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Overview

Our Sao Miguel walking holiday is the best way to explore the Azores on foot.

Being the largest island, Sao Miguel has the greatest variety of hiking routes, and you’ll spend a week walking the Azores’ most iconic trails and idyllic landscapes. We suggest six of our favourite self-guided walks during this trip. For an added insight into the plantlife, history and geology of this beautiful island, you might like to include a few walks with our resident English-speaking guide. We specialise in tailor-made holidays and can personalise your stay with a mix of guided and self-guided which suits you best.

We also offer a choice of accommodation – staying at the Hotel do Colegio in the heart of the capital city Ponta Delgada means you’ll have the island’s best restaurants and cafebars right on your doorstep. If you’d prefer a more peaceful, rural location the clifftop Caloura Hotel Resort is one of our favourite seaview hotels. We’ll also include return transfers for each walk or you might prefer a hire car for added freedom.

 

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Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1

You'll begin your holiday by flying to the main Azores island of Sao Miguel.

Day 2

For your first walk, you'll follow the Sanguinho trail (approximate walking time 2-3 hours, walk distance 4.5km, grade: moderate) - a circular walk which begins and ends south coast village of Faial de Terra. You’ll follow the old cobbled trail up the steep valley to the once-deserted village of Sanguinho and the beautiful waterfall of Salto do Prego.

Day 3

Walk number two takes you up to the summit of Pico da Vara (approximate walking time 5 hours; walk distance 8km. Grade: Moderate to Hard). At 1103m, this is the highest point on Sao Miguel – and weather-permitting, you’ll have a magnificent view along the full length of the island, and south across the sea to the neighbouring island of Santa Maria.

Day 4

Today’s walk follows the Rotas da Agua trail (approximate walking time: 3-4 hours, walk distance: 13km, grade: moderate) across the southern flanks of Fogo Volcano, following the maze of tunnels and aqueducts that supply spring water to the town of Lagoa.

Day 5

One of the island's most popular walks follows the Lagoa do Fogo trail (approximate walking time 4.5-5 hours; walk distance 12km. Grade: Moderate). Lagoa do Fogo sits in the youngest of Sao Miguel’s volcanoes – the trail follows a levada from the south coast, up through the dense cedar forest to the lakeshore at 600m.

Day 6

Today you’ll explore the Furnas valley with a walk around the shores of Lagoa das Furnas (approximate walking time: 2.5 hours, walk distance: 9km. Grade: easy). The trail ends at the 200-year-old Terra Nostra botanical gardens - home to the Azores’ most famous geothermal swimming pool. On the journey home, you might like to take a detour to Europe's oldest tea plantation at Gorreana.

Day 7

One of our favourite walks in the Azores: you’ll head west today to walk the Cumeeiras trail (approximate walking time 4 hours; walk distance 12km. Grade: Moderate). The walk follows the northern rim of the Sete Cidades Volcano - the largest caldera on the island.

Day 8

You'll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

From £1100 pp

We can create a tailor-made holiday to suit your budget.

INCLUDED: international flights, accommodation in twin/double en-suite rooms on a B&B basis, airport transfers, return transfers for your walks or a hire car, and guide notes and maps for our favourite trails on the island.

Accommodation

Caloura Resort Hotel
Hotel do Colegio A friendly hotel in Ponta Delgada's historic centre From £98 pppn

Activities

Self-guided walking Walking is one of the best ways to get to know the…
Guided walking Explore the islands' beautiful hiking trails on our Azores guided walking holidays.…

Location

Sao Miguel Sao Miguel’s direct flight connections with the UK, USA and Canada make…

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