Best Things to Do in Flores Island, Azores

by Azores Getaways Team

July 22, 2026 • 8 min read

Flores is 143 square kilometers of volcanic landscape at the far western edge of the Azores, and it rewards the effort of getting there. The island has more waterfalls per square kilometer than anywhere else in the archipelago, seven crater lakes sitting in old volcanic depressions at altitude, sea caves only reachable by boat, and a neighboring island with fewer than 500 inhabitants you can visit in a day.

What follows is what is actually worth doing here, organized so you can plan a logical itinerary rather than backtrack across the island.

Waterfalls

Flores is known for its waterfalls above everything else, and for good reason. Three are worth making specific plans around.

Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro

Also called Poço das Alagoinhas, this is the waterfall that most people come to Flores to see, and it delivers. More than 20 individual falls converge into a single moss-covered amphitheater surrounded by vertical volcanic rock covered in ferns and tree ferns. The sound is as striking as the view. From the car park, the trail down takes around 15 minutes.

Note: the pool is not swimmable. The site is visited enough in peak summer that arriving early (before 10am) matters for both crowd levels and photography.

Poço do Bacalhau

A single 90-meter drop from the fossil cliff above into a clear pool at the base, near Fajã Grande in the northwest. This is the only waterfall on Flores where swimming in fresh water is possible. The trail from the road is a 5-minute walk. The best light hits the cliffs in the late afternoon.

If you are based in Fajã Grande, this is within easy walking distance. If you are coming from Santa Cruz, pair it with Ribeira do Ferreiro on the same day. They are about 10 minutes apart by car.

Cascata da Ribeira Grande

A larger and less visited waterfall next to Ribeira do Ferreiro. The trailhead starts at an 1862 water mill near the bridge at Ribeira da Alagoa (look for "Início do Trilho da Cascata da Ribeira Grande" on Google Maps). The hike takes about 25 minutes and involves some rough terrain. Hiking boots recommended. Follow the rock cairns when the path is unclear.

Worth combining with Ribeira do Ferreiro if the weather is good and you have time.

Crater Lakes

The interior plateau of Flores holds seven crater lakes, each sitting in a volcanic depression at altitude. Two pairs are worth visiting from specific viewpoints.

Lagoa Negra and Lagoa Comprida sit side by side near the island's highest point. From the viewpoint above, you can see both simultaneously with the Atlantic visible in the distance. Lagoa Negra is the deepest lake in the Azores at 108 meters. Lagoa Comprida runs long and narrow along the ridge above.

Lagoas Rasa and Funda sit further along the interior road and display a distinct emerald-green hue. The higher viewpoint shows both lakes at once and gives a different perspective of the interior's geological scale.

All four viewpoints are reachable by car. The full circuit takes under an hour. The plateau is almost always in cloud by mid-morning, so start early and check the Spot Azores webcam before heading up. If visibility is poor, skip the interior entirely and focus on the coastal sites.

Hiking

Flores has four official marked trails. One (PR01FLO, north coast) is currently closed. The three open trails cover the main terrain of the island.

PR03FLO: Miradouro das Lagoas to Poço do Bacalhau. 7km, Hard, approximately 3 hours. This is the best trail on the island. It starts at Lagoa Negra on the central plateau, passes through the crater lake sequence, and descends through the fossil cliff to Poço do Bacalhau. The combination of highland scenery and coastal waterfall descent makes it unlike any other trail in the Azores. Start before 9am. Waterproof jacket required regardless of season.

PR02FLO: Lajedo to Fajã Grande. 13.2km, Medium, approximately 3h30. A coastal linear trail along the southwest coast passing through the lava fajãs and the village of Mosteiro, with ground-level views of Rocha dos Bordões and the Portal viewpoint looking down over Fajãzinha and Fajã Grande.

PRC04FLO: Fajã de Lopo Vaz. 3.4km, Medium, approximately 2 hours. A short circular trail descending to an isolated south coast fajã via a staircase cut into the cliff. The fajã sits within a Special Protection Area for seabirds.

Check current trail status and get full route details in our Flores hiking guide.

Sea Caves by Boat

The western coastline of Flores faces the open Atlantic directly, and the most dramatic parts of it are only reachable by boat. Boat tours departing from Santa Cruz travel along the volcanic cliffs, past hidden waterfalls that fall directly into the sea, and into sea caves that are accessible only when conditions are calm enough to enter.

This is also the standard routing for boat tours to Corvo, which means you can often combine the sea cave experience with the day trip in a single departure.

Canyoning

Flores is considered one of the best canyoning destinations in the Azores because the combination of volcanic terrain, altitude change, and year-round water flow produces routes with real variety. Routes range from a 2h30 beginner descent with five rappels and a 9-meter maximum drop, up to a 7-hour advanced route that descends 13 rappels from 115 meters and finishes in the sea. The terrain involves rappelling down waterfalls, sliding over smooth rock, and jumping into pools.

