What budget to travel The Azores? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings The Azores?

The prices of visits and admissions to museums are reasonable, count between 2 € and 8 € for an adult. Note that many places can be visited free of charge throughout the year: the gardens, the Augusto Arruda pineapple plantation (www.ananasesarruda.com), the tea factory in Porto Formoso (www.chaportoformoso.com), the Vieira ceramic factory in São Miguel..

Hiking is the activity par excellence in the Azores and of course it is free. You will never be satisfied with the roads, paths and landscapes that these walks will offer you. For maps, contact the tourist offices of each island, they will also be able to offer you documentation and very detailed information on this queen activity in the Azores. You can also visit this official website, very complete and practical, which lists the hikes in the Azores: trilhos.visitazores.com (available in French) offers a network of hiking trails classified by the regional government of the Azores for their safety and for the beauty of the landscapes. To know : this site makes a daily update of the paths which are closed because of landslides or bad weather.

São Miguel. Because of its size, São Miguel offers many possibilities of routes. It is indeed the most visited island of the archipelago and the most adapted to receive tourists. Thus, some trails are well marked.

Around Sete Cidades. Circuit PR3SM - 7 km - 2h - Easy. This circuit is very pleasant. The best thing is to leave in the morning, eat in Sete Cidades and return to the starting point by cab (it costs about 10 € to go from Sete Cidades to the Vista do Rei; a cab is available a few meters from the restaurant). The starting point of the path is at the viewpoint, Vista do Rei.

From this place, as the name suggests, you have a royal view of the two lakes. In front of the enamel sign presenting the lakes, the path starts on the left side. The road ends in a path that goes up. Straight ahead, you can see the sea on the left and the lakes on the right. We walk in the middle of magnificent hydrangeas. Then we go down quietly towards the road. Take to the right at the end of the way and go along the road on 100 m before crossing and taking to the left the first way on 50 m to turn to the right. You are on the outskirts of the town.

One last turn to the right and you enter Sete Cidades. It is also possible to go all the way around the caldera (a more appropriate term than "crater": they can be distinguished by the way they are formed, but also by their diameter of 1 to 1.5 km): when you reach the dirt track towards the end, do not turn right after 50 m, but continue straight ahead. Then, just follow the crater, until you reach the road that takes you back to the Vista do Rei.

Lagoa do Fogo. Circuit PRC2SM - 12 km - 4h - Medium. The Lagoa do Fogo is one of the must-do hikes in São Miguel, but it is longer and more sportive, and it is for more experienced hikers. From the small town of Praia, between Ribeira Chã and Vila Franca, follow the signs by car to the start of the hiking trail, which is also marked. First along a dirt path (walk to the water reservoir and turn right), then through a wood with lush vegetation, you will discover as you walk the different species of local plants and flowers. Among them, eucalyptus, wavy pittospores, acacias, hedychiums or "espanadas" accompany you for a few kilometers. Always follow the signs; you will soon reach a small stream(levada). Be careful, the next stretch (about 2 km) can be muddy. Unique plant specimens and some great views of the south coast punctuate your ascent. The lagoa is not far away: in such a setting, the last efforts are more motivating than ever!

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that almost all of this hike takes place in an area classified as a natural reserve: so be careful and leave only the footprints of your shoes behind you... and even then.

Faial. Caldera. Circuit PRC4FAI - 8 km - 2h30 - Medium. This hike starts and ends at the "Miradouro da Caldeira", easily reached by car from Horta. After having enjoyed the superb view of this gigantic crater of 2 kilometers in diameter, you will have to take the path that goes around it in 8 km. There are few - if any - signs along the way, and for good reason: just go straight ahead! Be careful: you are in an area classified as a Nature Reserve, which is subject to special protection. So be careful to respect your environment, and do not go down into the crater.

