São Miguel: crater lakes, caldeiras and Atlantic cliffs
Six hikes on São Miguel: the crater lakes of Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo, the steaming calderas of Furnas, the summit of Pico da Vara, and the Atlantic cliffs at Pico do Mafra.
A week on São Miguel, the main island of the Azores, with a hike most days: the two crater lakes of Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo, the steaming calderas of Furnas, the climb up Pico da Vara as the island's highest point, and the Atlantic cliffs around Pico do Mafra. Six tours that show the island's volcanic variety.
The hikes
Through the cliffs around Pico do Mafra
A hillside of blue morning glories below a volcanic cone
A narrow path through lush subtropical greeneryA view of the green cone of Pico do MafraAtlantic sea cliffs with a green headlandA dry streambed between rock walls
A wonderful path through the cliffs — in the wet I'd be careful here, despite the
trail being fairly well built.
A path between hydrangea hedges and giant gunnera leaves in the morning lightA curved, moss-covered cedar in dense forestA view through pines down to the AtlanticCoastal pasture with cattle above the Atlantic
Start early — partly to get ahead of the jeep tours. A magnificent loop; at the
Vista do Rei we treated ourselves to pineapple filled with virgin piña colada.
A view through cedars to the Tronqueira mountainsA view from the heights over the forests to the coastWooden steps climbing to Pico da VaraA path through the cedar forest on Pico da Vara
A fine tour despite the trail works near the summit. Important: the ascent needs a
permit, which you can request online (we weren't checked, though). The last few
kilometres to the trailhead are a well-graded but unpaved track — we preferred to
leave our hire car further down.
A water-channel path through lush greeneryBranches and leaves in the damp cloud forestA mist-shrouded wooded valley on the descentA waterfall into a pool with fallen logs
A worthy finale to a glorious week. The descent to the waterfall near the end is
not to be underestimated, though — with poles and on reasonably dry ground it was
perfectly manageable.
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