Walking on the Azores

Guidebook to 70 walks on the Azores, a remote archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. Most of the walks are easy or moderate, with a few graded difficult. The selection is spread across all nine islands, offering much variety, from easy village-to-village walks to remote and mountainous walks, including Portugal's highest mountain, Pico.

Seasons

An all-year destination, often warm and sunny but with occasional showers and mist on high ground. Only one mountain sees snow in winter. Bear in mind that high summer is uncomfortably humid.

Centres

São Miguel - Ponta Delgada or Furnas; Terceira - Angra or Praia da Vitória; São Jorge - Velas or Caleta; Pico - Madalena or São Roque; Santa Maria - Vila do Porto; Graciosa - Santa Cruz; Faial - Horta; Flores - Fajã Grande; Corvo - Vila do Corvo

Difficulty

Most routes are easy or moderate, but a few walks are difficult. There is a spread of routes from short and easy walks to longer, steeper and more rugged ones. Apart from waterproofs for rainy days, no special equipment is needed. However, Portugal's highest mountain can bear snow in winter, requiring ice-axe and crampons.

Must See

Splendid volcanic landforms, lake-filled craters, geothermal areas, rugged coast, waterfalls, Portugal's highest mountain, historic interest and heritage features

Overview

A comprehensive guide to walking in the Portuguese Azores, an archipelago of nine lush green islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. The 70 routes cover the three island groups: the Eastern Group (São Miguel and Santa Maria), Central Group (Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial) and Western Group (Flores and Corvo). Routes range from hour-long strolls to full-day outings and most use the islands' network of official waymarked trails, including sections of the multi-day GR1. Also included is an ascent of Pico, the highest mountain on Portuguese territory.

The guidebook gives lots of practical information on travel to the Azores and between the different islands, as well as getting around by public transport. Full route descriptions are accompanied by 1:50,000 map extracts, plus notes on refreshment opportunities and local points of interest.

The routes promise verdant green landscapes and astounding volcanic landforms, taking in forests, rocky slopes, cliff coast and waterfalls as well as a rich built heritage including churches, forts, windmills and harbours. Whether you prefer a single-base trip or an island-hopping adventure, you'll find stunning scenery at every turn. The mild climate makes this an ideal destination for year-round walking.

Contents

Contents
Introduction
Location
Geology
Landscape
Discovery and history
Wildlife
Protected areas
Getting to the Azores
Getting around the Azores
Accommodation
Currency
Language
Food and drink
Weather
Tourist information
Emergencies
Walking in the Azores
Maps
Waymarking and access
What to take
Using this guide
Eastern Group
Ilha de São Miguel
Walk 1 Circuit of the Caldeira das Sete Cidades
Walk 2 Sete Cidades and Lagoa Verde
Walk 3 João Bom to Candelária
Walk 4 Capelas to Rabo de Peixe
Walk 5 Remédios and Janela do Inferno
Walk 6 Lagoa do Fogo from Água de Alto
Walk 7 Caldeiras and Salto do Cabrito
Walk 8 Furnas and Lagoa das Furnas
Walk 9 Pico do Ferro
Walk 10 Povoação to Ribeira Quente
Walk 11 Ribeira do Faial da Terra
Walk 12 Lomba da Fazenda
Walk 13 Pico da Vara
Walk 14 Achadinha and Salga
Walk 15 Fenais da Ajuda
Walk 16 Ribeira Funda and Maia
Ilha de Santa Maria
Walk 17 GR1 Vila do Porto to Cardal
Walk 18 GR1 Cardal to Norte
Walk 19 GR1 Norte to Bananeiras
Walk 20 GR1 Bananeiras to Vila do Porto
Walk 21 Santa Bárbara and Norte
Walk 22 Pico Alto
Central Group
Ilha Terceira
Walk 23 Monte Brasil from Angra do Heroísmo
Walk 24 Serreta and Lagoinha
Walk 25 Gruta do Natal and Mistérios Negros
Walk 26 Rocha do Chambre
Walk 27 Alagoa and Ponta do Mistério
Walk 28 Baldio and Biscoito da Fontainha
Walk 29 São Sebastião and Porto Judeu
Ilha Graciosa
Walk 30 GR1 Santa Cruz to Praia
Walk 31 GR1 Praia to Luz
Walk 32 GR1 Luz to Santa Cruz
Walk 33 Caldeira and Furna do Enxofre
Ilha de São Jorge
Walk 34 GR1 Ponta do Topo to São Tomé
Walk 35 GR1 São Tomé to Serra do Topo
Walk 36 GR1 Serra do Topo to Fajã dos Cubres
Walk 37 Norte Pequeno and Fajã da Penedia
Walk 38 Pico do Pedro to Fajã do Ouvidor
Walk 39 Santo António and Fajã de Além
Walk 40 Farol dos Rosais and Pico da Velha
Ilha do Pico
Walk 41 Gruta das Torres to Madalena
Walk 42 Fetais, Lajido and Santa Luzia
Walk 43 Santana to Lajido
Walk 44 Lagoa do Capitão to São Roque do Pico
Walk 45 Caminho dos Burros
Walk 46 Caminho das Lagoas
Walk 47 Prainha do Norte
Walk 48 Santo Amaro to Piedade
Walk 49 Calhau, Manhenha and Piedade
Walk 50 Calheta de Nesquim
Walk 51 Lajes and Cabeço do Geraldo
Walk 52 São João to Silveira
Walk 53 Ascent of Pico
Ilha do Faial
Walk 54 GR1 Capelinhos to Capelo
Walk 55 GR1 Capelo to Miradouro da Caldeira
Walk 56 GR1 Miradouro da Caldeira to Porto da Boca da Ribeira
Walk 57 Horta and Monte da Guia
Walk 58 Morro de Castelo Branco
Walk 59 Praia do Norte and Fajã
Walk 60 Levada walk to Alto do Chão
Walk 61 Caldeira do Faial
Western Group
Ilha das Flores
Walk 62 GR1 Santa Cruz to Ponta Delgada
Walk 63 GR1 Ponta Delgada to Fajã Grande
Walk 64 GR1 Fajã Grande to Lajedo
Walk 65 Lagoas to Fajã Grande
Walk 66 Água Quente
Walk 67 Fajã de Lopo Vaz
Ilha do Corvo
Walk 68 Lagoa do Caldeirão
Walk 69 Cara do Índio
Walk 70 Farol da Carneira

Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Language notes and topographical glossary
Appendix C Useful contacts

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