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Overview

Let our resident guides show you the best of the main island’s hiking trails on our Sao Miguel Guided Walking Holiday.

For a relatively small island, Sao Miguel has an extensive network of walking trails. Taking on the whole island can be a daunting prospect: studying maps and guidebooks, researching the must-walk trails and discovering the lesser-known hidden gems. Our Sao Miguel Guided Walking Holiday removes the stress of planning, optimising your time without you feeling rushed or hurried. We suggest five guided walks during this trip, and the routes are easily adaptable according to the distance and type of hikes you normally enjoy.

Our guides are a treasure trove of in-depth local knowledge, and their insight and passion will unveil Sao Miguel’s extraordinary geology, culture and cuisine. They’re also passionate about their island home and love sharing their local knowledge, combining must-see sights with the secret spots you’d otherwise miss.

You’ll be based at the peaceful clifftop Caloura Resort Hotel – one of our favourite sea view hotels in the rural south coast village of Caloura. If you’d prefer a more urban setting, we can personalise your holiday with a stay in the capital city Ponta Delgada, home to the island’s best restaurants and café bars.

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Itinerary

Day 1

You’ll begin your holiday with a direct flight from Gatwick to the Azores. Our driver will collect you on arrival for the twenty-minute transfer to your accommodation in the south coast village of Caloura.

Day 2

For your first walk, you’ll head west with our resident guide to explore the Mata do Canario trail (PR45, distance: 12km; duration: 4 hours; grade: moderate). The trail follows the north-eastern rim of the Sete Cidades (Seven Cities) volcano, the largest caldera on the island: 5km in diameter 400m deep, and despite its benign appearance, the Sete Cidades volcanic complex is considered the most active in the Azores. Your walk begins at the Muro das Nove Janelas (Wall of Nine Windows) aqueduct and ends on the shores the twin lakes of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde.

Day 3

Your second walk takes you into the Agua da Pau volcanic massif via the Lagoa do Fogo trail (distance: 12km; duration: 4.5-5 hours; grade: moderate). Lagoa do Fogo sits in the youngest of Sao Miguel’s volcanoes. The walk climbs up from the south coast of the island to the lake at 600m, following a levada water channel through the Japanese cedar forests which cover the lower flanks of the Fogo mountains.

Day 4

I’ve left today free - you might like to take a taxi into Ponta Delgada; capital of the Azores and the main town on the island. With its narrow, cobbled streets, mosaic pavements and interesting mix of traditional and modern architecture, Ponta Delgada’s a nicely-compact city which is easy to explore on foot.

Day 5

Your third walk takes you north to Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande and the Salto do Cabrito trail (distance 8km, walking time 2.5 hours, grade: moderate). This secluded hamlet sits on the northern flanks of the Fogo volcano and it’s Banhos da Coroa (Crown Baths) are the oldest on the island. The walk take you via the Faja do Redono dam to the pretty 30m high Salto do Cabrito waterfall.

Day 6

You’ll head east for walk number four: the Ribeira do Faial da Terra trail (distance: 6km; duration: 2-3 hours, grade: moderate).The Ribeira do Faial da Terra trail begins and ends in the village of the same name, following the old, cobbled trail up the steep valley to the once-deserted village of Sanguinho and the beautiful Salto do Prego waterfall.

Day Day 7

Your final full day takes you east once again to explore Furnas: the most easterly volcano on Sao Miguel and is the area where the island’s volcanic nature is most on display. You’ll walk the Lagoa das Furnas trail around the shore of the lake (approximate walking time: 2.5 hours, walk distance: 9km, grade: easy), before heading down into the village to visit the caldeiras geysers, the Terra Nostra botanical gardens and the pools at Poca Dona Beija.

Day 8

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

From £1900 per person

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, return airport transfers, three full-day guided group walks and two private guided walks.

Accommodation

Caloura Hotel Resort

Activities

Guided Walking Whether you’re looking to walk the classic routes or if you’d prefer…

Location

Sao Miguel

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