Lagoa do Caldeirão and Montinho dod Queijo Loop

This medium-rated loop on Corvo is a compact but memorable crater walk of about 4.8 to 5 km / 3.0 to 3.1 miles, with roughly 100 m / 328 ft of elevation change overall, although the descent and re-ascent can feel steeper because the route drops from the rim into the floor of the Caldeirão and then climbs back out. The trail begins at Miradouro do Caldeirão, Monte Gordo, 9980 Corvo, Azores, the main viewpoint above the crater, at approximately 39°42'24.49"N, 31°05'52.92"W. Official Azores trail information places the start at the Caldeirão viewpoint and lists the route as a circular trail with an average walking time of about 2 hours 30 minutes. (itrails.visitazores.com)

From the start, the route immediately sets the tone with a broad view into one of the Azores’ most striking volcanic landscapes. The Caldeirão is a collapse crater on Corvo’s central volcano, with an average diameter of about 2 km / 1.2 miles and a depth of roughly 300 m / 984 ft. The trail itself stays between about 400 m and 560 m / 1,312 ft and 1,837 ft in elevation, descending from the rim by zigzags to the crater floor before looping around the wetland and lagoon system below. (trails.visitazores.com)

What the route is like

The first section is the most demanding underfoot. The descent into the crater follows a shortcutting zigzag path that the official trail guide describes as sometimes damaged, muddy, and slippery, with water running through parts of it even in summer. That means footwear with reliable grip is more important here than the modest distance might suggest. In poor visibility, the crater rim can also feel disorienting, so this is a route best saved for a clearer weather window, and route-checking on HiiKER before setting out is sensible. (itrails.visitazores.com)

Once on the crater floor, the walking becomes gentler and more atmospheric. The route passes through a landscape shaped by wetlands, peat bogs, sphagnum moss, and two rain-fed lagoons. One of the key navigation points is a large boulder; from there, the recommended direction is to bear right and continue around the caldera in an anticlockwise loop. Water levels in the lagoon can rise enough to affect the line of travel, so it is worth choosing the safer track away from the edge if the ground is saturated. (trails.visitazores.com)

A notable landmark on the loop is Montinho do Queijo, one of the small volcanic cones inside the crater, rising to about 424 m / 1,391 ft. It helps define the interior skyline and gives the walk much of its volcanic character. Other mapped names around the route include Cachimbo, Espigãozinho, Junco Queimado, and Serão Alto, all reinforcing that this is not just a lakeside stroll but a walk through a named and storied crater landscape. (mapcarta.com)

Nature, ground conditions, and wildlife

This is one of the most ecologically interesting short hikes in the Azores. The crater interior is dominated by wetland habitats and peatlands, and the official Azores trail information notes that Corvo and Flores contain the largest and oldest peat bogs in Portugal. The area is protected within the Protected Area for the Management of Habitats or Species of the Coast and Caldeirão of Corvo, and the Caldeirão was also classified as a Ramsar Site in 2008 for its wetland importance. (trails.visitazores.com)

Birdlife is one of the major reasons many walkers come here, especially in autumn. The crater is known as an important stopover for migratory birds crossing the Atlantic, and the official guide highlights species such as common snipe, common tern, and mallard, along with rarer visitors. It also notes the