Geotourism in the Azores
The Azores are one of the few archipelagos in the world recognised by UNESCO as a Global Geopark, a status that acknowledges the scientific, educational and touristic value of a landscape shaped entirely by volcanism. Doing geotourism in the Azores means walking through craters, lava caves, fumaroles and lava fields, aware that each of these landscapes tells the geological story of an archipelago still in the making.
Must-see geosites
Algar do Carvão, on Terceira, is perhaps the archipelago’s best-known geosite: a volcanic chimney that descends 90 metres to a cave of silica stalactites, a rare phenomenon in volcanic rock. Also on Terceira, Furna do Enxofre hides an underground lake inside a collapsed caldera. On Faial, Capelinhos Volcano is the most recent example of Azorean volcanism, its moon-like landscape created by the 1957-58 eruption still striking today for looking almost untouched by time. On Pico, Gruta das Torres is Portugal’s longest lava tube.
Why the Azores are a UNESCO Global Geopark
The Geopark status, awarded to all nine islands, recognises not only the archipelago’s unique geological diversity — central, fissural and shield volcanoes, all represented within a single territory — but also the interpretation and conservation work carried out with local communities. Visiting Azorean geosites also means supporting a tourism model that values environmental education and landscape preservation.
Planning a visit
Many geosites have restricted access (lava caves, for example, require a helmet and, in some cases, a guide) and seasonal opening hours, so it’s worth checking up-to-date information before visiting. Combining two or three geosites per day, interspersed with other activities, is the most comfortable way to explore this heritage without rushing.
Related articles
- Algar do Carvão: a 90-Metre Descent Into the Heart of a Volcano
- Furna do Enxofre: 183 Steps to the Heart of a Dormant Volcano
- Capelinhos Volcano: the Moon-Like Landscape Born in 1957
- Torres Cave: Portugal’s Longest Lava Tube
Featured image — Photo: The Cosmonaut / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0