Azores walking holiday: Faial, São Jorge and Pico

Morning transfer to the port where you take the ferry to São Jorge, one of the wildest island. A long strip of an island, it appears to be just one cliff protruding out of the ocean, culminating at 1000m above sea level and whose steep coasts are punctuated by 'fajas', these fertile coastal platforms resulting from the collapse of the cliffs. A real little paradise for hiking! 
Arrival at Velas, a charming little cliff side port town. This is where you will spend your next 2 nights. Transfer to the central ridges for one of the most popular hikes on the island: a superb zigzag path that weaves down through pastures lined with hydrangeas and wild ginger, crosses paths with a waterfall for a refreshing break before arriving at the Faja de Santo Cristo with its blue lagoon and lava stone houses surrounded by low walls. The path continues on the heights overlooking the ocean to the Faja dos Cubres with its small church and small bar for a well-deserved break! Transfer back to Velas for the night.

Walk : Serra do Topo > Faja dos Cubres | 3h | 10km / 6,5miles | Elevation :+200m/-880 m
Meals included: breakfast
Night : Velas

The path winds along the central highlands formed by a succession of perfectly aligned craters used as pastures by local farmers. The ascent (easy and optional) of Pico da Esperança, the highest point of the island (1053 m), offers (in good weather) a panoramic view of the majestic volcano of Pico and the islands of Faial, Graciosa and Terceira! Great descent through the pastures on the north coast towards the magnificent Faja de Ouvidor. A charming village with terraced houses down to the sea and ending with beautiful natural pools nestled in wild massifs. 

Walk : Pico da Esperança > Faja de Ouvidor | 3h40 | 17,5km /10,8 miles | Elevation : +340m/-1095m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Velas 

This morning you take the ferry to Pico, the neighboring island with the eponymous volcano which rises to 2351m, making it the highest peak in Portugal. Pico is nicknamed the Black Island because of the volcanic rocks that shape its landscape and architecture. Transfer to the ridges of the island where a multitude of small volcanoes are aligned and covered with low vegetation. It is in this volcanic environment that your day's hike begins. The path is along a section of an old mule track that once linked the village of Lajes on the south coast to that of Sao Roque on the north coast. It plunges down a valley towards the sea to reach the Prainha Nature Reserve, home to the Misterio da Prainha, a lava field resulting from the 1952-54 eruptions. Swimming opportunities at the end of the walk. Transfer to your accommodation.

Walk : Plateau of Pico > Baia das Canas | 3h30 | 10 km / 6,2 miles | Elevation : +100m/-750m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Madalena or Lajes

For this second day on Pico, you hike along a coastal path to discover the vineyards. The very fertile lava soil has allowed for the development of vineyards in a very original way. A remarkable network of dry lava stone walls has been erected to protect the vines from the wind and sea spray. This man-made landscape of extraordinary beauty is the best surviving evidence of a practice that was once much more widespread. This is also the reason why these vineyards are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. All along the walk you will find small harbours and natural pools of sea water for swimming.

Walk : Madalena > Candelaria | 3h | 10,5 km / 6,5 miles | Elevation : +/-200m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Madalena or Lajes 

We highly recommend : joining a whale watching tour from Pico Island ! Outing at sea aboard a zodiac, departing from Madalena to try and observe the numerous cetaceans that populate the waters of Azores.

A memorable day for any hiker! At dawn you are transferred to the foot of the imposing volcano. You meet your local licensed guide, and follow a path carved in the lava stones to conquer this still active giant. The path rises gradually in the middle of low and endemic vegetation before becoming steeper to reach the heart of the crater. More difficult than the other hikes on this trip, your efforts are rewarded with a magical lava universe and a panoramic view of the ocean and the islands. Back to Madalena in the afternoon and you take a ferry to Faial. Check in for the next two nights in a hotel in Horta.

Walk : 4 to 5h | 9km / 5,60 miles | Elevation :  +/-1100m
. Possibility to change this hike for an easier one - Please contact us
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Horta

Note :
. This hike is Level 3 (challenging) and takes place in a multinational group accompanied by a certified guide. Maximum of 15 persons / guide
. This hike is subject to weather conditions. The guide will decide if the hike is possible or not. 
. You have the possibility of privatising the guide, please contact us.

A magnificent hike on the central crater on the island of Faial. At an altitude of 900 metres, a superb crater opens up, with a diameter of 2000 metres and a depth of 400 metres. In good weather, the view embraces the island, the ocean, the islands of Pico and Sao Jorge and the alignment of the 10 volcanoes from the first crater to the last: Capelinhos. After walking around the crater on a path lined with endemic vegetation and heading down a forest track, you will greet your taxi for a short transfer to the volcanoes of Capelinhos. In 1957, in the open sea one kilometre from the western end of the island, a volcanic eruption took place which lasted one year. The eruption of volcanoes, the accumulation of lava and ashes formed a peninsula connecting the land and burying the fishing village of Capelinhos. The result is an impressive lunar landscape dominated by the remains of the lighthouse, which today houses an underground volcanology interpretation centre (visit not included). At the end of the afternoon you can swim in the natural swimming pools of the small port located at the foot of the volcanoes. Transfer back to Horta.

Walk : Caldeira of Faial > Cabeço Trinta : 2h30 | 8,5 km / 5,2 miles | Elevation : +80m/-220m
Meals included : breakfast
Night : Horta

End of your trip after the transfer to Faial's airport.

Meals included: breakfast

We recommend :  continuing your discovery of the Azores with one of our extensions :
. on the mysterious islands of Flores and Corvo
. on the tranquil islands of Terceira and Graciosa