Azores by Rui
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    © Elena Medeiros

    Caves / Caving

    Quick Summary

    "If you like holes in the ground, we’ve got legendary ones"

    Rui's experience

    If you’re into dark, humid holes in the ground, congratulations. The Azores is basically Disneyland for lava tubes.

    Me? Not my favorite thing to do. I don’t wake up thinking, “You know what I need today? A cold, wet cave.” But that’s personal taste. No BS.

    That said… we’ve got some seriously cool ones.

    I’ve been to Algar do Carvão and it’s impressive. You literally go down into an old volcanic chimney. It feels like you’re inside the island. It’s dramatic, it’s vertical, it’s intense. Respect.

    Then there’s Gruta do Carvão in São Miguel. More of a lava tube vibe. Lower ceiling, more “walk through the guts of the volcano” energy. Very humid. Very cold. Wear proper shoes, don’t be that tourist.

    In Pico, I went to Gruta das Torres. That one is wild. It’s one of the longest lava tubes in Portugal. Big, raw, and feels untouched. Probably my favorite of the bunch.

    Here’s the deal.

    If you love geology, volcanoes, weird rock formations, and that underground adventure feeling, you’ll love this. The Azores is volcanic. Lava tubes and caves are part of our DNA.

    If you’re claustrophobic or hate humidity, maybe skip it. Go eat a steak instead.

    My verdict?

    Not my go-to experience.

    But objectively?

    Very cool. Worth doing at least once.

    Just don’t expect sunshine and ocean views down there. 🌋

    Where to Do This

    What do you think about Caves / Caving?(1)

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    1mo ago

    In the Gruta do Carvão they offer two different tours. An easy one for everyone (booking recommended) and a difficult one (booking required). The difficult one requires climbing through narrow gaps between sharp lava rocks and it is definitely for everyone. A good physical shape is mandatory. I rate this one as one of the top activities on the Azores, which I have done so far. Due to the humidity I was completely wet from sweat when we were finished. The first way after was to the hotel to have a shower and change the complete clothing. My company cut his pants twice in there. His comment: "It was it worth." On Pico there is also a small cave Furna do Frei Matias next to ne road EN-3. It is not an official site. There are no signs pointing to it. You have to find it yourself. Google Maps knows it though. There is no entry fee, no guards, nothing. When we were there, there was no one else. Makes you feel a little bit like a speleologist. Bring a torch light.

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