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Hiking the Azores
  • Sharon Miller

Hiking the Azores

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  • Trip start
    October 11, 2025
    Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    Arrival in the Azores- Ponta Delgada

    October 11 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Today was a travel day. We were at the airport in Florence in the early afternoon waiting patiently for our boarding gate to be announced, only to find out the flight to Lisbon was delayed 55 minutes. This delay would cause us to miss our connection to Ponta Delgada in the Azores but we were told by the airline to head to Lisbon and it would be dealt with there. When we reached Lisbon we were told that our flight to the Azores was delayed and was leaving in 10 minutes so we should run to gate 19. We did not expect that our luggage would be transferred that quickly but by some miracle it made it and we were checked in to our hotel on San Miguel island just after midnight. Lady luck was on our side today!Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    Nordeste

    October 12 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    The Azores are a Portuguese archipelago of 9 volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic known for their dramatic, lush landscapes and opportunities for adventure. We are on our own for the next two days in Sao Miguel, the largest island, and booked a private tour to Nordeste for the day. Nordeste is in the eastern part of the island where the landscapes are different from the rest of the island- wilder, greener, and incredibly peaceful. The scenery was stunning, with viewpoints that just kept getting better at every stop. The highlight of the day, if I had to pick one, was Cascata da Ribeira dos Caldeiroes with its beautiful waterfalls and old mill. A truly enjoyable day!Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    Dolphin & Whale Watching

    October 13 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    We boarded the Moby Dick this morning to do some dolphin and whale watching and saw several species of each during the 4 hour tour; - the Sei and Bryde’s whales & the Golfinho and Caldeirao dolphins. I was not very successful with capturing the moments with my camera but here are a few shots. This evening we met our CEO Ayla and our new travel buddies and enjoyed a wonderful meal out in town with the group. Happy to be reunited with the delicious Portuguese water bread and yummy Portuguese custard tarts of various flavours.Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    A Hike From Ribeira Funda to Maia

    October 14 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    We hiked an 8 km route from Ribeira Funda to Maia along the dramatic and beautiful north coast of the island of Sao Miguel. It felt like we were in a magical forest. En route we passed by several ruins of old water mills and lunched above the Praia da Viola (secret beach) as the tide was in preventing us from eating at the beach. Our reward when we reached Maia was a cold bottle of passionate fruit juice which was very well received. We hit some rain for the last twenty minutes of the hike which was expected but it failed to dampen our spirits. This place is like paradise.Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler
    1

    Furnas & Terra Nostra Park

    October 14 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    This afternoon we drove to the town of Furnas, the center of Sao Miguel’s geothermal activity. What makes Furnas unique is that the area is a dormant volcanic crater with two active volcanic sites to see boiling calderas in action, multiple hot spring pools for soaking, the stunning Furnas lake perched slightly above the town, and the gorgeous Terra Nostra Park. This park features a thermal swimming pool and a very beautiful botanical garden. On our way back to Ponta Delgada we got a quick glimpse of the Vila Franca Islet which is a nature reserve and popular destination for swimming and cliff diving. It is known for its perfectly circular, flooded caldera. For dinner we ate local favourites ordering an octopus salad, locally made bread and butter, and a plate of freshly caught limpets.Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    Lagoa do Fogo Hike

    October 15 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We spent the morning hiking to the highest body of water in the Azores, Lagoa do Fogo, “Lake of Fire”. This lake was formed in the bottom of a caldera and we walked through a forest of Eucalyptus and Japanese Cedars and along a levada waterway to reach the shores of it. Once there we enjoyed a picnic lunch. The weather was overcast and we struggled to get a sunny photo but our guide put forth a photo contest and the winner was a burst of sun caught by Michelle in her sunglasses.Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    Sete Cidades Parish Hike

    October 15 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    The Azorean weather is ever changing and can be different in each of the four quadrants of the island. We had our fingers crossed that we would have clear skies for this afternoon’s highlight hike to Sete Cidades (Lagoon of the Seven Cities), but the weather had another plan. Sete Cidades is a twin lake situated in the crater of a dormant volcano. There are fun trails to hike around the caldera for spectacular views of these blue-green lakes which reflect two different colours due to sunlight and algae growth. I will share a photo of what we hoped to see and what we were able to see. In our minds eye we did see it, but the camera just wouldn’t cooperate! Our consolation prize was a Queijada de Vila Franco do Campo. It helped to bring the disappointment notch to a bearable level. There are approximately 800 people living in the parish of Sete Cidades.Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    Rocha do Chambre Hike

    October 16 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We got an early start this morning, flying at 7:30 am from Ponta Delgada to Angra do Heroismo on Terceira Island. Our new guide, Ramiro, met us at the airport and our marathon day began with a quick stop at the grocery store to purchase supplies for our upcoming hike and picnic lunch. From there we hit the trails, hiking for 4 hours, (9.5 kms) on a circular route in the center of the island where we enjoyed stunning views of the Azinhal Valley and Boscoitos village with its rocky lava formations that meet the sea. The uphill was a challenge and at one point we were using ropes to ascend the steep slopes but the downhill was gradual. We hiked through forests of Azorean Heather, Laurel and Juniper plants which provided very dramatic scenery. The trail meandered along small streams and up to the top of Pico Alto Crater at just over 700 meters. It was soooo much fun!Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    A Swim at the Natural Pools of Biscoitos

