{"id":44118,"date":"2026-01-14T14:12:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T13:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/?p=44118"},"modified":"2026-01-14T14:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T13:12:23","slug":"azores-routes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/rutas-azores\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiking routes in the Azores Islands"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lost in the middle of the Atlantic, the volcanic archipelago of the Azores surprises the traveller with its dreamlike landscapes and exuberant nature. A hiking paradise where it will be difficult to decide where to start. A good place to start might be these 7 routes through the Azores that we suggest below.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This volcanic archipelago of nine islands lies at the confluence of three tectonic plates in the Atlantic Ocean. Since the Portuguese colonised them in the 15th century, populations of different nationalities have settled here. They have served as a refuge, a food supply on different routes and a hunting ground for sperm whales. The human impact on these volcanic islands, originally covered by relict vegetation of the \"sperm whale\" type, has been felt by many people.laurisilva<\/strong>\"The landscape has been significantly transformed. Whether with pastures for livestock, Asian conifers for timber harvesting or with the colourful hydrangeas<\/strong> planted to demarcate farms and provide shelter for livestock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The islands are known for their famous anticyclone, but each one has its own \"idiosyncrasy\" and this is reflected in the different landscapes that dot the selection of routes shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Western Group: Flowers and Corvo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These two islands are the westernmost and furthest. They have the particularity of being located on the North American plate and of being the two islands with the smallest population and the lowest population density.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flores Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Flowers <\/strong>is the larger of the two, and as its name suggests, the abundance of rock flowers and hydrangeas is overwhelming. The island's 4,000 inhabitants are distributed in a few urban centres, among which the following stand out Santa Cruz<\/strong>the capital. The roads run along the coastline with its countless viewpoints, or pass between lakes such as the Caldeira Funda<\/strong> or the Dry<\/strong>. If there is one thing that stands out about this island, it is its lush landscapes with its waterfalls, such as the iconic Po\u00e7o da Ribeira do Ferreiro<\/strong> and the waterfall of the Po\u00e7o do Bacalhau<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When the fog lifts, we can contemplate the \"Caldeira Comprida\" (narrow lagoon), amidst the greenery and the omnipresent hydrangeas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We propose two routes to get to know this island. A linear route<\/strong> parallel to the west coast, between the villages of Lajedo and Faja Grande<\/strong>through the Po\u00e7o da Ribeira do Ferreiro<\/strong>and a second circular route<\/strong> in which we will visit the lakes Negra, Comprida, Seca and Branca<\/strong>at the Planalto Central.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Route 1: from Lajedo to Faja Grande via the Po\u00e7o da Ribeira do Ferreiro<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n