Flores is the Azores distilled to its essence: waterfalls, crater lakes, hydrangea-lined roads, and black basalt cliffs plunging into the Atlantic. It is not an island of museums or organised attractions , the landscape is the attraction. Here are the best things to do in Flores.
Things to Do in Flores: Waterfalls
Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro
The signature sight of Flores and one of the most photographed locations in the Azores: a natural amphitheatre where multiple waterfalls cascade down a near-vertical green wall into a dark pool. At least a dozen separate falls drop from the clifftop when flow is at its peak (winter and spring), and even in summer there are always several active cascades. The site is reached by a 20-minute walk from the road at Fajãzinha on the west coast. The trail is well-maintained with steps and handrails. Go early morning for solitude and the best light. Free entry, open year-round. Bring a rain jacket: the spray from the falls soaks everything within 50 metres.
Cascata do Poço do Bacalhau
A single, powerful waterfall near Fajã Grande, dropping about 40 metres into a natural pool where you can swim in summer. The walk from Fajã Grande takes 20 minutes. The pool is cold year-round (fed by mountain water), but on a hot August day it is the best wild swimming spot on the island. The trail continues beyond the waterfall to the cliff-top viewpoint.
Things to Do in Flores: Lakes and Calderas
Caldeira Funda and Caldeira Rasa
Two crater lakes in the island’s central plateau, viewed from the Miradouro da Caldeira viewpoint. Caldeira Funda (Deep Caldera) is the larger and darker blue; Caldeira Rasa (Shallow Caldera) is lighter green. The viewpoint is a 10-minute drive from Santa Cruz, with a short walk to the viewing platform. The lakes are surrounded by endemic vegetation and are often partially mist-shrouded, which adds to the atmosphere. A hiking trail circles the rim. The viewpoint is free and accessible year-round, though cloud may obscure the view.
Things to Do in Flores: Geological Formations
Rocha dos Bordões
A hillside on the west coast covered in vertical basalt columns that resemble organ pipes, topped with a green cap of vegetation. It is one of the most distinctive geological formations in the Azores. The site is visible from the road between Fajãzinha and Mosteiro. There is a small pull-off for photographs. The columns are best photographed in afternoon light. Free, no facilities.
Things to Do in Flores: Coastal Villages and Swimming
Fajã Grande
The westernmost settlement in Europe, a small village at the base of towering cliffs on the west coast. Fajã Grande has a natural swimming pool, a few guesthouses, and access to multiple hiking trails including the coastal path to Ponta Delgada (Flores). The village is the starting point for the Poço do Bacalhau waterfall walk. A small cafe and restaurant operate in summer. The sunsets here, watching the Atlantic swallow the sun with Corvo on the horizon, are the best on the island.
