A Women’s Hiking Trip to the Azores: Tips on Making the Most of an Active Azorean Adventure
The Azores are a group of 9 islands about 1000 miles off the coast of Portugal, smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. They are remote and volcanic and lush and so so green. I recently returned from a hiking trip to two of the islands - Sao Miguel and Terceira - with a group of women from Montana. We were awed by the beauty of the Azores and learned a few things along the way. If I could give two key pieces of advice for a trip like this, I would say:
Pack well.
Book a small group tour.
Caldera Lake on Sao Miguel
5 Reasons to Book a Small Group Tour
1. The details are taken care of
I have become a recent convert to the style of travel where someone else is taking care of logistics and I show up and enjoy myself. From our initial group meeting on day one through the end of the tour, all transportation was handled. We had a shuttle van that hauled us to trailheads and to sights around the islands. The flight from Sao Miguel to Terceira mid-tour was also included. Entry fees into different attractions were covered as well. The old Sherri would have spent many hours (and days and weeks and months) researching and planning a trip like this. I think small group travel works quite well if you can find a company who provides a travel experience that meets your travel style. G Adventures has been that company for me. I like G Adventures because they are affordable. The accommodations for our tour were clean, comfortable and centrally located. The style of dress is casual. That’s perfect for me! Many dinners were “on your own”. I liked having the option to choose my own restaurant. Usually the people in our group ended up dining together anyway. Booking with G Adventures was an especially good idea for this Azores hiking trip where things did not always go as planned.
2. Contigency plans are in place
One of the most striking features of the Azores (besides the volcanic craters and the rugged coastlines) is how very green the islands are. We were describing it as “50 Shades of Green”, which was not an exaggeration. Vegetation does not become this lush and beautiful if it is always sunny. Inclement weather is a definite possibility when visiting the Azores. Our CEOs (Chief Experience Officers, aka guides) both said that even though the May weather we were receiving was wetter than normal, it is not unusual to experience the rain, fog and wind that happened to be in abundance while we were there.
On day one, Plan A was to hike from Ribeira Funda to Maia along the north coast of Sao Miguel. We reached our first stream crossing about 30-45 minutes into the hike and the bridge had been washed out. So, Ayla, our CEO, called the driver to let him know we would be moving on to Plan B which was to continue the loop back to Ribeira Funda where he would pick us up then take us to another access point further down the coast. About 30-45 minutes into that section, we hit another stream crossing. The water was too high to cross. Ayla had never encountered that in all her years hiking that trail. So, Ayla called our driver again and we retraced our steps. We decided on Plan C which was a visit to the tea plantation. Day two’s hikes had to be tweaked as well because of the excessive rain.
Day two’s hike was foggy in the morning, but we hiked to and around many lakes and focused on the amazing plant-life which made it really special. Then, the fog lifted in the afternoon just in time for spectacular views of the lakes inside the calderas. Despite the alterations, the hikes were still spectacular. We talked about what a hassle it would have been to figure out plans B and C, along with arranging transportation on our own.
3. Local insight
Small group tours with G Adventures come with a knowledgeable local guide. We had Ayla on Sao Miguel who had been born and raised there, and Marina on Terceira who had also lived on that island her entire life. They both freely shared historical, cultural, and natural information as we drove across the roadways and hiked down the trails.
From Ayla we learned the names of all the plants - which were native and which were introduced. She also shared her incredible talent for making bird calls. From Marina we learned about how Terceira is known as a party island. I don’t think we’re talking Ibiza here, but Terceira hosts many festivals throughout the year including their own version of the running of the bulls.
They gave restaurant recommendations and ideas for activities in the evenings, if we still had the energy. And, they proudly showed us all of the very best places on their home islands. Here are my favorite bonus stops.
Terra Nostra Botanical Gardens in Furnas (Sao Miguel)
Located within a volcanic caldera, the town of Furnas is home to the Terra Nostra Botanical Gardens which we visited one afternoon. These magical gardens were full of a wide variety of plants. We aimlessly traversed the many paths leading here and there, discovering a fun little adventure or a pretty scene around each turn. I could imagine how much my children would have enjoyed it when they were younger. I think I could have spent several hours there, but we wanted to make sure we had time for a soak in the hot springs also located inside the gardens.
Pools at Biscoitos (Terceira)
In the village of Biscoitos, on the north coast, the volcanic lava on the shore has formed natural pools that turn into a popular swimming spot in nice weather. We made a brief stop here, though only one in our group decided to make the plunge into the cold water (and it wasn’t me).
Algar do Carvao (Terceira)
Algar do Carvao is an ancient volcanic chimney that you can descend into. We spent an afternoon checking out the dramatic rock formations, lush mosses, and an underground lake created by rainwater. Apparently, it was discovered by farmers whose animals who had gone missing; they had fallen into this giant hole.
