Flores Island
The westernmost volcanic island of the Azores, packed with waterfall-draped cliffs and seven crater lakes – a hidden hiking paradise at Europe's westernmost point.
Flores is the westernmost island of Portugal's Azores archipelago and sits on the North American Plate. Covering about 140 km² with fewer than 4,000 inhabitants, it forms the Western Group together with Corvo to the north, and was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2009. The whole island is a deeply eroded volcanic plateau: seven crater lakes are scattered across the centre, the west coast is a wall of cliffs hundreds of metres high hung with waterfalls, and the name "Island of Flowers" comes from the hydrangeas and wildflowers lining the roads.
The island splits roughly into three areas: the west coast (Fajã Grande, Fajãzinha, the Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro waterfall pool, the Poço do Bacalhau waterfall and Rocha dos Bordões) is the highlight, so set aside at least a full day; on the central plateau, Lagoa Funda and Lagoa Rasa, Lagoa Negra and Lagoa Comprida, and the peak of Morro Alto can be linked up by car; Santa Cruz on the east coast and Lajes in the south are the hubs for daily life and transport, and in summer you can take boat trips from Santa Cruz to the sea caves or a day trip to Corvo. Keen hikers shouldn't miss the coastal trail from Ponta Delgada to Fajã Grande.
Getting there: usually via a connecting SATA Air Açores flight from Ponta Delgada on São Miguel or from Terceira to Flores Airport in Santa Cruz, with inter-island ferries in summer. Public transport on the island is minimal, so renting a car is strongly recommended. Plan on 3–4 days to allow for the weather. Conditions change very quickly, with fog, rain and strong winds common, and the crater-lake viewpoints are often clouded over, so be flexible with your itinerary; winter brings heavy wind and rain and frequent flight cancellations, so build some slack into your plans.
Top sights
- Poço da Alagoinha – Dozens of thin waterfalls cascade down a moss-covered green cliff into a pool, widely regarded as the most beautiful sight in the Azores.
- Rocha dos Bordões – A giant wall of vertical basalt columns formed by cooling lava, rising like a pipe organ. It is a major geological landmark on the island.
- Lagoa Funda & Lagoa Rasa – Two neighbouring crater lakes, one deep and one shallow, one lower and one higher. A viewpoint lets you see both at once. It is the most cl…
- Fajã Grande – A small village on the west coast, backed by waterfall cliffs and facing the Atlantic. It is one of the westernmost villages in Europe and…
- Poço do Bacalhau – A waterfall nearly 90 metres high drops from a cliff straight into a pool just a few minutes' walk from Fajã Grande village, and you can sw…
- Lagoa Negra & Lagoa Comprida – Two volcanic crater lakes side by side on the island's central plateau. Black Lake is dark and deep, Long Lake is bright blue, and both are…
- Fajãzinha – A quiet village in a west-coast valley, where stone houses, a church, and waterfall cliffs behind it form the classic Flores countryside sc…
- Ribeira Grande Waterfall – One of the tallest waterfalls on Flores, cascading in tiers from the edge of the plateau and visible from the roadside.
- West Coast Viewpoints (Craveiro Lopes & Portal) – Two viewpoints on the way down to the west coast, overlooking Fajãzinha, Fajã Grande, and a line of waterfall cliffs.
- Aldeia da Cuada – A stone village restored as a rural guesthouse community after its residents emigrated. Stone lanes lined with hydrangea hedges give it a s…
- Ponta Delgada – Fajã Grande Coastal Trail – A classic linear trail along the northwest coast, following the cliffs with views of the Atlantic, waterfalls, and Monchique Islet.
- Santa Cruz das Flores – The capital of Flores and home to its airport. White-walled churches, lava-rock seawater pools, and the harbor make up daily life in this s…
- Museu das Flores (São Boaventura Convent) – An island museum housed in a 17th-century Franciscan convent, showcasing whaling, religious art, and island life.
- Boqueirão Whaling Factory – A former whale oil processing plant by the sea, now a museum with its boilers and machinery intact, telling the story of Azorean whaling.
- Gruta dos Enxaréus & Coastal Boat Tour – A speedboat tour along the southeast coast passes sea caves, cliffs, and seabirds, and the boat can sail into the huge Gruta dos Enxaréus s…
- Lajes das Flores – The island's second-largest town and one of the earliest settlements in the Azores, with a harbor, a Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, and…
- Fajã de Lopo Vaz – A hidden bay beneath the cliffs, where small terraces growing bananas and taro lead down to a black sand and pebble beach. You must walk do…
- Ponta Delgada (Flores) – A quiet village at the island's northern tip with wide sea views. On clear days you can see Corvo Island, and it is the starting point of t…
- Albarnaz Lighthouse – A white lighthouse on the sea cliffs at the island's northwest corner, overlooking Maria Vaz Islet and distant Corvo Island.
- Monchique Islet – A basalt islet off Fajã Grande, recognized as the westernmost point of Europe (and of the European Union).
- Morro Alto – The highest peak on Flores, at about 914 meters. On clear days, the summit overlooks the whole island and its crater lakes.
- Corvo Island & Caldeirão – The smallest island in the Azores, about 40 minutes by boat from Santa Cruz. The lake inside its crater is like a miniature map.
Where to eat
- O Moreão – A family seafood restaurant by the harbor in Santa Cruz, where the husband goes out fishing and the wife runs the dinin…
- Casa do Rei – A small restaurant on a hillside farm in Lajes das Flores, run by a German couple who cook fusion dishes with organic p…
- Maresia – A seaside restaurant in Faja Grande with no menu, where the chef cooks only one or two dishes each night, with vinyl re…
- Pôr do Sol – A family-run restaurant in Fajazinha with a garden terrace overlooking the sea and sunset, serving Azorean stews, sausa…
- O Arruda – A family restaurant near the Lajes harbor, where generous portions of limpets, clams and grilled fresh fish offer good…
Itineraries
- Flores Waterfalls, Lakes & Corvo Island – Waterfalls, volcanic lakes, and coastal hikes on the westernmost edge of the Azores, including a day trip to Corvo Isla…