Self-Guided Walking in the Azores - Sao Miguel Island

On arrival in Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL), a private taxi will take you to your accommodation in the capital of the island and the archipelago.

If you arrive early, you'll have time to explore this beautiful city by the sea. Through the city gates lies a traditional centre home to some beautiful examples of Portuguese architecture dating back to the 17th century. A whole day can easily be spent here, visiting the museums, churches and harbour to see the 3-arched city gates and the Gothic-style Church of St. Sebastian. You spend the next two nights in this beautiful capital. Stay: Hotel Canadiano (Comfortable)

This morning after breakfast, you will be taken to the beginning of your first walk. Today's route follows the edge of the crater Caldeira Sete Cidades. Along the way you have views to the ocean on one side and the crater on the other, with two lakes below. A striking panorama, which originated with the explosion of an enormous volcano. The walking route ends in the village of Sete Cidades, on the shore of Lagoa Azul. Here you will be picked up by the taxi and driven back to your accommodation.

Today's 12km walk is expected to take between 3.5 and 4 hours and you will ascend 130m and descend 570m. Stay: Hotel Canadiano (Comfortable) (B)

The day starts with a 30-minute private taxi to Remedios, situated in the southern part of the island near Lagoa. Your walk begins with a descent through fields, following dirt tracks to reach the source of a river or Janela. The most interesting part begins when you enter a woodland and traverse a series of tunnels and aqueducts, formerly used to supply water to the distillery in Lagoa and now used to supply water to the area. The highest point is at Janela do Inferno, a vertical wall with a small waterfall, home to newts. Then you retrace your steps back down to Remedios. Along this trail, enjoy beautiful views over the municipality of Lagoa and Ponta Delgada. Afternoon private transfer to the village of Furnas where you spend the next four nights. Approaching the village, you will smell the sulphurous aroma coming from the Caldeiras (hot springs). Furnas is know as the one of the most beautiful villages in the Azores with its white buildings, decorated churches and cosy little streets. The Terra Nostra gardens (optional) are well worth a visit to see the mix of European deciduous trees next to tropical plants, date palms and cedar and fern trees as well as the geothermal pools.

Today's 9km walk is expected to take between 2.5 and 3 hours and you will ascend 250m and descend 250m. Stay: Hotel Vale Verde (Comfortable) (B)

Today you will have plenty of opportunities to admire the volcanic phenomena near Furnas. At various points along the walk around Lago de Furnas, you can see steam coming out of the ground and pits where locals cook their meals. On the south side of the lake you can visit the modern visitors\ centre, dedicated to the restoration of natural vegetation (closed on Mondays from mid-September to mid-May). Option of ascending to the vista point at Pico do Ferro, with amazing views of the lake and valley. Tonight you could try a local speciality on the restaurant menu, Cozido nas Caldeira, a stew prepared in traditional volcanic cooking pits.

Today's 12km walk is expected to take between 3 and 4 hours and you will ascend 150m and descend 380m. Stay: Hotel Vale Verde (Comfortable) (B)

You will be taken to a spot just outside Furnas, on the road to Povoacao. First you'll walk through an amazingly lush forest to reach the fishing village of Ribeira Quente, a colourful place to stop for a drink or meal. There is the option of finishing the route here on the beach or continue along the spectacular coastline through fairy-tale woodlands to Lomba do Cavaleiro. In clear weather, you will have magnificent views along the way - to Santa Maria island off in the distance.

Today's 11km walk is expected to take between 3 and 3.5 hours and you will ascend 500m and descend 650m. Stay: Hotel Vale Verde (Comfortable) (B)

Today's 35-minute transfer takes you from Furnas to Faial da Terra for a shorter but still very beautiful walk. Through a green valley, with occasional slippery sections, you traverse spectacular vegetation to reach the waterfall at Salto do Prego. From there you return to Faial da Terra, passing the abandoned ruins of the village of Sanguinho. Taxi transfer in the afternoon back to your accommodation.

Today's 5km walk is expected to take 2 hours and you will ascend 330m and descend 330m. Stay: Hotel Vale Verde (Comfortable) (B)

Today starts with a slightly longer transfer. Then you'll do a tough yet beautiful ascent on narrow paths, following the irrigation channels from sea level up to the 600-metre high Lago do Fogo, the most pristine crater lake in the Azores. You can choose to walk down to the lake shore, a lovely spot for a picnic or a swim. After a short ascent out of the crater, you do a long descent down a green valley back to the coast, where you can enjoy a paddle in the ocean. Here you will be picked up and taken to your accommodation for tonight, in Ponta Delgada.

Today's 11km walk is expected to take 3 hours and you will ascend 480m and descend 480m. Stay: Hotel Canadiano (Comfortable) (B)

After breakfast, a transfer will be arranged back to Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL). If you are staying on at the end of the trip, this transfer will not be provided for you. (B)