The Best Hiking Trails in the Azores on Sao Miguel Island
The Azores islands are well-known for being an Eco-friendly tourist destination, emphasizing sustaining the Azores’ vision as a green destination. The Azores have never been influenced by mass tourism before in its 500+ year history and have always been a destination for the seasoned traveler or someone who wants to experience something serene and refined. Here you won’t find large shopping malls and artificial concrete buildings that have taken over so many small islands due to mass tourism. Charles Darwin, Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and many other historical figures have all come to the Azores islands to experience the exquisite flora and fauna in this relaxed island paradise.
The Azores’ Government has invested a great deal of money in most municipalities on the island of Sao Miguel to incorporate the natural beauty represented in their community and create marked hiking and walking trails through some of the most amazing locations on the island. 
It is hard to say where is the best spot on the island to hike since each region has its unique setting, some being pastoral, some with outstanding ocean views, and others that go deep into ancient forests. The preservation of these extraordinary locales is only some of the reasons why the island of Sao Miguel is becoming an outdoor lovers paradise. 
The north part of the Island has a trail that starts at the Cha Gorreana Tea Plantation, where you can enter the 19th-century factory and tour the tea process in the Azores while refueling on free Azorean teas in their cafe and gift shop. After enjoying your free tour of the factory, you can enjoy a 6km walk or hike through the guided trail at Cha Gorreana and go through the vast tea plantation with endless rows of perfectly manicured tea bushes and sweeping ocean views. There is a small snack station in the tea room at the factory where you can have a light lunch before or after your hike, and is the place to be on Sao Miguel island.
On the Island of Sao Miguel, you can enjoy over 50 trails and have been rated by visitors on their terrain, quality, views, etc. The weather in the Azores can change in the blink of an eye, and it is smart to be prepared for your hike. It is recommended to have sunglasses, a good pair of shoes, a water bottle since there are many natural volcanic streams that you can fill your bottle, and of course, an umbrella or windbreaker with a hood. 
A list of some official trails on the island of Sao Miguel are listed below:
TRAILS
Atalho dos Vermelhos PRC33SMI
Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande – Salto do CabritoPRC29SMI
Chá Gorreana PRC28SMI
Faial da Terra – Salto do Prego PRC9SMI
Fenais da Ajuda – Lomba de São Pedro PRC34SMI
Grená – Pico do Ferro PRC22SMI
Lagoa das Furnas PRC6SMI
Lomba da Fazenda PRC31SMI
Lomba D’El Rei PRC 38 SMI
Mata do Canário – Sete Cidades PR4SMI
Moinhos da Ribeira Funda PRC35SMI
Padrão das Alminhas – Salto da Farinha PR21SMI
Pedra Queimada – Lajinha – Degredo PRC36 SMI
Pico da Vara PRC7SMI
Praia da Viola PR27SMI
Praia – Lagoa do Fogo PRC2SMI
Quatro fábricas da Luz PR 39 SMI
Ribeira do Faial da Terra PR11SMI
Rocha da Relva PRC20SMI
Rota da Água – Janela do Inferno PRC 37 SMI
Serra Devassa PRC5SMI
Vista do Rei – Sete Cidades PR3SMI
Vigia de São Pedro PR1SMI
