The best hikes and views in Sao Miguel, The Azores

One of the main things to do in Sao Miguel is to hike. In fact, you’ll barely drive five minutes on this island without spotting another viewpoint. And while you could stop at every single one, there’s no need. These are the best hikes and views you’ll find in Sao Miguel.

Miradouro de Boca do Inferno and Lagoa Canário

When you Google Sao Miguel or even The Azores, it’s photos of this spot that will probably show up. It's a short walk from the parking spot for Lagoa do Canario. Just follow the trail that takes you up to this breathtaking view within 15 minutes.

Lagoa do Canario is set in the woodland along this trail. And it's worth the 5 minute walk off the main footpath and through the pines. It’s beautiful and peaceful, and in November it was fairly quiet. Despite being one of the best-known sights on the island.

Miradouro de Ponta do Sossego

This viewpoint is on the east of the island near Nordeste. You can enter the footpath to Ponta do Sossego through a peaceful garden less than 10 minutes walk of the car park. From there you can follow it along the coastline, or just take in the stunning Atlantic views. In November the path and garden weren’t in their best state. But it was still a beautiful spot that’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the east of Sao Miguel island.

Miradouro de Lagoa do Fogo

We went up the viewpoint for Lagoa do Fogo twice – once during the day, and once in the evening. It’s a brilliant spot to take in the Azorean sunset, and was one of our favourite hikes in Sao Miguel. You can walk around the lake, or drive almost to the top of the view point. The walk is a long one, so it depends on how much time you have at the time of your visit... And which of the numerous lakes and viewpoints you’re prioritising during your trip!

by @tomokas

Monte Palace Hotel

A hotel that was built in the 1980s and abandoned shortly after, the Monte Palace Hotel and Spa sits derelict in Sete Cidades. The building overlooks the iconic Lago Verde and Lago Azul, and you can even climb to the roof for the best views. Though exploring the inside is interesting and slightly eerie, it’s on the roof that you get the truly amazing view across the island.

We parked at Miradouro da Vista do Rei and climbed up a tree and over a wall to get into the grounds of the hotel. But there’s a hole in the wall just a bit further round that provides much easier access!

by @tomokas

There’s not much left in the hotel itself. But you can go into each of the hotel rooms, see the old lift shaft, and climb the spiral stairs pretty safely. There were a few other visitors there at the same time as us which took away any potential creepy vibes.

Maybe it’s just because we were hungry from exploring, but the Komaki Burger Truck in the small roadside car park just behind the hotel serves a veggie burger that I’m still thinking about over a year later.

by @tomokas

Sete Cidades hikes in Sao Miguel

Sete Cidades is another iconic view of the island, and one of the most famous hikes in Sao Miguel. It's an area where the lakes – Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde – are crossed by scenic bridge. This road takes you over the point where the lakes meet, and is a popular spot for hiking.

There are both short and long hikes around this area that are fairly easy to follow by the road or using maps. However, the phone signal in the area isn’t always great so make sure you have your route pre-downloaded. You can even book a guided tour if you're worried about getting lost.

You can easily park in the town of Sete Cidades. Or there are designated parking areas for different trail starting points. Walk around the edge of the lakes, over the hills surrounding them for an impressive view – or both! 

by @tomokas

Pico da Vara

This hike takes you uphill through a pine forest to Sao Miguel’s highest point. The views are stunning… or they are when you can see them. We managed to fit this in on the foggiest day of our trip so once we reached the top, we were in the middle of a rain cloud!

But the walk was still enjoyable and fairly easy, and the views from below the cloud were still very impressive! The area at the base of the trail is an active logging and forestry areas and sometimes sections of this walking route are closed, so be sure to check before you visit.

Want to know more? Check out our blog: The best things to do in Sao Miguel, The Azores.