The Azores · HIKING TOURS IN SãO MIGUEL
Every island week has one free day too few. These 15 hiking tours in São Miguel justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
Hike São Miguel’s Lagoa do Fogo with a small-group guide, picnic lunch, and panoramic views, plus scenic stops near Vila Franca do Campo.
“Gostámos muito. O Hugo foi muito simpático e mostrou-se disponível e atencioso considerando ao ritmo de cada um. Caminhada de nível médio. Recomendo”
Walk from Ponta Delgada to the semi-hidden Salto do Prego waterfall and the historic village of Sanguinho, with pickup and lunch.
“I had a great time on the tour with Joao as our guide. It was as advertised, and Joao was quite knowledgeable and friendly to all of us guests. The waterfall and hike up to Sanghuino were lovely, and the scenery was stunning. As an experienced back country hiker, this was a fairly popular trail on the weekend and kind of crowded in the afternoon. I bet earlier in the morning and during the week might present less busy options for this beautiful trail and waterfall.”
Small-group São Miguel hike and snorkeling with Gabriel, ending at a volcanic beach to spot reef fish. Pickup included, about 4 hours.
“Gabriel was a knowledgeable and friendly guide. He took us on a hike with the most spectacular views. We ended with a dip in a natural pool and snorkeled with tons of fishy. Highly recommend Gabriel as a fantastic tour guide.”
São Miguel forest hike with waterfall, then snorkel a volcanic sea pool. Pickup, gear, and a small-group guide included.
“This was a great tour and hike around the area. The hike included a waterfall, a cute village, and a beautiful viewpoint of the ocean. The snorkeling after the hike was a perfect way to cool down. Our guide was excellent and very informative. He was accommodating and I would highly recommend this excursion.”
Hike Azores waterfalls in Lomba de São Pedro, then tour Gorreana Tea Plantation with tastings, picnic, and Ribeira dos Caldeirões Park.
“We had a great day with Tiago . The hike was gorgeous, wonderful picnic and he worked hard to provide us with a great day.”
Small-group hike through Sete Cidades lakes and viewpoints, then Ferraria thermal baths. 8 hours from Ponta Delgada for about $76.
“It was an easy hike on a packed dirt path around the lake, very little of it uphill. Picnic lunch was very nice . They took us to Ferraria beach afterwards . Amazing views . The reason I gave it 4 stars is that they ended it sooner than expected. We were back at the hotel at 4 . I would have appreciated doing more since it’s billed as 8 hour trip .”
Private 8-hour São Miguel guided hike from Ponta Delgada with pickup, waterfalls, and top viewpoints, led in English by Ruben.
“Fantastic guided tour with Ruben. He knows the island well and adapted the trip well to our wishes, expectations and the weather. We also experienced several positive surprises :) Highly recommend this trip!”
Guided northeast Sao Miguel waterfalls hike with a certified nature guide, lunch, village stops, and hotel pickup, small-group style.
“Great hike and guide, you get to explore nature, see waterfalls and even swim (weather permitting). Challenging but doable even for not experienced hikers.”
Hike Faial da Terra’s eastern trails to Salto do Prego, with a guide, pickup from Ponta Delgada, lunch, and time to cool off.
“The hike was a little steep at first. The tour guide was amazing and so helpful! From the moment we stepped into the car!!! He made sure my mom was comfortable bc she had not hiked in many years. He was just all around great! The waterfall was very nice as well. The stop at the tea factory was lovely ending to our day! Def do this excursion if you like to hike!”
Moinho do Felix waterfall hike and Gorreana tea plantation on São Miguel, with pickup, hiking sticks, and swim time.
“We had the best time hiking with Samuel! He picked us up from our hotel, and we were lucky enough to be the only two on the tour. Our first stop was the tea plantation, where we learned so much about tea production from him. He explained everything so clearly and interestingly. We then went on the waterfall hike, and along the way he taught us about the various plants we encountered and generally made our hike so safe and enjoyable. We had the best time, and we cannot wait to come back to the Azores to do another excursion with him!”
Nordeste waterfall full-day hike on the Azores: coastal viewpoints, freshwater swims, and pickup included from nearby towns.
“Genial. Tuvimos percances por el tiempo, pero supieron ofrecernos alternativas para solventarlo. Fue un día maravilloso gracias a Chris. Aunque no pudimos vivir la experiencia completa, recomendaria este tour!”
Small-group Sete Cidades 4WD day tour with viewpoints, a 2-hour hike, and guided endemic plant lessons, plus Blue and Green Lake views.
“Telmo (our guide) saved the day and was great! My wife and I had one of the best days of our Portugal trip on this Tour and it wasn’t because of the great views! It was our Tour guide Telmo. We were cursed with a foggy day and instead of bringing us to the top of the Calderas to see a blanket of Fog. No one likes that… Telmo pivoted into an amazing costal tour in the Northwest of the island where the views were beautiful and the surf was an amazing blue. We had so much fun and learned a tremendous amount from our guide. He treated us like…”
Guided 2.5-hour trek from Ponta Delgada to Sete Cidades viewpoints, with crater views, northwest coast scenery, and easy walking in a small group.
“Acesta a fost lucrul nostru preferat pe care l-am făcut în timpul călătoriei noastre de două săptămâni în Spania și Portugalia! Îl recomandăm cu căldură! Ghidul nostru turistic David a fost atât de amabil și de informat! A fost minunat să faci drumeții cu el și ne-a spus atât de multe lucruri interesante pe parcurs despre istoria, geografia și plantele și animalele din Sao Miguel. Și drumeția în sine este frumoasă! Ne-a plăcut să ne plimbăm de-a lungul craterului și să vedem oceanul pe o parte și lacurile pe cealaltă parte. Traseul este mărginit de hortensii frumoase și este înconjurat de vederi superbe. Și nu este foarte dificil - cea…”
Hike 12km to Lagoa do Fogo from Ponta Delgada with free pickup, lunch, and a small-group guide, plus wildlife and lake views.
“Maria was a wonderful guide and we enjoyed chatting with her as much as we did the hike! The weather was dreary but it made the hike seem more magical with the rolling fog when we got to the lake.”
Hike Faial da Terra to Sanguinho, picnic at Salto do Prego, then viewpoint stops in Nordeste and Ribeira dos Caldeirões Park.
“This was a very enjoyable tour that I would highly recommend! I really enjoyed the hike, which passed by some abandoned homes and lush nature. It was around 5km and moderate in difficulty. Afterwards, we went to various spots in Nordeste where we got ample time to explore on our own. Overall I would say this tour was one of my highlights of my trip.”
Every kind of day out across the islands, and the best of each.
