Self-Guided Walking in the Azores - Faial & Pico Islands

On arrival at Pico Airport (PIX) a private transfer will take you your hotel in Silveira, on the south of the island (about a 50-minute drive). If you have an early flight and arrive in the morning, you can spend the day by the hotel swimming pool or try your luck spotting whales from the cliff. Stay: Hotel Aldeia da Fonte (Comfortable)

In the morning, a taxi driver will pick you up to go to the starting point of the route, just above Silveira village. The Pico volcano, 2,351m Portugal's highest peak, will be your back drop along most of the route. The second part of this route follows mainly flat terrain as you follow the coastline back to the hotel admiring some of the southern coast of the island.

Today's 13km walk is expected to take between 3.5 to 4 hours and you will ascend 100m and descend 290m. Stay: Hotel Aldeia da Fonte (Comfortable) (B/L)

After a short 35-minute transfer, you start walking from the central plateau of Pico, an area where volcanic eruptions took place almost 500 years ago. After a while on high terrain, you begin your descent down to the north coast. You will traverse the habitat of native flora on your way to Baia das Canas. This small settlement is located on a tiny black beach. In the afternoon you will be picked up for the transfer to Silveira.

Today's 10km walk is expected to take between 2.5 to 3 hours and you will ascend 100m and descend 800m. Stay: Hotel Aldeia da Fonte (Comfortable) (B/L)

Today begins with a transfer to the start of an amazing route, from the lake at Lagoa do Capitão down to São Roque, first along red dirt tracks then downhill through a stunning forest. In order to avoid a long and demanding descent, you can choose an alternative route. Your driver will pick you up at the end of the walk and take you to your next accommodation in Madalena.

Today's 10km walk is expected to take 3 hours and you will ascend 1000m and descend 770m. Stay: Hotel Caravelas (Comfortable) (B/L)

On your last day on the island of Pico, the taxi driver will pick you up at the hotel and drive you to the start of your walk. A straightforward route along the island's east coast, enjoying the scenery provided by Pico's historic vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your route ends at the harbour in Madalena, where you get the boat to Horta on the island of Faial. A taxi will pick you up at the harbour in Horta and take you to your accommodation. If you arrive on Faial in time, you can opt to do a short walk. From the marina and old fishing quarter of Porto Pim, you follow the beach out to the peninsula of Monta da Guia. The route follows quiet tarmac roads to a beautiful vista point then circles back to Horta.

Today's 4.4km walk is expected to take between 1.5 hours and you will ascend 160m and descend 160m. Stay: Hotel Horta (Comfortable) (B)

After a 30-minute drive you arrive at the Caldeira. Two kilometres wide and 500 metres deep, it is the highest point on Faial Island and in clear weather provides splendid views of the islands of Graciosa, Sao Jorge and Pico. Today's route follows the edge of the crater, then starts downhill along a red dirt track through the forest. A levada (water channel) will guide you for a section, before the ascent to another crater Cabeço do Fogo. One last descent takes you through the Reserva Florestal de Capelo to the picnic area where the route ends.

Today's 13km walk is expected to take between 3.5 to 4 hours and you will ascend 150m and descend 700m. Stay: Hotel Horta (Comfortable) (B)

Today you explore the west end of the island of Faial and your walking route begins in the town of Capelo. Through the green craters of Cabeço Verde and Cabeço do Canto, you will reach the young volcanic area of Capelinhos, formed by a volcanic eruption only recently (in 1957). The beautifully coloured volcanic ash is still exposed here and the young dry landscape has not yet been pushed down into the sea. The lighthouse which once marked the westernmost point of the island has not worked for years, but you can visit the lovely information centre here to learn about the history of Capelinhos or take a stroll through this newly formed terrain. You can then enjoy a coastal route to the town of Varadouro, where you will be picked up by your local representative and taken back to your hotel.

Today's 12.5km walk is expected to take 3 hours and you will ascend 300m and descend 400m. Stay: Hotel Horta (Comfortable) (B)

After breakfast you have an included taxi transfer to the harbour, where you get the boat back to Pico Island. From Madalena you have a transfer arranged to take you to Pico Airport (PIX) where this holiday ends. (B)