What budget for activities and outings The Azores?

Prices for tours and museum admission are reasonable, ranging from €2 to €8 for an adult. Many places are free to visit all year round: the gardens and pineapple plantations of São Miguel, the Porto Formoso tea factory (www.chaportoformoso.com), the Vieira ceramics factory in São Miguel..

Hiking is the activity par excellence in the Azores, and of course it's free. You'll never get enough of the roads, paths and landscapes these walks have to offer. For maps, get in touch with the tourist offices on each island, which will also be able to provide you with documentation and very detailed information on this most popular activity in the Azores. You can also visit this very comprehensive and practical official site for hiking in the Azores: trails.visitazores.com (available in French) offers a network of hiking trails classified by the Azores regional government for their safety and scenic beauty. Note: this site provides a daily update of trails that are closed due to landslides or bad weather.

São Miguel. Due to its size, São Miguel offers a wide range of possibilities. In fact, it's the most visited island in the archipelago, and the most suitable for tourists. Some trails are well-marked. Among the most spectacular hikes, don't miss those around Sete Cidades and its two lakes, Lagoa do Fogo (PRC02 SMI) or Lombadas, which takes you through vegetation and streams in the hollow of the valley.

In Santa Maria, the hike linking the island's two white-sand beaches is a must (PR06 SMA), as are those leading to the island's geosites, such as Ribeira do Maloas.

On Pico, the climb to the volcano and Portugal's highest peak is a real challenge for the most athletic travelers, rewarded with an exceptional view of all the islands in the archipelago's central group.

On Faial, the caldera and the Capelinhos region offer some spectacular hikes (PRC04 FAI and PRC06 FAI respectively) to immerse yourself in the island's volcanic landscapes. A main road crosses the island from east to west for around 37 km.

On São Jorge, the fajãs are real playgrounds for hikers, some of them only accessible on foot, such as the Fajã da Caldeira do Santa Cristo (PR01 SJO) or the Fajã dos Bodes (PR03 SJO).

On Graciosa, don't miss the hike around the caldera (PR02 GRA) for a closer look at this impressive volcanic formation. A number of footpaths criss-cross the rest of the island, the longest of which is 40 km long (Grande Route de Graciosa).

In Terceira, the steep coastline, basalt cliffs and jagged coastline are revealed on a breathtaking hike to Baias da Agualva (PR02 TER). The island also offers a number of hikes in its natural parks, such as the one through Serreta and its forest (PRC03 TER).

Flores is criss-crossed by four hiking trails and one main road. The program includes exploring the coast and the island's fajas, such as Fajã Grande (PR02 FLO) and Fajã de Lopo Vaz (PRC04 FLO). On the west coast, you'll find some of the most extraordinary landscapes to be found in Europe, and some of the most varied, amid vegetation for which the adjective "lush" seems to have been specially coined. From the several-hundred-metre-high cliffs of Fajã Grande, clawed by dizzying waterfalls, to the peaceful lakes of the volcanoes and the vigorous rock of the Bordões, the hiker never ceases to be amazed.

Finally, Corvo, the archipelago's smallest island, is best discovered on foot, and is particularly well suited to walking. From Vila do Corvo, you can reach the natural site of Caldeirão (PR01 COR), the island's large caldera filled with lagoons, and walk around it (PR02 COR). These are the only two official hikes on the island.

Still linked to the ocean, bathing is an activity to be enjoyed freely, free of charge and in a variety of unusual places: lakes, natural pools, hot springs... the options are endless.

If you want to go shopping, the prices are pretty good. Take into account that some shops do not accept credit cards, so always carry some cash with you if you want to shop.

Entrance to discotheques is often free. Inside, you can expect to pay €1 for a beer, €2 to €4 for a glass of wine and from €5 for a cocktail.

What budget to eat The Azores?

You can grab a bite to eat for €5 or €10, a local meal with drinks will set you back around €20, and for a more upmarket meal, expect to pay €35 (drinks and wine included).

Count less than €1 for a coffee, €1 for a soda and between €0.50 and €1.50 for a beer. Please note that in many establishments, credit cards are not accepted.

What is the budget for accommodation The Azores?

Accommodation in the archipelago is much easier than it was a few years ago. Some fairly luxurious hotels have opened recently, mainly in São Miguel, Santa Maria and Terceira. Everywhere you'll find small, family-run establishments at very reasonable prices. Small guesthouses, sometimes with basic comforts, can be discovered by asking the bistro owner. In recent years, many youth hostels have opened on the archipelago. Brand-new, they are very comfortable and well-equipped: very good value for money(www.pousadasjuvacores.com).

A real good deal, close to nature: camping. They are free or cost just a handful of euros, and the larger ones are even equipped with a restaurant, a bar... Some, mentioned in the guide, are a happy alternative to conventional hotels for small budgets or lovers of unusual places. In principle, wild camping is authorized with the agreement of the landowner, except in nature parks.

Please note: prices soar in São Miguel in summer... Rates can easily double or even triple from low to high season. The island becomes saturated with tourists from June to September, and prices suffer accordingly. To avoid paying full price, or finding no accommodation at all within your budget, we recommend booking well in advance, i.e. before the end of February for a trip in August.

Small budgets: a few euros for a pitch in a campsite, from €10 for a night in a dormitory in a youth hostel and between €35 and €60 for a double room in a guesthouse.

Intermediate budgets : €60 to €100 for a double room.

Big budgets: from €100 for a double room.

Travel budget The Azores and cost of living

The seasonality of the tourist market, confined to the months of May to September, is quite marked and has a considerable influence on prices: out of season, they fall sharply. Unlike Madeira, there's no real winter tourism on the islands, and hotels are virtually all empty from October to April, if they're not closed at all!

Small budget. From €35 to €60 for a double room, or just a few euros for camping. Another good low-cost option: youth hostels, from €10 to €17 a night in a dormitory. Between €5 and €10 for a meal.

Intermediate budget. From €60 to €100 for a double room. From €10 to €25 per meal (with drinks).

Big budget. Over €100 for a double room. Between €25 and €35 per meal (including drinks and wine).

Transportation. From €20 to €40 per day for category A car rental with unlimited mileage, depending on the season and company. Bus fares vary between €1 and €5, depending on the islands and distance traveled.