Climbing Mount Pico. 7,5 km - 3h30 - Medium. This hike rewards those who have the courage not to give up before the summit. Dominating at 2,351 meters above sea level, Mount Pico is the highest peak in Portugal. This volcanic mass is not so difficult to climb, but requires a lot of endurance. To get there, take from Madalena the direction of the Casa da Montanha (see timetable in the chapter Pico - Madalena), an obligatory stop at about 1,200 meters of altitude, near the Cabeço das Cabras. Once you have walked around it and paid the right of passage (10 € per person if you are hiking independently or 2,50 € if you are accompanied by a company of professional guides), you can start. The beginning of the path as well as the complete route are very well indicated. However, when the Pico is covered by clouds, which is frequent during the day or in summer, the climb can be dangerous. It is then wise to be accompanied by a guide and to be well equipped (bring a good sweater, a liter of water per person, a windbreaker and a chocolate bar). Some hikers walk at night to watch the sunrise; it is also possible to camp on the way; but be careful, it can be (very) cold! The spectacle is, it is true, extraordinary: at the top of Pico, "useless lighthouse at night, signal without witness during the day", wrote Chateaubriand, one overhangs the archipelago and in particular the central islands, with this confused and fascinating impression to dominate the Atlantic Ocean, from the Americas to Europe!

The west coast of Flores is dotted with well-marked paths that will take you through landscapes not only among the most extraordinary that can be found in Europe, if Flores is the most western end, but also the most varied, within a vegetation for which the qualifier lush seems to have been specially invented. From the cliffs of several hundred meters of Fajã Grande clawed by vertiginous waterfalls to the peaceful lakes of volcanoes and the vigorous rock of Bordões, the hiker does not cease to be amazed.

Always related to the ocean, swimming is an activity to be practiced freely, free of charge and in various and unusual places: lakes, natural pools, hot springs... the options are endless.

If you want to go shopping, the prices are pretty good. Take into account that some shops do not accept credit cards, so always carry some cash with you if you want to shop.

Entrance to discos is often free of charge. Inside, count 1 € for a beer, 2 € to 4 € for a glass of wine and from 5 € for a cocktail

What budget to eat The Azores?

You can snack on the go for €5 or €10, a local meal with drinks will cost you around €20 and for a more upscale meal you can expect to pay €35 (drinks and wine included).

Count less than €1 for a coffee, €1 for a soda and between €0.50 and €1.50 for a beer. Please note that in many establishments, credit cards are not accepted.

What is the budget for accommodation The Azores?

It is much easier to find accommodation in the archipelago than it was a few years ago. Quite luxurious hotels have recently opened their doors, mainly in São Miguel, Santa Maria and Terceira. Everywhere you can find small establishments with a family atmosphere and low prices. Small guesthouses, sometimes with only basic comfort, are to be discovered by asking the owner of the bistro. Over the last few years, many youth hostels have opened their doors on the archipelago. Brand new, they are very comfortable and well-equipped: very good value for money (www.pousadasjuvacores.com).

A real bargain as close to nature as possible: camping. They are free or cost only a handful of euros, and the most important ones even have a restaurant, a bar... Some of them, mentioned in the guide, are a happy alternative to conventional hotels for small budgets or lovers of unusual places. Wild camping is in principle allowed after agreement of the land owner, except in the territory of natural parks.

Small budgets: a few euros for a pitch in a campsite, from €10 for a night in a dormitory in a youth hostel and between €35 and €60 for a double room in a guesthouse.

Intermediate budgets: from 60 € to 100 € for a double room.

Big budgets: from 100 € per double room.

Travel budget The Azores and cost of living

The seasonality of the tourist market, limited to the months of May to September, is quite marked and has a considerable influence on prices: out of season, they decrease significantly. Contrary to Madeira, there is no real winter tourism on the islands, and the hotels are all practically empty from October to April, when they are not closed!

Small budget. From 35 € to 60 € for a double room or just a few euros for camping. Another good option at low prices: youth hostels, between €10 and €17 per night in a dormitory. Between €5 and €10 for a meal.

Intermediate budget. From 60 € to 100 € for a double room. From 10 € to 25 € per meal (with drinks).

Big budget. More than 100 € per double room. Between 25 € and 35 € per meal (drinks and wines included).

Transport. From 20 € to 40 € per day the rental of a category A car with unlimited mileage, depending on the season and the company. The bus ticket varies between 1 € and 5 € depending on the islands and the distance travelled.