trails on Flores. A very steep rock and dirt path that plunges down the island’s south coast, it’s a challenging route that delivers gorgeous views, plants and flowers you won’t see elsewhere in Flores, plus a pebble beach where you can recharge before you go back up the same way.

Always mind your step and potential falling rocks, and be sure to download the trail map beforehand, as you won’t have mobile service along the way.

6. Vinhas da Criação Velha, Pico

Best hike for vineyards and windmills

Distance: 6.9km one way
Time commitment: 2 hours each way
Difficulty: Easy

The landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and this walk takes you to the heart of it. You can set out on the trail from its official starting point in Porto do Calhau, or do a shorter round-trip version by beginning at Porto da Areia Larga, in Madalena (the distance from there to the windmill at the end of the trail is about 2km one way).

Regardless of your starting point, most of the route follows an oceanside road with a view out to neighboring Faial across the water, and up to ever-looming Mt Pico inland. Mind the traffic: the road was rebuilt after a major storm and some sidewalks may still be missing. About halfway, as you get closer to the bright-red Moinho do Frade windmill, a gravel path will take you through the unique currais, an intricate pattern of low basalt walls protecting the vines from the ocean.

After the hike, if you want to complete the vineyards experience, stop by Adega do Vulcão for a wine tasting.

7. Chá Gorreana, São Miguel

Best hike for tea lovers

Distance: 3.4km loop
Time commitment: 90 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

One of the two tea farms in São Miguel (and the oldest one in Europe) has its own official hiking trail. The PRC28 SMI trail starts across the street from Fábrica de Chá Gorreana, travels through small woods and pastures, then leads through the famous tea fields.

After walking around the tea farm and stopping to admire ocean views (weather permitting), follow the path back to the factory, where hikers are invited to sample a complimentary cup of the locally grown brew.

Tips for hiking in the Azores

• If you’re hiking alone, let your accommodation or someone you trust know which trail you’re taking, what time you’re starting the hike and when you expect to return. Alternatively, hire a taxi to drop you off then pick you up.

• If you feel uncomfortable walking the trails by yourself, plenty of local companies offer guided hiking tours.

• The weather in the Azores can change fast, especially closer to the coast or higher elevations. Travel light but be equipped for sudden changes.

• Every 500m, trails are marked with yellow-and-red-striped signs – or red-and-white-striped signs along a Grande Rota (Great Route, or long-distance trail) – but outside of peak season and during storm season some paths may appear to be neglected. Download an official trail map so you can check if you're on track along the way.

• Some trails cut across pastures. Make sure to always close gates behind you and try not to disturb any cattle. Also keep your eyes peeled for cow droppings.