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Algar do Carvão is a remarkable volcanic chimney which, unlike what is usually seen in other volcanic eruptions, is not obstructed. It has a crater that ends 90 meteres below, in a lagoon of clear waters that is 15 meters deep. And all of this, my friend, you can explore with your own feet! :)
No time to read a long article? Here’s a summary
Algar do Carvão is a unique volcanic chimney located near Angra do Heroísmo, in Terceira Island, in the Azores. It is extraordinary that we get to be inside a volcano! To visit it, you can either:
- Go on your own, but there is NO information available on the spot, which is sad. You but the tickets there: 10€ for Algar do Carvão, 15€ for Algar do Carvão + Gruta do Natal.
- Another option is to book a tour. There are several ones available, and these are the ones I recommend: Terceira Island: Caves and Craters Tour, Private tour with a geologist guide (which is my favourite) or Algar do Carvão Lava Caves Tour (the most popular one).
- For practical information about opening hours, FAQs, what to visit nearby, etc etc, keep reading the article.
Algar do Carvão: a bit of history
The first descent into Algar do Carvão took place in 1893, but it was only in 1963 that organized descents began, by a group of enthusiasts, who later created an association called “Os Montanheiros”.
After the first descents, they decided that something so beautiful and rare should be shared with many others. The descent system, through the mouth of the Algar, did not make this task feasible, since it took an entire day to get 6 to 8 people up and down.
So, the Montanheiros dug a 44-meter tunnel to the inside of the Algar, which today allows thousands of people to safely visit one of the largest geological wonders in the world.
Algar do Carvão has already hosted several live concerts, as well as Eucharists and even weddings :) It is a site of geological interest, being a geosite of the Azores Geopark and was a finalist in the “7 Natural Wonders of Portugal” competition.
Is it worth it to visit Algar do Carvão?
Absolutely YES! How many times will you have the opportunity to be inside a volcano?! :)
However, there is something that deeply disappointed me about Algar do Carvão. It is that there is NO kind of support material for exploring this natural wonder. There is no museum, the very few explanatory plaques are dated and are in the narrow corridor that gives access to Algar do Carvão (in other words, they are not at all the best place in the world to stop and read). There are no plaques inside the Algar itself, and there are no audio guides available. There is nothing, really.
It seems silly to me to pay €10 to spend 15 minutes inside a cave taking photos…
Therefore, I think it is one of those “monuments” that is REALLY worth exploring with a local guide.
There are currently 3 tours available. All of them cover not only Algar do Carvão but also Gruta do Natal and Furnas do Enxofre (you will find more information about these at the end of the article, on the section of “What to do near Algar do Carvão”).
These are the tours that I recommend:
- Terceira Island: Caves and Craters Tour. I particularly like this tour because it is the ONLY one whose price already includes tickets to Algar do Carvão and Gruta do Natal, as well as the guide and transport (including pick up and drop off at your hotel in Angra do Heroísmo or Praia da Vitória).
Duration: 4h | Price: 69€ / person. - If you are looking for a private tour, book this one because it is truly unique: you will be visiting Algar do Carvão and Gruta do Natal with a geologist, someone who REALLY knows what they are talking about and who will explain to you, in simple and accessible language, the enigmatic processes that led to the creation of these unique places.
Duration: 5h | Price: 55€ / person. - Algar do Carvão Lava Caves Tour is the most popular, shortest and cheapest tour, but the price is misleading, because it doesn’t actually include tickets to enter Algar do Carvão.
Duration: 3h | Price: 45€ / person.
What to expect inside Algar do Carvão
First, you have to go to the ticket office, which is a tiny, cramped room. From there, you go down some stairs, flanked by posters about the geology of the Azores, and through a narrow, low tunnel until you reach the interior of Algar do Carvão.
There, more than 300 steps await you, a maze of wide staircases that will allow you to explore the different balconies and caverns of Algar do Carvão. But don’t worry, there’s no chance of getting lost inside :)
There are also some areas with restricted access for research and preservation purposes.
At the bottom, 90 metres deep, there is a lake with crystal clear waters. The lake is filled with rainwater, so its depth varies depending on the seasons. It can reach 15 metres deep and 400 square metres in diameter. In years with little rain, the lake can be almost dry.
The floor is made of concrete, so it’s easy to walk, but it’s always wet, so I recommend wearing appropriate footwear.
The chimney provides the only natural light inside the cave, but there are spotlights everywhere, so the cave is well lit. It is not worth taking a flashlight.
Plan your trip to Algar do Carvão
Opening hours
1 January to 31 March: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 2:30 pm to 5 pm.
- 1 April to 31 May: every day, from 2:30 pm to 5 pm.
- 1 June to 30 September: every day, from 2 pm to 6 pm.
- 1 October to 31 December: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 2:30 pm to 5 pm.
Algar do Carvão is also closed on these festive dates: New Year’s Day | Carnival Tuesday | Easter Sunday | December 1 | Christmas Eve | Christmas Day | New Year’s Eve.
Ticket prices and how to buy them
If you want a simple visit (i.e. without a guide), then just go to the ticket office and choose between the single ticket (€10), which allows you to visit only Algar do Carvão, or the combined ticket (€15), which allows you to visit Algar do Carvão + Gruta do Natal.
You cannot buy tickets online, so your visit is subject to the venue’s capacity.
As I have already mentioned in this article, I think it is VERY worthwhile visiting Algar do Carvão with a local guide, because there is absolutely no information inside the structure, and there are not even audio guides available.
Therefore, I recommend that you book one of the following guided tours:
- Terceira Island: Caves and Craters Tour. I particularly like this tour because it is the ONLY one whose price already includes tickets to Algar do Carvão and Gruta do Natal, as well as the guide and transport (including pick up and drop off at your hotel in Angra do Heroísmo or Praia da Vitória).
