These are some of the most amazing things to see and do in Flores Island, Azores. From majestic sea cliffs to gorgeous lakes and dreamy waterfalls, this island is a dream for nature lovers.
Flores is one of the more remote islands of Azores.
Despite its tiny size (only 143 km² and about 4,000 people living there!), it packs a punch and boasts an incredible variety of untouched landscapes.
I’ve done a full guide about Flores, but here’s a list of my favorite spots in the island you can’t miss!
Start your search with this list of the highest-rated places to stay in the best area of Flores.
The Azores have been consecutively named one of the top sustainable destinations worldwide. Don’t spoil what has been unspoilt for centuries. 💚
When you’re in the islands, please try to minimize your impact at all times. Be careful with any activities that may cause visual, noise, and physical pollution. This includes avoiding playing loud music on phones and obviously taking ALL the trash with you until you find a bin, especially plastic!
1Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro
I always seek landscapes that make me feel small. I love that feeling. And Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro (also known as Poço da Alagoinha or Lagoa das Patas) is exactly that.
A place of almost virgin natural beauty that only lives in dreams or in Avatar, this is a lagoon formed by a dozen of waterfalls streaming down lush cliffs. You can easily spend an hour there just making yourself believe what’s in front of your eyes
I personally think this is one of the most amazing spots in Azores and in the whole of Portugal. Well worth the 15-min hike!
2Lagoa Negra & Comprida
These 2 lakes are located right next to each other.
On the right, Lagoa Comprida (means long lake), my favorite lake of them all, found it to be gorgeous and super charismatic. You can hike around it, but make sure you have good gear with you: at 600 meters of altitude and with moist grounds, it can be a tough trek.
On the left side, lies the 100-meter deep Lagoa Negra. It literally means black lake, even though its more like a green-ish color (whoever named the lagoons in Flores did a poor job 😕).
3Lagoa Rasa & Funda
Even though these two nearby lakes (old volcanic craters) are side-by-side, they sit at different altitudes, creating a cool visual perspective.
Stop the car on the nearby miradouro and take a look at species of endemic plants and animals of this Morro Alto area. The silence here is magical.
4Queijaria Val de Fazenda
Now for something entirely different. This queijaria (cheese factory) is actually at a family house, so it doesn’t get any more local and traditional than this.
They’ll provide a tasting with 4 different kinds of cheese, bread, and 2 types of jam. A mini-feast to give your tastebuds a ride through typical Azorean flavors. All with a glorious view of the Fazenda valley. Hard not to buy anything!
5Rocha dos Bordões
Many consider it the most iconic Flores’ postcard and with reason. This one-of-a-kind rock formation boasting 20-meter vertical basaltic pipes resembling organ pipes. For comparison, this formation is larger than Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland!
Even cooler fact: the rock is covered in moss and vegetation, which makes its color change throughout the day. Stop in one of the miradouros on the road between Mosteiro and Lajedo and gaze in awe for a couple of minutes.
Booking.com6Miradouro Craveiro Lopes
The island of Flores is ridiculously photogenic. There are almost 20 official viewpoints in the island apart from the hundreds of other spots where you can stop the car and take in all the views.
Out of all these, my favorite was Miradouro Craveiro Lopes. Maybe because it was the first moment I said “wow” out loud (many would follow!). In any case, the view over Fajãzinha is breathtaking. There is likely to be fog, but hey, it just adds to the charisma.
7Santa Cruz Natural Pools
While Flores are not particularly known for its beaches – honestly, there are better ones elsewhere in Azores – there’s plenty of spots to go for a swim.
The pebbled beach and port in Fajã Grande are incredibly scenic, but I loved the natural pools at Santa Cruz das Flores, boasting a privileged view to Corvo. The water is crystal clear, just need to watch out for águas-vivas (jellyfish) and caravelas (portuguese man’o’war).
8Poço do Bacalhau
Located in Fajã Grande (on the road to Ponta da Fajã) this 90-meter waterfall is a delight to the eyes. I could spend hours looking up to the water plunging down on the beautiful cliffs (probably not a good idea for my neck though).
I dare you to go for a swim in the freezing cold water – this is the only swimmable waterfall/lake in Flores!
9Fábrica da Baleia do Boqueirão (Boqueirão Whale Factory)
Just half a century ago, the Azores had a thriving whale-hunting industry that butchered thousands of whales. This whale factory has been abandoned since 1980, but it has been renewed to honor the gruesome past.
Now, to be honest, I didn’t visit this place. I felt my sobering experience in a similar Pico museum gave me enough creeps. But it’s definitely something interesting to know about. One way or the other, it’s part of Flores’ and all the Azores’ heritage and culture.
10Corvo Island
With just over 400-ish people living there, Corvo is the smallest island in Azores. Together with Flores, it forms the most western group of islands in the archipelago (and in the entire Europe, for that matter).
You can go to Corvo island via Atlântico Line ferry or a semi-rigid boat tour, which I highly recommend. A day trip is enough to see the major highlight of the island – Caldeirão – but if you want to have a better taste of the one-of-a-kind remote vibe, stay there for a night or two.
Planning a Flores trip independently
Booking a flight to Flores
You’ll have to fly to Flores via Terceira, São Miguel or Faial as there aren’t direct flights to the mainland (as of 2019).
Compare the prices of flights online with Skyscanner.
You may be entitled to a FREE connecting flight to other islands – check this page for more info.
Booking a place to stay in Flores
Arranging accommodation before your trip is highly recommendable, as there aren’t that many in Flores.
I strongly suggest staying in Fajã Grande.
Firstly, the majority of sights are closer to Fajã Grande than anywhere else in the island.
But being able to wake up everyday with the majestic luscious hills as a backdrop and go sleep at night under a starred sky is priceless.
I ended up staying at Casa Via D’Água, in the heart of Fajã Grande. This wasn’t a bad option at all: beautiful setting, huge areas, and outdoor spaces, but some (minor) stuff needed some maintenance so overall it felt a bit overpriced.
I think in Fajã Grande, you’re better off staying at a country house or in Sítio da Assumada.
Wooden bungalows surrounded by the lush nature of Fajã Grande. Quiet, although the waterfalls are close enough to be heard. Great spot for stargazing too!
For other options, you can start your search with my shortlist of top-rated places in Flores or explore the map below.
Booking.comRenting a car in Flores
Book your car rental as soon as possible. There have been some days in the summer where there are virtually NO CARS available to rent on the island. True story.
If you’re not comfortable driving manual, automatic cars are available but in much less quantity.
Use Skyscanner or the below RentalCars to compare rental prices. Both are reliable and quickly give you an overview of prices across available operators.
Other useful resources to plan your trip to Flores
- Atlântico Line – the ferry company in Azores
- Extremocidente – Corvo tours by boat
- SATA/Azores Airlines – the regional airline company
- Visit Azores – official tourism board
Have you visited all these places in Flores island? What others would you add?
Share your suggestions below in the comments! 👇
