PR1 PDL (Sete Cidades Circular Trail)

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PR1 PDL (Sete Cidades Circular Trail): São Miguel’s crater-lake loop

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

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HikeList Score

PR1 PDL (Sete Cidades Circular Trail) scored 74/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 100
Scenery & wildness 71
Varied terrain 83
Accommodation 74
Food & support 54
Path quality 80
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The PR1 PDL (Sete Cidades Circular Trail) is a 12 km day hike in the Sete Cidades caldera on São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal. This moderate loop links the rim viewpoints above Lagoa das Sete Cidades with lakeshore lanes, Sete Cidades village and a climb back to Miradouro da Vista do Rei. Expect about 4 hours, mixed dirt, gravel and paved surfaces, and around 400 m of ascent. It suits hikers who want a short but active crater walk rather than a multi-day trek.

Route Overview

The usual start and finish is Miradouro da Vista do Rei, on the southern caldera rim beside the abandoned Monte Palace Hotel and its large car park. From there the loop drops from the rim towards Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul, follows lakeshore and village lanes, crosses near the narrow strait and stone bridge linking the lakes, and passes through Sete Cidades village before climbing back to the rim. A short side path can add Miradouro da Boca do Inferno. This is a circular version of the Sete Cidades walk; the official Azores waymarked segment is PR3 SMI, while “PR1 PDL” is not the official code. Hikers pairing it with São Miguel’s other great crater walk often combine it with the Lagoa do Fogo Trail on the island’s central massif.

Sete Cidades: volcano, legend and protected landscape

Sete Cidades occupies a volcanic caldera formed by repeated collapse of the Sete Cidades volcano, one of São Miguel’s major volcanic systems. The blue and green lakes on the caldera floor are tied to the island’s best-known legend: a blue-eyed shepherd and a green-eyed princess forbidden to marry, whose parting tears formed the two lagoons. Lagoa das Sete Cidades was voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Portugal in 2010, and the surrounding caldera is now a protected landscape.

Notable highlights

Lagoa das Sete Cidades: The twin crater lakes — Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul — sit inside the dormant volcanic caldera and are joined by a narrow strait crossed by a bridge.
Vista do Rei viewpoint: The classic southern-rim panorama over both lakes and the usual start/finish point for the loop.
Monte Palace Hotel: An abandoned hotel shell beside Vista do Rei; it is now a striking landmark above the caldera.
Miradouro da Boca do Inferno: A short side path leads to this “Mouth of Hell” viewpoint, with a high view across the lakes and crater.
Sete Cidades village: A small lakeshore settlement with cafés and the 18th-century Church of São Nicolau; it is the main rest and service point on the route.

Challenges to expect

The main effort is the descent from the caldera rim to the lakes and the climb back up, giving about 400 m ascent overall. Surfaces vary between dirt, gravel, paved lanes and natural path, with some sections shared with vehicles. Weather is the other issue: Sete Cidades often fills with cloud, so viewpoints can disappear quickly. Waymarking applies to the official PR3 SMI section, but the full circular version may require map awareness. If you are touring Portugal’s walking highlights more widely, the route sits naturally alongside the volcanic Madeira Island Levada Walks, the coastal Ponta de São Lourenço Trail on Madeira, and the mainland mountain paths of Peneda-Gerês National Park.

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