- If you are looking for a private tour, book this one because it is truly unique: you will be visiting Algar do Carvão and Gruta do Natal with a geologist, someone who REALLY knows what they are talking about and who will explain to you, in simple and accessible language, the enigmatic processes that led to the creation of these unique places.
- Algar do Carvão Lava Caves Tour is the most popular and cheapest tour, but the price is misleading, because it doesn’t actually include tickets to enter Algar do Carvão.
How to get there
Algar do Carvão is located 12 km north of Angra do Heroísmo.
Access is relatively easy and well signposted. However, you will need a car to get there, as there is no public transport that takes you to Algar do Carvão. Therefore, the best option is to rent a car, take a guided tour or take a taxi.
Dress code
The first thing I recommend is that you wear appropriate footwear! You will be climbing up and down around 300 steps that are quite wet, so wear mountain shoes or, at least, waterproof shoes. Forget about flip-flops and high heels, because they won’t be comfortable at all!
Another important thing: it’s constantly “raining” inside Algar do Carvão, which means you’ll always be getting splashed with water. In this sense, I recommend that you take a raincoat.
Personally, I don’t think it’s cold inside Algar do Carvão.
What to visit near Algar do Carvão
One of the things I love most about Algar do Carvão is that there are so many things to see and do in the surrounding area. Here is a list of the best:
Visit Gruta do Natal, an impressive cave
I LOVED visiting Gruta do Natal :) It is a lava tube that is almost 700 meters long, almost all of which is easy to walk through, with a slightly uneven floor and high ceilings. Along the way, you will find some signs that explain the different types of lava and geological phenomena that our ignorant eyes might miss.
If you book one of the tours that I recommended, the guides will take you to Gruta do Natal. If not, all you need to do is buy the combined ticket (€15) when you are at Algar do Carvão, which gives you access to both natural monuments.
Visit Furnas do Enxofre
Another very interesting place, very close to Algar, is Furnas do Enxofre. It is a fumarole field characterized by various manifestations of volcanic and geothermal activity, through volcanic gases emitted at high temperatures.
The fumaroles themselves are nothing out of this world, especially if you have visited the Furnas area on the island of São Miguel, which are much more impressive. However, I recommend that you visit the Furnas do Enxofre area because it is a very bucolic walk in the middle of nature.
Have a picnic at Lagoa das Patas
Lagoa das Patas is one of the most beautiful areas of Terceira, and is just a 15-minute drive from Algar. It is a beautiful lagoon, surrounded by a magnificent forest, and very well equipped. It has a picnic area as well as public toilets, and a dirt car park across the road. So, after visiting Algar do Carvão, Gruta do Natal and Furnas do Exofre, you can have a picnic at Lagoa das Patas before heading down towards the coast.
Go hiking
Another interesting option is to go hiking before visiting Algar. In fact, right in the area where this natural monument is located, the PRC10 TER Algar do Carvão – Furnas do Enxofre trail begins, which is, in my opinion, one of the best trails on Terceira. It is a trail that only takes 2h30, is of moderate difficulty, and passes not only by Algar do Carvão but also by Furnas do Enxofre.
Another option is to do the Trilho dos Mistérios Negros, which starts next to Gruta do Natal. It is the most iconic trail on the island, but I honestly wasn’t very convinced. It is a short trail (5 km) but of high difficulty, as the terrain is very technical. I do not recommend doing this trail alone at all!
Another trail that starts nearby is the PRC06 TER Rocha do Chambre, but it is already 9 km long.
Either of these trails takes about 2h30 to 3h to complete, so it is perfectly possible to do one trail and then visit the other sites.
Visit Angra do Heroísmo
In my opinion, Angra do Heroísmo is the most beautiful city in the Azores (and I’ve been to 7 of the 9 islands!). It’s so beautiful and there’s so much to see that I recommend you check out my article about the best things to do in Angra do Heroísmo.
Visit the Santa Bárbara Viewpoint
The Santa Bárbara viewpoint is about 25 minutes from Algar. It seems far away, but if you choose to have a picnic at Lagoa das Patas, you’ll be halfway to the viewpoint ;)
From this viewpoint you have an extraordinary view over Terceira Island. The road to get there is also very pretty.
FAQs about Algar do Carvão
Is it appropriate for children?
O Algar do Carvão, pela sua imensa quantidade de degraus, não é apropriado para bebés ou crianças muito pequenas. Isto dito, se as suas crianças tiverem mais de 4 anos, eu não vejo motivo nenhum para não as levar consigo – é uma experiência muito gira! :) Certifique-se só que eles não têm medo de locais muito escuros porque, de facto, e apesar de o Algar do Carvão estar bem iluminado, não deixa de ser uma enorme gruta na penumbra.
Is it appropriate for people with mobility issues?
Absolutely NOT! A única forma de circular dentro do Algar do Carvão é subindo e descendo as suas centenas de degraus, pelo que não é um local adequado a pessoas em cadeiras de rodas ou pessoas com dificuldade de locomoção, de uma forma geral. Por isso, se tiver problemas de joelhos e assim, evite o Algar do Carvão.
Are there bathrooms in Algar do Carvão?
Yes, there are.
Is there a restaurant in Algar do Carvão?
Unfortunately, no. In fact, one thing Algar do Carvão DOES NOT have is a good visitor center. Basically, it’s just a tiny room, with a ticket office and a souvenir shop, which are also tiny and outdated.
The creation of an Environmental Interpretation Centre for Algar do Carvão is planned, which will have temporary and permanent exhibition areas, toilets, a ticket office, an auditorium, a shop, a cafeteria and storage.
But until then we will have to make do with what exists, which is clearly not enough.