All equipment is provided by local operators. Canyoning on Flores runs from spring through early autumn. It requires going with a licensed local guide. Solo canyoning in these gorges is not an option.

Day Trip to Corvo Island

Corvo is the smallest inhabited island in the Azores and one of the smallest in Europe: 17 square kilometers, fewer than 500 permanent residents, and one village. The main draw is the Caldeirão, a volcanic caldera roughly two kilometers wide with a floor containing small lakes and farms worked continuously since the 16th century. The rim hike from the village takes 25 to 35 minutes. The view from the top is one of the most striking in the archipelago.

The standard crossing is the Atlântico Line ferry from Santa Cruz das Flores, which takes approximately one hour (around €10 per adult). The alternative is a semi-rigid boat tour that departs from Flores, includes the sea caves along the coast on the way out, and gives you several hours to explore Corvo before the return. This is the better option if you have not already done the sea caves separately.

Natural Pools

Piscinas naturais de Santa Cruz das Flores: large volcanic rock pools at the edge of the main town, calm enough for easy swimming with local fish visible in the water. These are among the best natural pools in the Azores archipelago and are used daily by locals throughout summer. Access is via a staircase; not suitable for people with limited mobility. On a clear day, Corvo is visible from the pools.

Fajã Grande bathing area: a popular spot in the northwest with striking views of the waterfalls above. Worth visiting for the setting, but Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish are common in the water here, particularly in summer. Treat the swim as secondary to the view.

Viewpoints

Flores has roughly 20 official viewpoints. A handful are genuinely exceptional.

Miradouro Craveiro Lopes: looks down over the village of Fajãzinha in the valley below, with sea cliffs behind it. The most reproduced Flores photograph comes from this viewpoint. Fog adds to it rather than detracting.

Miradouro da Baía de Além: at the island's northwest corner near the Albarnaz lighthouse. On a clear day, you can see the Monchique islet, the westernmost point of continental Europe, 1,500 meters offshore. Walk carefully along the coast to the left from the lighthouse parking area.

Miradouro do Vale da Fazenda: a view of Pico da Sé, a volcanic trachytic dome between two river valleys in the center of the island. Best combined with Miradouro Pico da Casinha nearby, which gives the same formation from a different angle closer to Santa Cruz.

When driving the east coast, go counter-clockwise (Lajes das Flores toward Santa Cruz). The viewpoints are easier to stop at from that direction.

Rocha dos Bordões

A formation of more than 200 basalt columns up to 20 meters tall, formed by volcanic lava cooling approximately 570,000 years ago. The columns are hexagonal and tightly packed into organ-pipe shapes along a hillside above the road. The viewpoint is roadside and immediate; a short walk along the base gives a better sense of the scale. From late May through July, hydrangeas cover the surrounding hillside. It is larger than Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland and considerably less visited.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Flores Island, Azores? The activities most worth planning around are the waterfalls (Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro and Poço do Bacalhau), the seven crater lakes of the interior, hiking PR03FLO from the plateau to the coast, canyoning, a boat tour of the sea caves, and a day trip to Corvo Island. Rocha dos Bordões and the natural pools of Santa Cruz are strong secondary stops. Most visitors spend 3 to 5 days and do not feel rushed.

How many days do you need to see Flores Island? Three days covers the main waterfalls, crater lakes, and a Corvo day trip without rushing. Four to five days allows you to add canyoning, the coastal hiking trails, and a proper circuit of the viewpoints. Extra time is consistently rewarded on Flores because weather can cancel or delay activities, particularly the plateau hikes and crater lake viewpoints.

What is the best time to visit Flores for activities? June through September gives the most reliable conditions. July and August are driest. For the crater lakes and plateau hiking, start before 9am in any season as cloud builds quickly from mid-morning. Check the Spot Azores webcam before heading to the interior. Canyoning runs spring through early autumn. The Corvo ferry and boat tours operate daily in summer with reduced frequency outside the season.

Can you swim in the waterfalls in Flores? Only at Poço do Bacalhau, which is the only fresh water swimming spot on the island. Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro and Cascata da Ribeira Grande are not swimmable. For sea swimming, the natural pools of Santa Cruz das Flores are the best option. The Fajã Grande bathing area is popular but carries a jellyfish risk in summer.

Is Flores good for canyoning? Yes. Flores is considered one of the best canyoning destinations in the Azores. The volcanic terrain produces routes with real rappels, natural slides, and jumps into pools across a range of difficulty levels. Routes range from a beginner half-day descent to a 7-hour advanced route finishing in the sea. All gear is included and local guides are required for all routes.