Discover Altares: Volcanic Landscapes, Trails and Traditions

Altares combines impressive volcanic landscapes with special natural destinations, hiking trails and a vibrant religious tradition. Those planning a trip with a variety of experiences will find opportunities here for days spent in the landscape, geological discoveries and insights into the culture of the parish community.

Volcanic Landscapes and Special Natural Destinations

One of the striking landscape features is Pico Matias Simão. It is the heavily sea-eroded remnant of a cinder cone. A viewpoint with a cross is located on the elevation; in the past, Pico was used for whale watching. This historical use remains part of its story and should not be equated with a current whale-watching opportunity.

Another geologically interesting place is Gruta do Natal. The extensive lava tube has a total length of 697 m and is located next to Lagoa do Negro. For public visits, the Núcleo Museológico dos Altares is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 14:00 to 17:00. The museum preserves the cultural and natural heritage of the parish community of Altares, adding a cultural perspective to the landscape experiences.

Lagoa do Cerro also has its own particular appeal. The wetland is of great landscape and biological interest, and there is also potential for birdwatching as well as infrastructure intended for this purpose. If you would like to combine nature observation and geological impressions on your trip, these places offer different themes for planning your days.

Hiking Routes Through Varied Landscapes

The Mistérios Negros PRC01 TER circular route begins next to Lagoa do Negro and the visitor centre of Gruta do Natal. It passes three small lakes known as Lagoinhas do Vale Fundo. The black trachytic domes of Mistérios Negros are characterised by their sparse vegetation cover and were formed by the volcanic eruption of 1761.

Those wishing to plan a connection through several places in the region can also consider the Grande Rota do Oeste GR01 TER. It passes through Raminho, Altares and São Bartolomeu. The Mistérios Negros PRC01 TER route runs through Altares, Biscoitos, São Bartolomeu and Posto Santo. This allows the routes to be selected according to the desired landscape and place-related focus, without combining different paths into a single circular walk.

Culture and Religious Traditions

The Cruzeiro da Independência was inaugurated on 8 December 1940 at the highest point of Pico Matias Simão in the parish community of Altares. Together with the viewpoint, it provides a specific cultural connection to the prominent elevation. Another important tradition is maintained by the Irmandade do Divino Espírito Santo e da Santíssima Trindade dos Altares: it holds coronations from Domingo da Pascoela to Domingo da Trindade.

During the celebrations of the Irmandade, a procession takes place on Sunday from the emperor's house to the parish church. This is followed by a festive mass, the coronation and the distribution of bread and wine to those present. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home in Altares, you can therefore consider whether the focus of your trip should be more on hiking, nature observation, geological sites or cultural impressions.

Discover More Places

For further orientation at this destination level, you can also visit the pages on Porto Martins, Serreta, S. Bento, Cabo Da Praia, Biscoitos, Angra Do Heroísmo, Vila Nova and Ribeirinha. Altares itself offers a clear combination of volcanic relief, hiking routes, wetland, museum and religious culture.

For the overarching travel overview: Terceira.