Geotourism - discovering the Azores!

The geotourism values cultural and environmental aspects based on the principles of the sustainable tourism, promoting the geodiversity and the geological heritage of the territory.

The rare Nature and its natural and geological heritage are, without doubt, the main ex-libris of the Azores, with scenic and aesthetic characteristics and attributes of great attractiveness and geotouristic potential. The volcanic landscapes are the main motto of interest and development of geotourism in the archipelago and they present a wide range of possibilities for sustainable use, where several activities can be performed and associated tourist products can be developed.

Thus, a geotourism strategy was proposed for the Azores, with the implementation of several routes:

Geotourism Interactive Brochure

To "discover the underground world of the islands�, valuing the volcanic caves and their interpretation and visitors centers.

Gruta das Torres (Pico island)
Gruta do Carvão (S. Miguel island)
Furna do Enxofre (Graciosa island)
Algar do Carvão (Terceira island)
Gruta do Natal (Terceira island)
Furna d’�gua (Terceira island)

To "discover by car the Azorean geolandscapes", highlighting the many belvederes and viewpoints that exist in all the islands of the archipelago.

To "discover, on foot, the Azores geosites", enhancing the regional network of walking trails and other trails, stimulating the production of support scripts/leaflets and carrying out, concurrently, monitoring actions, especially the trails that include vulnerable areas such as the Regional Network of Protected Areas of the Azores.

www.trails-azores.com

To "discover the power of the Azores volcanism", taking advantage of the potential in health, leisure and well-being of thermal waters and the use of mud as peloides .

Ferraria (S. Miguel island)
Furnas (S. Miguel island)
Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande (S. Miguel island)
Caldeira Velha (S. Miguel island)
Carapacho (Graciosa island)
Varadouro (Faial island)

To better "understand and interpret the volcanic phenomena of the Azores", highlighting several Interpretation Centers and of dissemination of science in the Region:

Centro de Interpretação do Vulcão dos Capelinhos (Faial island)
Observatório do Mar (Faial island)
Observatório do Ambiente (Terceira island)
Museu Vulcanoespeleológico de "Os Montanheiros" (Terceira island)
Casa da Montanha e Solar do Lajido (Pico island)
Observatório Astronómico (S. Miguel island)
ExpoLAB (S. Miguel island)
Observatório Vulcanológico e Geotérmico dos Açores (S. Miguel island)
Observatório Microbiano dos Açores (S. Miguel island)

 Several initiatives have been developed in Nature Tourism, Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism, in the archipelago, such as walking, motorized itineraries, nautical activities, bird watching, rock climbing, mountain climbing, among others.