Pico da Vara Summit Trail: Full-Day Walking Adventure in São Miguel

Reach the highest peak of São Miguel and traverse ancient peatlands above the clouds.

The Pico da Vara hiking trail takes you through one of the Azores' most pristine highland landscapes, guiding you from the vast peatland plateau of Graminhais all the way to the summit at 1,105 metres above sea level. This full-day experience combines dramatic volcanic scenery, rich native laurisilva forest, and a visit to one of Europe's last working tea factories.

Starting at approximately 900 metres altitude in the Nordeste municipality, the Graminhais plateau spans around 100 hectares of protected bog habitat. From this elevated vantage point, walkers can look out across the eastern coast of São Miguel toward Povoação, the very first settlement established by the island's early inhabitants in the 15th century.

The trail ascends steadily to Pico da Vara, the highest point on São Miguel, where conditions can shift quickly and the views across the Atlantic are remarkable on clear days. The route follows the same path on the return descent, making navigation straightforward while the changing light offers a different perspective of the landscape.

On the way back to Ponta Delgada along the island's northern coastline, the group stops at Gorreana Tea Plantation, one of only a handful of commercial tea factories still operating in Europe. The visit provides a genuine glimpse into an agricultural tradition that has survived on these islands for well over a century.