Faial

Pico is dominated by the volcano of the same name, at 2,351 meters, Portugal's highest peak. The ascent is challenging and only permitted with registration at Casa da Montanha. The wine landscape with its lava stone walls has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004. In Lajes do Pico, a museum commemorates whaling; today, whale watching tours depart from there. By ferry, you're on Faial in about half an hour.

The Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic, about 1,400 kilometers west of Lisbon. Crater lakes, hydrangea hedges, hot springs, pastures, and steep cliffs characterize the landscape. The islands are a destination for hiking, whale watching, and for quiet days away from large resorts.

Terceira ist die drittgrößte Insel der Azoren. Ihre Hauptstadt Angra do Heroísmo mit Renaissance-Grundriss, Kirchen und Stadtpalästen ist seit 1983 UNESCO-Welterbe. Im Inselinneren kannst du in den Algar do Carvão hinabsteigen, einen erloschenen Vulkanschlot, der in eine Höhle mit kleinem See führt. Im Sommer finden in vielen Orten Stierfeste auf der Straße statt, die Touradas à Corda.

Flores lies far to the west of the Azores and geologically already belongs to the North American Plate. The island is green, rainy, and traversed by waterfalls, such as at Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro or the cliffs near Fajã Grande. The basalt columns of Rocha dos Bordões are worth a short detour. Flores is tranquil and largely undeveloped, so allow some buffer time for weather-related flight cancellations.

In the west of São Miguel is a large volcanic crater with two connected lakes, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde. You'll get the most famous view from the Miradouro da Vista do Rei on the crater rim. Below in the basin lies the village of Sete Cidades, with hiking trails leading around the lakes and up to the crater rim. If cloudy, you often won't see anything from the top, so it's worth driving up again later.