Steaming fumaroles of Furnas with wooden boardwalks in front of a green hillside

Self-drive tour: Beyond the Volcanoes

With a hire car on every island, you explore the Azores at your own pace: the lakes of Sete Cidades and the fumaroles of Furnas on São Miguel, the World Heritage town of Angra do Heroísmo and the volcanic caves of Terceira, the volcano and vineyards of Pico and finally Faial, the blue island, with the lunar landscape of Capelinhos. Inter-island flights and a ferry link the islands. The itinerary is an example and can be tailored to your wishes.

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Itinerary
Self-drive tour: Beyond the Volcanoes

Print ITINERARY

Day 1 São Miguel Arrival in Ponta Delgada. Pick up your hire car and check in to a 4* hotel. Enjoy the evening with a first stroll along the harbour, taking in the relaxed atmosphere and typical façades of the island’s capital.

Day 2 São Miguel Drive to the Sete Cidades massif, a spectacular landscape dominated by a vast volcanic crater with blue and green lakes, surrounded by cones, pumice deposits, lava domes and maars. Look out over the volcano’s north-western flank, Mosteiros, an elongated block of the earth’s crust wedged between two faults. Then visit Ferraria at the island’s far south-western tip, where volcanic hot springs mingle with the ocean for an unforgettable swim. In Ponta Delgada, explore the Gruta do Carvão, at 1,912 m the longest lava tunnel on São Miguel, a regional natural monument bearing witness to the intense activity of the Picos volcanic complex with its 250 scoria cones and basalt lava flows.

Day 3 São Miguel Head to Lagoa to visit the Volcanology Centre, dedicated to research into the volcanic, seismic and geothermal phenomena of the Azores. Continue to Furnas, a village nestled between two ancient calderas on the shore of the lake of the same name. Taste the famous cozido, a traditional stew slow-cooked in the ground by the natural heat of the soil. Walk among the fumaroles and enjoy the hot springs in the village centre. Don’t miss the Terra Nostra botanical garden, one of the most beautiful in Portugal, with more than 2,000 plant species and its iron-rich pool at 38 °C. On the way back, admire the view over Lagoa do Fogo, then relax in the warm pools of Caldeira Velha, surrounded by tropical forest.

Day 4 São Miguel – Terceira Return the hire car at the airport and take an inter-island flight to Terceira. Pick up a new car at the airport and check in to a 4* hotel. Discover Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a museum town of pastel houses and cobbled lanes that reflect its rich maritime past. Then climb Monte Brasil, an extinct, green volcano now protected as a nature park. From its viewpoint, enjoy a spectacular view of the bay, the town and the fortifications dating from the Age of Discovery.

Day 5 Terceira Drive to the Serra do Cume, an impressive viewpoint overlooking farmland in shades of green and gold, a true patchwork of fields bordered by hedges. Continue to Algar do Carvão, an ancient volcanic vent at 550 metres above sea level, famous for its stalactites and stalagmites and the daylight reflected in a crystal-clear lake. End the day with a visit to Gruta do Natal, a labyrinth of lava tunnels formed by solidified lava flows, a fascinating place where you can feel the raw power of the earth.

Day 6 Terceira – Pico Return the hire car at Terceira airport and take an inter-island flight to Pico. Pick up your hire car at Pico airport and check in to a 4* hotel. Spend the rest of the day relaxing or strolling around the harbour, overlooked by the majestic silhouette of Mount Pico.

Day 7 Pico Geologically, Pico is the youngest island in the archipelago, shaped by volcanic forces that are still visible today. Its active volcano, rising to 2,351 metres, is the highest point in Portugal and a symbol of the Azores. Visit the Gruta das Torres in Criação Velha, a 5 km lava tube, one of the largest in Europe. Inside, admire the stalactites, glazed walls and curious lava balls. Continue to Santa Luzia to see the currais, low volcanic stone walls that protect the vines from the sea winds. This UNESCO-listed wine region reflects the harmony between people and nature. Tastings of volcanic wines and local specialities are possible at the Adega da Buraca.

Day 8 Pico – Faial Return the hire car near Madalena harbour and take the ferry to Faial, nicknamed ‘the blue island’ for its countless hydrangeas. Pick up your hire car at Horta harbour and check in to a 4* hotel. Discover the crater of Cabeço Gordo at 1,043 metres, with a panoramic view over the whole island, the neighbouring islands and the green slopes.

Day 9 Faial Head to Capelinhos in the Capelo volcanic complex to discover the traces of the last eruption on land in the Azores (1957–1958). This lunar landscape of ash and black basalt contrasts sharply with the lush vegetation of the rest of the island. Along the way, enjoy superb views over the Atlantic and old lava flows. Visit the Volcano Interpretation Centre, beautifully integrated into the site, which tells the geological and human story of this spectacular event. End the day with a stroll through Horta and a coffee at the legendary Peter Café Sport, a meeting place for sailors from all over the world.

Day 10 Faial Return the hire car at the airport and take your return flight.

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