4. Built-in navigation
Our tour began on Sao Miguel with our misty morning hikes which I can’t imagine trying to navigate without the help of Ayla. Mid-trip, we traveled to the island of Terceira. The hikes we went on here were of a different breed. They were rougher and deeper in the forest. Our first hike, Rocha do Vale Longo, was 9.5 km loop in the Azinhl Valley in the center of the island. The trail began with us walking over uneven volcanic rocks before moving into a path carved through a cathedral of gorgeous Japanese cedar trees. From there, we ascended steeply and steeper still, having to use ropes to help us climb the tall steps. Eventually we reached a summit of sorts and had a more gradual descent with valley views. The trail was not always obvious and Marina kept close watch to make sure we didn’t stray.
The next day we headed a little east to tackle the Misterios Negros (Black Mysteries) hike. What an adventure! The hike winds through a native Azorean forest with so many twists and turns, at times barely a trail at all. Thankfully steps and planks have been installed in places to make the walking a bit easier. Again, I was grateful for Marina’s guidance. We never had to second guess if we were still on the path and it was definitely hard to know sometimes. Trails in Portugal are generally marked with two painted lines, one red and one yellow. They typically appear on signs to let you know you are on the right path, but on some of our hikes in Terceira, they had to be painted on the rocks.
Both hikes were incredibly beautiful and I loved the variability of them. It was great being able to focus on walking and taking in the surroundings instead of trying to follow a map or some sort of navigation. That is true of driving to all the trailheads and bonus stops as well. My only job was to watch the scenery as we passed by.
5. Great option for solo travelers
We were a group of four women joining up with 10 others. Our Scottish companion named us “The Montana Four”. There was a couple in our group and the rest were solo travelers - some from the US, some from Canada, one from Ireland and one from Italy. Predominantly women, we ranged in age from early 20s to early 70s and were decently compatible hikers. Small group travel offers a nice opportunity to form international friendships. Our hikes and shuttle rides and dinners were always peppered with conversations as we all tried to learn a bit more about each other. For me, it is one of the best reasons to book a small group tour.
G Adventures hiking group on Terceira
How to Pack Well for a Hiking Adventure
The Essential Layers
My goal always is to pack lightly. I don’t want to be schlepping heavy bags around, plus they take up so much room in the shuttle buses. So, I was very intentional about must-take items for this trip. I knew from checking the weather forecast and average May temperatures on the Azores that it could be a little cooler and wet at times. In total, we were gone for 11 days with some pre and post-tour days in the Lisbon area. Here is my packing list:
Hiking shoes - I opted for shoes over boots because they would be my walking around town shoes as well. I was happy with my Hoka Speedgoat 6s. They had good tread for slippery surfaces and they dried quickly.
Flipflops - perfect for water outings, plus I love these Oofos sandals in black as a recovery shoe. They sometimes doubled as a my going to dinner shoes. I did bring a pair of Taos leather sandals that I hardly wore and would probably opt for a nice looking sneaker next time.
Raincoat
Wind layer - The Patagonia Houdini jacket is my new favorite layer. It is very lightweight, but offers nice protection from wind and even light drizzle. It adds a little warmth, and is also breathable.
Merino wool shirts - I had 2 short sleeves and 1 long sleeve. Wool t-shirts are great because they are quick-dry and do not hold onto smells like other fabrics - especially after a sweaty hike.
Hiking pants - I brought 2 pairs of hiking pants, but by far my favorite was this pair from Free Fly. They were lightweight and quick-dry (are you noticing a theme?) Plus, they look nice and I wore them to dinner sometimes too.
Skort
Shorts - which I only wore once we got back to Lisbon and warmer weather
Leggings - perfect on their own or to throw on underneath my skort for cooler days/evenings
6 other tops - a combo of t-shits, sleeveless shirts and a long-sleeve button down for wearing when not hiking
Cardigan - that went with my tops for cooler days
Lightweight wool jacket - nice extra layer, mine is older but similar to this Smartwool jacket.
Swimsuit - for this particular trip, it is a good idea to bring an older suit or at least a darker colored suit for the geothermal hotsprings. The heavily-mineraled water is yellowish-brown in color and has been known to stain lighter colored suits.
Other important clothing - I tried to pack socks and underwear that were quick-dry as well. I am currently in the market for sports bras that dry more quickly. Let me know if you have ideas for me.
The Azores are a unique destination that stays with you long after you return home, from the crater lakes and coastal trails to the quiet villages and warm island hospitality. Traveling with a small group of adventurers made the experience even more meaningful, turning challenging hikes into shared memories and new friendships.
If an active, connection-filled trip like this sounds appealing, consider gathering your own group of friends, sisters, hiking buddies, or family members and creating an adventure together. Whether you’re dreaming of the Azores or another corner of the world, I’d love to help you find the right destination, pace, and tour style to fit your group’s interests and comfort level. Sometimes the hardest part is simply choosing where to begin.
