Walking on Azores - Azori-szigetek túrakönyv

70 routes across Sao Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo

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

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