Lagoa do Fogo, the crystalline lake hidden in a stratovolcano

There are places that seem to have been created to remain hidden, as if nature itself wanted to jealously guard them: one of these is Lagoa do Fogo , a remote and surprising corner nestled on the island of São Miguel , in the Azores archipelago.

What today appears as a postcard landscape, a crystalline water basin embraced by verdant walls, is in reality the fruit of a “primordial fury”. The crater that houses it, in fact, was formed about 15,000 years ago , shaped by the explosive energy of a volcano that is now dormant, but still alive. The last eruption, way back in 1563, sealed forever such an amphitheater of rocks and silence, and transformed it into a green-blue paradise .

The lake is located at an altitude of between 575 and 949 meters, watched over by the high walls of the crater that rise for about 300 meters. With a length of 3 kilometers , a width of 2.5 and a depth of up to 30 meters, it is one of the largest natural bodies of water on the island. Since 1974, the entire area has been protected as a Nature Reserve , an ecological treasure that preserves biodiversity, silence and purity.

A path between green and blue

Getting to Lagoa do Fogo is not that simple: it is a path that is conquered step by step, through humid forests and paths sculpted by time. It starts near the village of Água de Alto , following the EN1-1A provincial road and then turning off along the Caminho da Ribeira da Praia, until reaching the start of the PRC02 SMI trail. Google Maps will take you easily to the access point which, although still close to civilization, marks the entrance to a “parallel world”.

The first stretches of the walk wind through crops and open fields, on a paved road that soon gives way to a wide dirt road that climbs steadily. The path, always well marked, is a crescendo of emotions and nature : the slopes are gentle, almost friendly, but it is the vegetation that captures the attention, with woods that gradually become thicker, moss that covers trunks and stones like velvet, and the air that smells of humidity and wood.

After about an hour, the path turns left, on one of the most suggestive and unexpected parts of the entire route where, for almost two kilometers, a long pool of transparent water flows. Not a simple stream, but a real irrigation channel , about 60 centimeters deep, inhabited by trout that disappear in the reflections, and framed by moss and branches.

This stretch of the trek continues through the forest, but each step brings you closer to the heart of the crater . When the trail finally emerges onto a wider dirt road, the landscape suddenly opens up, like a curtain rising: Lagoa do Fogo unveils itself before your eyes in all its majesty.

The first view is dazzling. The lake appears like a jewel suspended in an immense crater, whose walls are a riot of vegetation. The surface of the water reflects the sky with iridescent shades : from bright blue to pearl gray, from deep blue to emerald green, everything depends on the clouds that often veil the landscape like a delicate veil. It is not uncommon, in fact, for the lake to remain hidden in the fog, revealing itself only to those who have patience and respect.

Two peninsulas jut out into the center of the body of water, while the sandy, light-colored shores disappear into the thick of a forest rich in endemic flora. If you look up toward the horizon, where the crater opens, the Atlantic Ocean can be glimpsed in the distance, almost as if to remind you that this place, despite being isolated, is part of an island suspended between sky and sea.

Beyond the Lake: Explorations and Silences

The entire perimeter of the crater can be explored on foot, but it requires time, energy and attention. The difference in altitude is significant and the length of the route can exceed four hours there and back. However, every step adds beauty: panoramic views, silences interrupted only by the wind and the secret life of the forest, paths that lead off in new directions.

You can go down to the shores of the lake and walk along some beaches, perhaps going into the natural caves and thick vegetation. Swimming is not allowed, to preserve the integrity of the ecosystem, but even just sitting near the water and watching the play of light is worth the trip.

Lagoa do Fogo is also a vital freshwater reserve for São Miguel : fed mainly by rainfall, it represents one of the most important water basins on the island.

An invitation to wonder

The trek to Lagoa do Fogo is within the reach of those with a minimum of training and a spirit of adventure. With a total length of about 11 kilometers and an average duration of 4 and a half hours there and back, it is an excursion that can be done in a day, but requires preparation . There are no refreshment points or sources of drinking water, and the weather can change in an instant.

But if you love authentic places, if you seek true emotions and views that speak to the soul, then Lagoa do Fogo will reward you.