A Guide to Sete Cidades: Hikes and Views in Sao Miguel, Azores

The Sete Cidades hike and views in Sao Miguel Island, Azores are a must-see for any visitor. Seeing Sete Cidades, Lagoa das Sete Cidades in Portuguese, is one of the best things to do in Sao Miguel.

This stunning green landscape surrounding the Sete Cidades hike is probably not like anything else you’ve ever seen. Lagoa das Sete Cidades is a part of Sao Miguel island that is not to be missed.

What is Sete Cidades?

Sete Cidades is actually the name of a village in the Ponta Delgada municipality of Sao Miguel Island in the Azores, Portugal. It’s located in the center of a huge, 3-mile wide volcano crater.

The population of the village is under 1,000 and after visiting this area myself I experienced that it is quite remote, so it makes sense that this would be one of the least populated areas of Sao Miguel Island.

The name Sete Cidades is also commonly used amongst tourists and locals to refer to this crater where you will find two famous lakes. These two lakes are those that are often the image you see on any postcard or guidebook cover of Sao Miguel Island.

Lagos das Sete Cidades is the Portuguese name for the two crater lakes, Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul. As the Portuguese names for each individual lake state, one lake is green while the other is blue, making this sight all the more phenomenal.

So if you hear anyone refer to Sete Cidades as a sight you need to visit, it’s the name of a village but in tourism talk they are likely referring to the entire area and the view of the Sete Cidades Lakes, Lagos das Sete Cidades.

How to Get to Sete Cidades

Sete Cidades is located about 16 miles away from Ponta Delgada on the western end of Sao Miguel Island. Distance-wise it is not very far at all, but you can expect the drive to be 30-40 minutes long by car.

While I heard there are a couple of buses each day from Ponta Delgada to the village of Sete Cidades, I also heard the service is very unreliable. Keep in mind that Sete Cidades is a remote, small village so there isn’t a need for heavy public transit service.

That said, my advice for getting to Sete Cidades from Ponta Delgada or any other part of Sao Miguel Island is to rent a car or join a tour. My group of friends and I had rented a car to use throughout our entire 4-day stay in Sao Miguel.

The island is best seen and explored when you have a vehicle to get around. Hiring a local driver or joining an organized tour is also another great option that came highly recommended to me but I preferred the flexibility of having my own rental car.

If you don’t want to deal with driving around the island, these tours are all great options for getting to experience Sete Cidades:

The Best Sete Cidades Views

The crater is massive so there are many great viewpoints to take advantage of around Sete Cidades and the lakes. One thing that I noticed during my time here is that Portugal is really good at is marking the viewpoints around the country with street signs providing direction.

Google Maps also has most of these viewpoints marked with a little camera icon, representing the fact that it’s a viewpoint, making them really easy to find by simply scrolling the map area.

Miradouro da Boca do Inferno

This viewpoint is probably my personal favorite of all the views I experienced in the Azores Islands. Miradouro da Boca do Inferno is one of the most popular views over Sete Cidades and it is clear to see why. The short trail through lush green surroundings leads to an elevated point that offers a stunning panoramic view over the volcanic terrain and its beautiful lakes.

Maps will lead you to an point where you can turn down a small dirt road off of the main road. This small road that appears protected by a gate that was open when we arrived. Many travelers were parking their cars on the main road and then walking through the gate to continue by foot down the dirt road.

This dirt road looked functional on the map so I insisted we try driving down it rather than parking early and walking. Sure enough, there was a small parking lot at the end of this road, so unless it’s crazy crowded there’s no reason to park on the main road and walk.

The dirt road walk would probably be 20 minutes if we didn’t drive in. Not bad, but not necessary. From the small parking lot at the end of the dirt road there’s just one short set of stairs to climb and the stunning views begin. // 37.843032, -25.763355

Miradouro da Vista do Rei

Another popular viewpoint overlooking Sete Cidades is Vista do Rei, named after a visit from the king. Vista do Rei puts is under the bottom part of Lagoa Verde, the green lake, with Lagoa Azul now furthest away on the opposite side.

At this viewpoint there is an abandoned luxury hotel, which is now really rundown, but it’s something else that is interesting to look at. The hotel is a few stories high and there are tourists who go inside and climb to the rooftop level to take photos.

I read beforehand that this is not recommended since the building is completely abandoned and the infrastructure is not monitored, therefore it may be dangerous.

Vista do Rei is easy to access with paved roads and places to park. Even the viewpoint itself has a nice wooden deck for visitors to gather on and take photos of the lakes. My visit was during the month of May and there were vendors up there at the viewpoint as well selling souvenirs, food, and gelato. // 37.839496, -25.794500

Popular Sete Cidades Hikes

Mata do Canário

The Mata Do Canário trail is a 7.3 mile hike that offers stunning views of the lakes, rolling green hills, coastal views, and cows, of course. The trail starts near the Canary Forest in the western part of the island. Depending on the time of year parts of the trail may be lined with blooming hydrangea flowers.

