Sports and leisure activities The Azores

Budget & Tips

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.

What's very local

The archipelago boasts some pretty fabulous surf spots, with "Hawaiian waves" according to some locals. One of the most popular spots is Fajã do Santo Cristo, in São Jorge. Another popular spot for surfers is Santa Bárbara beach, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande, on the island of São Miguel.

Your documents please

The Azores hide some beautiful diving spots. You will find centers on all the islands. The possibilities of scuba diving are very numerous. As the coasts are of volcanic origin, it is a wonder to stroll between the arches, the debris of some cliff collapses, tunnels, caves ... Numerous varieties of wrecks await the most daring, the privateers having particularly appreciated the region a few centuries ago... But to discover all this, don't forget to bring your diving certificates (except for baptisms).

To be booked

We recommend that you book your whale-watching trips. Although there are many agencies on virtually every island, this is a very popular activity. What's more, to respect the animals, the boats are small and can only take a limited number of passengers.

Main events

Fête de la mer (August ): a multitude of festivities in Horta, on the island of Faial.

Whalers' Week (August ): during the last week of the month, the small town of Lajes do Pico celebrates whale hunters.

Tourist traps

Cetacean watching can be practiced all year round, but you are not in an aquarium so keep in mind that it is never 100% safe to see these sea monsters. On the other hand, these sea trips can be very disrupted by capricious weather conditions. So yes, these excursions are possible all year round, but don't be fooled by some people who would suggest that you will see dolphins, whales and sperm whales for sure.