GuardTrailsPortugal · July
São Miguel & Pico Express Contrast
A high-intensity comparison of the two main poles of the Azores: the lush craters of São Miguel and the black basalt of Pico.
- days6
- bases2
- stages4
- nights5
- transfer days2
- stage to stage771 km
- at the wheel, day by day2 h 56
The season for your dates
- Less favourable12% of days exceed the gust threshold during activity hours, over the whole requested window.
Historical statistics (Open-Meteo), not a forecast.
Who this itinerary is for
This itinerary suits a traveller looking for: a trip in July, days of walking, a day hike and a village stroll.
The area
A fast-paced contrast between the main highlights of São Miguel and Pico islands.
The map
Loading the map…
The days at a glance
One line per day: where you sleep, what the day is, the road, and how its time is split.
| Day | Evening base | The day | Road | Time of the day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day1 | Evening base : Ponta Delgada | TransferPonta Delgada & Sete Cidades | Road 6 min | |
| Day2 | Evening base : Ponta Delgada | Day excursionFurnas Geothermal Valley | Road 1 h 21 | |
| Day3 | Evening base : Ponta Delgada | Day on sitePonta Delgada & Sete Cidades | — | |
| Day4 | Evening base : Madalena | FlightMount Pico Foothills | — | |
| Day5 | Evening base : Madalena | Day excursionMadalena Basalt Vineyards | Road 57 min | |
| Day6 | — | DepartureMount Pico Foothills | Road 32 min |
- programme
- road
- free time
12.0 h usable every day
Good to know
The trade-off
Requires an inter-island flight, resulting in high transit overhead.
What this version leaves out
Nordeste Coastline · Faial Island · Terceira Island
Getting there
Fly to João Paulo II Airport (PDL), 6 min by road from the start.
Fly home from Aeroporto da Ilha do Pico (PIX), 32 min by road from the end.
The rental car is returned at Aeroporto da Ilha do Pico, not where you pick it up: allow for a one-way drop-off fee.
Where you sleep
You can find a variety of accommodations including hotels, guesthouses, and rural tourism lodges, but booking well in advance is essential during the peak summer season.
Safety
Portugal: no warning from the UK authorities (FCDO). Advice of 2026-08-11 · Official advice
Check before booking and before taking out insurance: the advice may have changed since.
Why this version, the cost in detail and the sources are on the method page. Read the method →
When, and for how long
How long?
- You ask for
- 7days
- The area needs, at least
- 6days
- Days kept
- 6days
Travelling in July.
The climate — July
- Daily high, 1 day in 4 is hotter
- 24 °C
- Daily high, 1 day in 20 is hotter
- 26 °C
- Unfavourable day
- 8%
- Windy day
- 13%
Rain, wind and temperature are measured over the 8 h in the middle of the day, on a historical baseline of 40 observations (Open-Meteo). It is a measuring window, not the length of your day: each day of the programme counts 12 h of usable time.
The itinerary, day by day
4 stages over 6 days, in the order of the days. A stage appears on the day you first reach it: you sleep several nights at some, and a day trip leaves from your base and brings you back to it. Each day has its own page.
Every day of this trip has 12 h of usable time. Room to breathe — we have not padded these days to fill them: the free time left is part of the trip.
- Day 1Ponta Delgada & Sete Cidades · night in Ponta Delgada4 h planned · 6 min on the roadSee the day →
Stage 2 · Furnas
Furnas Geothermal Valley
Day trip from Ponta Delgada · no night here · climate favourable
- Day 2EXCURSIONfrom Ponta Delgada → Furnas Geothermal Valley8 h planned · 1 h 21 on the roadSee the day →
- Day 3AT BASEPonta Delgada & Sete Cidades · night in Ponta Delgada10 h plannedSee the day →
Stage 3 · Madalena
Mount Pico Foothills
We sleep in São Roque do Pico, 8.5 km from the place visited
2 nights · climate cold
- Day 4FLIGHTMount Pico Foothills · night in Madalena3 h plannedSee the day →
- Day 5EXCURSIONfrom Madalena → Madalena Basalt Vineyards8 h planned · 57 min on the roadSee the day →
- Day 6DEPARTUREMount Pico Foothills · end of the trip3 h planned · 32 min on the roadSee the day →
What it costs, roughly
€620 to €1,083 per person
€103 to €180 per day
Based on: 2 people.
The cost estimate and the availability of accommodation, transport and activities are as of 26 October 2026: prices and availability change over time.
Where the money goes, and how this figure is obtained →To check
1 point to look at before booking.
D5Quota-limited access: book in advance — Furnas Geothermal Valley → Madalena Basalt Vineyards
quota to apply for ~30 days ahead — to arrange before you leave
The method
Why this version, what sets it apart from the others, the cost in detail, the interest of the places, the automatic review and the sources.
Read the method →