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Flores, one of the smallest in the Azores archipelago, is famous for its crater lakes. You can get there on your own (if you rent a car) or, if you prefer, there is this small group tour that will you to the crater lakes in Flores Island. I do like this tour because it is limited to 6 people, and it allows you to explore the most important landmarks of the island.
In this article, you will learn:
- what are the crater lakes of Flores and why are they so famous
- the best activities to do at the crater lakes
- the best way to get there
- a surefire trick to prevent fog from spoiling your trip
What is a crater lake?
A crater lake, also known as “Maars“, is a broad, low-relief volcanic crater caused by a phreatomagmatic eruption (a fancy word that means an explosion which occurs when groundwater comes into contact with hot lava).
A maar characteristically fills with water to form a relatively shallow crater lake.
What is unique about the crater lakes on Flores island?
The crater lakes on Flores island are one of its best-known geological phenomena, if only because one of them, Caldeira Negra, has a maximum depth of 113 metres, making it the deepest of all the crater lakes in the Azores. For this reason, it is also known as Caldeira Funda.
In addition to its geological richness, Flores was included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves due to its well-preserved nature. There are many endemic plant species, including the peat bogs on the central plateau and one of the largest areas of cedar in Europe.
In terms of flora, the most prominent species in this area are the Azores bluegrass (Frangula azorica), Azorean laurel (Laurus azorica), Azorean holly (Ilex azorica), Azorean blueberry (Vaccinium cylindraceum), Viburnum treleasei and Euphorbia stygiana stygiana. Also noteworthy are the peat bogs (Sphagnum sp.) planted mainly with Juniperus brevifolia, which constitute the largest forest of this species in the Azores.
In terms of fauna, it is an important migratory zone for birds such as the little egret (Egretta garzetta) and the common tern (Sterna hirundo).
List of the crater lakes on Flores island
In the centre of the island, more precisely in the Morro Alto and Pico da Se Natural Forest Reserve, there are four of the famous crater lakes of Flores: Caldeira Negra, Caldeira Comprida, Caldeira Rasa and Caldeira Branca.
Caldeira Negra, with its rocky slopes and steep incline, is occupied by Lagoa Negra (or Lagoa Funda, as you prefer to call it), with a maximum depth of 113 metres – the deepest in the Azores.
Right next to Caldeira Negra is Caldeira Comprida, which looks like a half-closed eyelid.
Depending on the time of year, the hues of the water vary, but Caldeira Negra is, due to its depth, a darker blue, which is the source of all the legends and mysticism.
The irregular shapes and very distinct colours of both lagoons give this place a unique beauty that will not leave you indifferent.
You can see both lakes from the Lagoa Negra and Lagoa Comprida viewpoint. It is precisely from this viewpoint that one of the best hiking trails in Flores begins, the PR03 FLO Miradouro das Lagoas – Poço do Bacalhau.
Very close to the lagoons mentioned are Lagoa Seca and Caldeira Branca.
Lagoa Seca is the only one of the island’s crater lakes that practically does not have water. During the rainy season in Flores Island, the surface of the caldera may have a thin layer of water. Flocks of migratory birds take advantage of the tranquility of the place, feeding and resting from their transoceanic journey.
A few metres ahead is Caldeira Branca, a formation delimited by a ring of tuffs. A bird observatory delights the many birdwatchers who flock to the Azores’ Eastern Group (Flores and Corvo islands) to complete their checklists. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful caldera in Flores!
Closer to the southern shore of the island, you will find the iconic Lagoa Rasa and Lagoa Funda, which can be seen from the viewpoint of the same name. The particularity of these two crater lakes on Flores Island is that, despite being located side by side, they are at different altitudes. Caldeira Funda is 360 metres above sea level, and Caldeira Rasa is 530 metres above sea level.
Both calderas can be seen from two viewpoints: the Miradouro Caldeira Rasa e Funda and the Miradouro Lagoas Rasa e Funda.
On the eastern side of the island is the last of the crater lakes on Flores Island, Lagoa da Lomba. This lake is usually ignored by visitors, who prefer to visit the other lakes, which are in fact more spectacular. However, Lagoa da Lomba has a special feature: it is the only one where you can get close to the water :)
What to do near the crater lakes on Flores
Do the hiking trail PR03 FLO
Miradouro das Lagoas – Poço do Bacalhau
One of the best trails on the Island allows you to enjoy 4 crater lakes: Caldeira Negra, Caldeira Comprida, Lagoa Seca and Caldeira Branca. It is the PR03 FLO hiking trail Miradouro das Lagoas – Poço do Bacalhau. I have already written extensively about it in my article about the hiking trails in Flores, so I won’t go into too much detail. What I can tell you is that it is one of the most difficult trails on the island, as it has a very steep incline at the end. It is 7 km long and takes approximately 3 hours, and I only recommend doing this trail if you are well equipped and have some hiking experience.
Another thing I should warn you about is that there is practically no telephone network (let alone wifi coverage!) in the center of the island, so DO NOT DO THIS TRAIL ALONE. If you get lost or, worse, if you get hurt, you are screwed!
Do some birdwatching
In Flores there are less resident landbirds than in the rest of the Azores. The most interesting species you will be able to see are probably the Goldcrest, the Island Canary and the Chaffinch, which are all widespread. Sometimes you can also see Black Ducks near the crater lakes. The island is also know for its seabird colonies, namely its Cory’s Shearwaters, Manx and Micronesian Shearwaters, as well as Common and Roseate Terns.
Near Caldeira Branca there is even a birdwatching shelter that you can take advantage of :)
Take some photos at the viewpoints
One of the things you absolutely have to do when exploring the crater lakes on Flores Island is to take photos at their incredible viewpoints :) The viewpoints are quite small, and almost all of them are accessible via secondary roads. At some viewpoints you will find proper parking lots, at others there are only dirt fields. And all of them, without exception, are very popular, so I strongly recommend that you wake up early if you don’t want to have any problems parking your car!
How to get to the crater lakes on Flores island?
Unfortunately, there is practically no public transport on Flores island, so you will have to rent a car. Renting a car in Flores is extremely expensive, so I recommend that you use AutoEurope, a price aggregator that allows you to find the best prices on the market. It also allows you to cancel your reservation 48 hours in advance, which I think is great (how many times have I cancelled trips to the Azores because of bad weather… you can’t imagine!).
If you are staying in Santa Cruz das Flores, in my opinion what makes the most sense is to first visit Caldeira da Lomba, then Lagoas Rasa and Funda and, finally, head to Morro Alto and Pico da Se Natural Forest Reserve, where Caldeira Negra, Caldeira Comprida, Caldeira Rasa and Caldeira Branca are located.
Another option is to take a tour to the crater lakes in Flores Island. I do like this tour in particular because it covers not only some of the lake craters but also the most important landmarks of the island, like Poço do Ferreiro waterfall and Rocha dos Bordões. Moreover, this tour is limited to 6 people, which I find perfect – I HATE large group tours!
Best Times to Visit
On Flores Island it rains most of the year and, worse, is very affected by fog, especially in the higher parts, where the crater lakes are located. And if it’s a foggy day, it’s not even worth trying to visit the lakes because you won’t see shit.
How can you know if there is fog up there or not that day?
It’s simple: go to the Spot Azores website and check the webcam installed on the island of Corvo, which is located opposite the island of Flores. If the island of Flores is covered in clouds in the image, then it’s not worth trying to go to the lake craters because you won’t see anything.
