Azores hiking – On São Miguel and Flores—about five hours from Boston—the Azores delivered well-marked trails, dramatic coastlines, hidden waterfalls, and natural geothermal hot springs, often with the kind of quiet you usually only find far from home.
We left the familiar for something that felt, instantly, like a different planet of weather and coastline. On São Miguel and Flores—an island chain described here as only 5 hours from Boston—we spent our days threading through hiking trails that seemed to multiply with every turn.
The routes took us past fields of cows and horses, around serene lakes, and through historic villages. On São Miguel. we hiked along dramatic coastlines and chased waterfalls—especially the Salto do Cagarrão and Salto do Prego waterfall trails. On Flores. we did a portion of the PR02 FLO route. adding another set of cliffs and quiet bends to the journey.
Most of the trails were well-marked, but not every stretch offered an obvious path. A few sections lacked clear footpaths, forcing us to forge our own way. Even so, the pace never felt rushed. On both islands, year-round residents live nearby, yet during our hikes we rarely saw anyone else. When the trail finally ended—whether at a waterfall or a beach—it often meant having the destination all to ourselves.
For travelers who don’t want to hike, the Azores still seem built for outdoor escapes. Visitors can soak in geothermal pools, ride ATVs, go canyoning, or spend time whale watching. The appeal isn’t just variety; it’s scale. There’s more than one way to experience the islands, and each one leans hard into the outdoors.
That push toward nature felt especially tangible on a rainy morning in Furnas, a town on São Miguel. We visited the natural hot springs and soaked in mineral-rich, 102.2-degree water while cool raindrops fell around us. It was the kind of contrast that makes a place linger in memory—warmth underfoot. weather above. and the feeling that you’ve stepped into something unspoiled.
Azores São Miguel Flores hiking trails geothermal hot springs Furnas waterfalls Salto do Cagarrão Salto do Prego PR02 FLO outdoor adventure