How To Visit The Stunning Miradouro da Boca do Inferno Viewpoint In The Azores
We know you have seen this view in pictures! The narrow fence-lined dirt path with the blue-green lakes sprawling out in the caldera below, surrounded by emerald green cliffs.
Some consider this to be the best viewpoint on the island of São Miguel in the Azores, and we would agree that it’s pretty epic. You can’t miss the Miradouro da Boca do Inferno Viewpoint!
Also known as Boca do Inferno or Grota do Inferno, learn about how to get there and what to expect while visiting this postcard-worthy destination on the island.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read our full disclosure for more information.
Things to Know
- This is a very popular destination, so don’t expect to have this place to yourselves or get photos with no one else in them.
- If you want to try to increase your chances of having this place to yourself, head to this spot super early or late in the evening.
- This hike and destination are weather-dependent. Be sure to check out the webcams before you head to Boca do Inferno viewpoint. Links are below!
- After completing the short hike to the viewpoint, you can either turn back and head to your car or you can continue hiking on to get additional views of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde from Pico da Cruz.
Looking to rent a car in the Azores? DiscoverCars offers great prices and plenty of options! We booked ours through DiscoverCars with AutAtlantis and had an effortless, stress-free experience. If you want to see the island at its best, a rental car is definitely the way to go.
We spent a little over a week discovering São Miguel and had an unforgettable time. You can see our full itinerary in our post here!
Azores Webcams
Always check the weather before heading out each day. Conditions on São Miguel can shift rapidly and differ across the island. For the best chance of clear skies at the Boca do Inferno viewpoint or during hikes, use the local webcams to see real-time updates.
You can access the webcams here and here! Our favorite is the first link, which is overlaid on a map of the islands and is perfect for planning your day.
Map
Use the map above to help plan your hiking route to visit Boca do Inferno and Pico da Cruz.
Miradouro da Boca do Inferno Viewpoint
When you visit Miradouro da Boca do Inferno viewpoint, get ready for an epic show. From the cliff’s edge, see the Atlantic in the distance, while the stunning Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde shimmer in their emerald and turquoise hues below.
As the wind whips around and the clouds drift through the crater, the whole scene feels wild, untamed, and totally magical. The quaint town of Sete Cidades sleeps below, and if you haven’t visited, you must do so at some point during your Azores vacation.
🛎️ Don’t forget to book your stay at the top-rated Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico.
Parking & Restrooms
We recommend parking at the location here, right by Lagoa do Canário. This is a fairly large parking area with room for many cars. However, there are no restrooms located here. There is a porta-potty on the other side of the road where the hike to the viewpoint begins.
Hike To The Viewpoint
Cross the road to begin the hike to the viewpoint. This is a fairly short and flat walk on a wide stone path that passes through some tall trees. After hiking about 0.6 miles, follow the trail (and people) to the left.
The trail then steepens significantly as you follow the wooden fencing up to a view of the lakes. From this, it’s only about 0.2 more miles to the end of the trail.
Boca do Inferno Viewpoint
You made it!! Hopefully, the weather is cooperating, and you have an amazing view of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde below.
Due to the ever-changing weather in the Azores, it’s possible that the view here may not be clear, as was the case with us. We actually visited the viewpoint twice, and both times, clouds rolled in and out, blocking our view and then clearing up again. You’re in the clouds here and at the mercy of the weather.
After you have spent some time here enjoying the views, you can return to your car the same way you hiked in, or you can continue hiking to Pico da Cruz. We’ll discuss that below.
🥾 After this hike, check out the nearby hike on the Serra Devassa Trail. It can’t be missed!
Pico da Cruz
Pico da Cruz stands at 851m (2,792 feet), which makes it one of the highest points on the island of São Miguel.
Hike from Boca do Inferno Viewpoint
If you want to hike to Pico da Cruz, hike back the way you came, down the hill, and proceed to follow the trail to the left/straight. Let’s be honest here, this is probably not an official trail, so proceed cautiously.
💤 Rent an entire home for your stay on VRBO for an amazing experience.
Pass through the edge of a farm pasture to reach the road that leads to Pico da Cruz. You are basically following a makeshift path on the side of the cliff right here to get to Caminho Rural Pico da Cruz. When you are almost to the road, be very careful climbing up to the road.
At the road, take a left and follow the road up the super steep hill. This road is also used for some “off-road” safaris, so you may encounter some vehicles here! Instead of hiking to this point, check out the tours here!
Steep Road to the Summit
As you climb the road, eventually, you’ll reach a satellite system on your left with great views of Riberia Grande on your right.
Keep hiking a little bit farther and stay to the left as you reach the fork in the road. This will lead you to Pico da Cruz! Enjoy the scenery here, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of São Miguel.
🚶🏽♀️➡️ Get the map for our short self-guided walk around downtown Ponta Delgada!
Finally, retrace your steps back to your car. As you near the parking lot, don’t forget to stop by Lagoa do Canário as well. It’s a quick jaunt into the forest for a view of the lake.
🌴 Don’t forget to hike the trail to Lagoa do Fogo, too. Get the details here!
Where to Stay in São Miguel, Azores
There are plenty of great places to stay across São Miguel. We chose to stay in Ponta Delgada for the duration of our stay because it’s only about 1-1.5 hours from any location on the island. Ponta Delgada has plenty of restaurants, grocery stores, and more. Here are some great places to stay.
- Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico – The 5-star Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico is one of Ponta Delgada’s most iconic hotels, renowned for its prime location near the historic center and its stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Book here on Expedia or Booking.com
- Octant Hotel Ponta Delgada – Located waterfront at the edge of Ponta Delgada’s marina, this hotel is a sleek, modern boutique retreat offering 123 elegantly designed rooms and suites. Reserve your room on Expedia or Booking.com now.
- Hotel Talisman – A charming 4‑star boutique hotel nestled in Ponta Delgada’s historic center, housed in an elegantly renovated 17th‑/18th‑century property overlooking a delightful park. Check out the prices and amenities at Expedia or Booking.com
- A VRBO! Check out some of the homes for rent and have your own place for your trip.
🧭 Loving this itinerary and looking for more? Check out our other itineraries here!
Final Thoughts
Miradouro da Boca do Inferno is really one of the best viewpoints on the island! We enjoyed our time here overlooking the gorgeous lakes and scenery below. As mentioned before, we actually visited the viewpoint twice!
The first time we visited was in the evening after a day hiking to these two awesome waterfalls. After a quick bite to eat, we headed up into the mountains and hiked to the viewpoint. It was very busy, and there was some cloud coverage as well, but we still had a great view!
The second time we hiked to Boca do Inferno viewpoint was the following day in the morning to see if we could have better lighting. At first, it was pretty foggy, but after waiting a few minutes, the skies opened up! After our second visit, we hiked to Pico da Cruz. It was awesome!
Finally, after finishing this hike, we decided to complete the Serra Devassa hike as well – it was super fun and pretty easy. This one starts right at the parking area you park at for this hike.
🛌🏽 Still need to book your accommodations in the Azores? Check out Expedia and book your hotel now!
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning! Just click the save button located on any image.
