Nobody Warned Us About This Hike 🇵🇹 — Sete Cidades, São Miguel

Sete Cidades is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Azores! But nobody warned us about the way back up. Day 2 in São Miguel: hiking from the Vista do Rei viewpoint down into the crater, coffee in Sete Cidades town, and then a climb back up that I genuinely wasn’t prepared for. If you’re planning an Azores trip, this hike is worth doing. But read the warning below before you pick your route. ⚠️ IMPORTANT — TWO ROUTES BACK UP There are two ways between Vista do Rei and Sete Cidades: • The road route (~2+ hours) — longer and straightforward (we did not use this route) • The mountain route (~1.5+ hours) — there’s a narrow section along the trail with steep drops on both sides. A fall here would be serious. Do not attempt it if it’s wet, windy, foggy, or if you’re uncomfortable with heights or exposure. Not suitable for kids or anyone without proper footwear. ***We took the mountain route on the way up and it was significantly harder than expected. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Intro 00:27 — Breakfast 00:41 — Driving to Vista do Rei 01:59 — Vista do Rei viewpoint 02:35 — Hiking down into the crater 06:32 — Coffee in Sete Cidades town 08:15 — The climb back up 10:09 — Houston, we have a problem 11:52 — Burger for lunch 12:20 — Ponta Delgada old town 13:09 — Dinner 🎒 QUICK TIPS • Go early — the crater clouds over fast and you’ll lose the view entirely • Bring more water than you think you need, especially for the climb • Proper shoes, not sneakers — the ascent is steep and loose in places • Check the weather before choosing the mountain route