    October 16 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    The Natural Pools of Boscoitos are a set of geological formations created by lava flows that, upon coming into contact with seawater, formed depressions and rocky formations that have gradually intensified over time to create a bathing area. The water was about 22 degrees so quite comfortable for mid October swimming. I could have stayed here all day but there were several more stops before we reached our hotel. Loving this beautiful island!Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    Azorean Vineyards & Monte Brazil

    October 16 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Ramiro was very excited to show and tell the story of winemaking on the island of Terceira. It is a process that is totally unique and the only other spot in the world that uses a similar process is the Canary Islands but their grapevines are grown in sand and the grapevines in Terceira are grown on rocks. They vines are surrounded by stone fences that have holes in them to allow just enough wind to allow pollination and prevent the grapes from rotting. Every step of the wine making process is done by hand which makes it very labour intensive and therefore there is a low profit margin. Most of the wine produced is white wine and just like anything else, when there is an increase in demand for it, the price goes up. The other stop we made this afternoon was Monte Brasil, an extinct volcano that emerged from the sea to join the city of Angra do Heroismo, to go to a viewpoint that gave us an excellent panorama of the entire island. It was a beautiful botanical garden with trails as well and a great place to picnic, walk or ride bicycles. After a full 12 hours of activity we checked in to our hotel, had a quick shower and got ready to head out for a bite to eat before happily collapsing into our bed.Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    Hiking The Misterios Negros Trail

    October 17 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    This morning we had the absolute pleasure of heading to the middle of the island and hiking the stunning Misterios Negros trail from Lagoa do Negro which is the site of the last volcanic eruption on Terceira in 1761. It was a 5 km hike which involved traversing uneven trails over hardened lava flows and volcanic rock and through a variety of magical forests. It was one of my all time favourite hikes due to the variety of terrain, the verdant flora and the degree of technical hiking. I sure was in my happy place throughout the trail. We enjoyed a celebration lunch after the hike where we were served Holy Spirit Soup, a bubbling pot of Alcatra Stew and a slice of Dona Amelia pie. With great effort, comes great reward!Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    Gruta do Natal & More

    October 17 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    This afternoon we visited the Gruta do Natal (Christmas Cave) which is a naturally formed tunnel of air developed under the warm lava. There are 74 such caves on the island of Terceira with this one providing the best conditions for tourist exploration. There have been baptisms and weddings held at this site, and one year a Christmas mass was held with 300 people in attendance. It makes me feel claustrophobic to even think of being in a crowd that large in such a confined space. It took most of my courage to explore it with my group of 16! After our visit to the caves, we visited the oldest church on this island where some original frescos were being refurbished, and then a tiny Empress Building used during the Portuguese celebration of the Holy Spirit which is a tradition in the Azores Islands that they call Festas do Espirito Santo. The buildings are used only once a year during the Holy week in May but are maintained all year and store the silver crowns used during the celebration. During the celebration there is a feast to serve the poor by means of the Holy Spirit soup and there is a procession which includes the crown and scepter. Often someone represents the Emperor, who symbolizes the Holy Spirit, but is not a religious figure. We gathered for our farewell dinner at Restaurant Teatro where we shared an onslaught of Portuguese tapas and some local wine or sangria. We have enjoyed our time in the Azores with our travel mates and our two excellent guides. It is a truly special place and tomorrow we get to spend one more day on our own in this paradise before heading home.Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    Hiking the Agualva Trail

    October 18 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    We have really enjoyed the hiking in the Azores. The trails on each of the two islands we have visited were unique and all of them felt like we were on a magical mystery tour. Ramiro suggested we try the costal trail on the north side of the island for our final hike and it was a superb recommendation. The views of the 4 bays along the coast that we hiked past, and of the farm fields that were organized like a patchwork quilt were spectacular. As the sun shone down on us, and we were cooled by the breeze off the ocean, we gave thanks for our intrepid travels during the past 11 weeks. We are very much looking forward to reuniting in person with our family and friends and catching up on their news as well as sharing ours.Read more

  • Sharon MillerHiking the AzoresTraveler

    “A Day in the Life” on Terceira

    October 18 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Join me for a taste of homemade Azorean ice cream while I explain “a day in the life” of someone living on Terceira Island, as depicted in this hillside mural. From May 15th to October 15th there is running of the bulls in the streets, usually there are 4 bulls that run for 40 minutes, one at a time, and up to 100 men trying to outrun them. The bull is held by a rope which has 5 men on each side of it and the horns of the bull have protective covers on them, such as leather balls. Typically the bulls win! Once a year in May the Festival of the Holy Spirit is held . The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and some wear a silver crown to symbolize the Emperor. Happy Cows are found throughout the island and are milked in the pasture twice a day using portable milking machines. They are called happy cows because there is always an abundance of lush green grass for them to eat and they are pastured where there are stunning views of the island. Amateur theatre is a popular form of recreation and they love to gather outdoors to enjoy shows. As well, people of the island love to put on festivals that are held in the community center. As you can see, they are very social people who find lots of excuses to gather. Lastly residents of this island are very proud people and love to display their coat of arms.Read more

    Trip end
    October 19, 2025
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