Most visitors spend 3-3.5 hours completing the Mata do Canário trail. The trail leads hikers around the blue lake and ends in in the village of Sete Cidades. The official end point of the trail is at the village church. It’s usually recommended to take a taxi to the trailhead since you’ll end in the village and want to avoid having your car parked back at the starting point.

Vista do Rei

Vista do Rei is one of the best viewpoints over the twin lakes and is also the start of a hiking trail that leads down to the village of Sete Cidades. This trail goes along the opposite side of the crater than the Mata do Canário trail, but the scenery is equally as beautiful.

Throughout the hike there are views of the Sete Cidades lakes on the right hand side and at certain points the left hand side offers views over the coast of Sao Miguel Island and the sea.

The Vista do Rei hike is also shorter than the previous, totaling around 4.6 miles. The average time taken to complete this trail is 2-3 hours.

Where to Stay Near Sete Cidades

Sete Cidades Lake Lodge // This lodge is located right by the lake—you couldn’t get any closer! Sete Cidades Lake Lodge has the cutest modern bungalows for guests to stay in.

If it weren’t for the fact that I was staying in Ponta Delgada, I’d 100% want to sleep in one of these adorably charming bungalows. Waking up to the scenery that surrounds Sete Cidades Lake Lodge would be an absolute dream. Click here to check pricing and availability at Sete Cidades Lake Lodge.

Living Azores Sete Cidades // At this property guests get to stay in restored houses and be completely immersed in traditional Azorean vibes. Many, or actually most, of the lodging options in the Azores are places like Living Azores Sete Cidades so expect to see this vibe often.

I loved staying in old, renovated homes in the Azores—it feels so authentic and charming! Living Azores Sete Cidades is also located in the village of Sete Cidades right by the lakes. Click here to check pricing and availability at Living Azores Sete Cidades.

Looking for a place to stay in the main city, Sao Miguel? Check out these Hotels in Ponta Delgada

Sete Cidades Hike Packing List

What you decide to wear and take with you to Sete Cidades really depends on the level of hiking you are going to do. You can drive yourself from miradouro (viewpoint) to the next miradouro for a chill, less active experience.

Or you can hike one of the few trails that I listed above, which is obviously going to be a more active experience requiring something different than the yellow summer dress I was wearing.

For the Photographer

• This tripod is the one that I always travel with. It’s lightweight, durable, and super affordable.
• This is my camera that I shot all of these photos with. It’s an excellent camera if you are serious about photography.
• This is the lens that I shot all of these photos with; it’s a professional quality lens.
• This is a great camera if you are looking to take beautiful photos with something more lightweight and affordable. Many of the photos on my blog were shot with this camera.
• This is my absolute favorite skirt to wear for photos. If you want to be in your photos and pop against any backdrop, check out this skirt. You won’t believe where it’s from and how affordable it is.
• These are my must-have sandals for every trip I go on. They are durable, water-resistant, comfortable, and are trendy enough that you can get away with wearing them with just about anything.

For the Outdoor Adventurer

• This water-resistant day trip backpack is perfect for taking on a Sete Cidades hike. It’s incredibly light, easily folds up to pack in your luggage, and comes in an array of fun colors. You can’t beat the price either!
• This collapsable water bottle goes with me on all of my trips, even when I’m not hiking. It’s BPA free, rolls up when it’s empty, and can easily attach to your backpack. This is one of my favorite travel items.
• This windproof travel umbrella will come in handy if the often-unpredictable Azores weather decides to present surprise rainstorms during your Sete Cidades hike.

Tips for the Sete Cidades Hike and Views

“Miradouros”

In Portuguese, these viewpoints are called “miradouros.” If there is a road sign with the word miradouro it might be worth following. Once I realized what miradouro meant, I often would turn off the road to follow these signs as I’d come across them. Most of the time I was treated with an amazing view that I never expected to find.

Sete Cidades Weather

Sete Cidades often gets covered in thick fog. My advice is to monitor the weather closely when you are planning to visit Sete Cidades. The weather changes quickly, so my mindset during the trip was to be flexible with my plans so that I could go to Sete Cidades whenever the weather was clear.

The weather isn’t going to work with your schedule, so you’re just going to have to suck it up and work with the weather. Spot Azores is a website that allows you to view the current weather conditions at different spots on the island via a live weather camera.

A woman working in the Ponta Delgada airport told me about this website and it was so useful. I relied on it every morning when deciding what the itinerary for the day should look like. This is a great website to check before planning to go to Sete Cidades.

How to Stay Connected in The Azores

When I travel in Europe I stay connected to the internet using TEP Wireless, which is my favorite travel wi-fi service. The devices work in countries all over the world and are a lifesaver when you need to retrieve directions, find a good restaurant, or a place to grab an ice cold Azorean beverage. Click here to check where TEP provides coverage and see the current device rental prices.

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