Self-Guided Walking

The nine islands of the Azores are considered by many to be a self-guided walking paradise.

The Azorean walking trail network has blossomed since the first way-marked trails were created by Dutch naturalist and birding guru Gerbrand Michielsen twenty years ago. Sao Miguel’s trails are a great introduction to walking on the islands and has arguably the best crater walk: the Mata do Canario which follows the north-eastern rim of the Sete Cidades crater.

Sao Miguel’s smaller neighbour Santa Maria has it’s Grande Rota – a circumnavigation of one of the Azores’ most peaceful islands over four leisurely days, whilst the trails on the island of Terceira offer a glimpse of the Azorean eco-system as it was when the first settlers arrived in the 14^th Century.

Two of our personal favourites are the islands of Flores and Sao Jorge – Flores for its stunning coastal walks which traverse it’s wild western coast, and Sao Jorge’s off-grid feel and challenging faja trails make for an unforgettable hiking adventure.

Perhaps most famous trail is the formidable ascent of Mount Pico – an immense stratovolcano which, at 2351m is Portugal’s highest peak. We have a helpful online guide to climbing the mountain, and Pico (the island itself) has some wonderful, less-extreme walks to suit all abilities. We feel lucky to have been able to walk the Azorean trails since their inception, and it allows us to match you with the trails we think you’ll enjoy the most.