| Descend into a volcano on the Azores
Visit the Algar do Carvão on Terceira
Have you ever wondered what a volcano looks like from the inside? Descending into a lava tube is not an everyday activity, but there are certain places in the world where it is possible. The best known is Raufarhólshellir in Iceland. But on the Azores there are also several possibilities to take a peek into the earth’s crust. The most impressive is the Algar do Carvão, the ‘cave of coal’, on the island of Terceira.
Here you will find everything you need to know for a visit to the Algar do Carvão.
*On this page we include helpful links for which we may receive a small commission, without it costing you anything extra. As always, we have not been payed to write this blog and all the opinions in it are stricktly our own.
Quickly go to
About the Algar do Carvão
Algar do Carvão, the cave of coal, is an old lava tube located at 583 metres above sea level, which reaches a depth of about 90 metres. You will find it on the still relatively unknown island of Terceira, one of the 9 islands of the Azores.
The Algar do Carvão was formed about 3200 years ago and was officially discovered in 1893 when the first islander lowered himself with a rope through ‘the mouth of the volcano’ into the lava tunnel. Today, the extinct volcano is easily accessible via an illuminated walkway that leads to the 100-metre long lava tube.
When you enter it, you will be amazed by the space you will find here. Rock formations covered with moss and plants, the light shining into the lava tunnel, magnificent stalactites and walls of which the rock looks like a gigantic abstract painting. In short, the Algar do Carvão is a real must-see!
The Algar do Carvão also has an underground lake, which can be up to 15 metres deep due to the incoming rain.
Practical Information
The Algar do Carvão is easily accessible by car (there is good parking) and is about a 20 minute drive from the capital of Terceira, Angra do Heroísmo. The lava tunnel is open daily in the summer months from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. An entrance ticket costs €8 and is best paid in cash.
Although tours to the Algar do Carvão are also offered, this is not something we recommend. You can easily visit this cave on your own. That is, as long as you have access to a (rental) car, which is an absolute must on the Azores to really enjoy the islands.
We rented our car from Sunnycars and were very satisfied with their service (especially because they provided us with good insurances, which were already included in the price). Cheaper options are also available through Rentalcars.
Near Algar do Carvão
Furnas do Enxofre
When you have visited Algar do Carvão, it is only a short drive to Furnas do Enxofre. Here you will find a footpath along the so-called fumaroles. These are openings in the earth’s crust from which hot gases and vapours escape. The footpath is not very long, but this place is definitely worth a look. Again, it is not necessary to book an organised tour for this.
Angra do Heroísmo
The capital of Terceira, Angra do Heroísmo, is located at a 20 minute drive from the Algar do Carvão. This was once the most important city of the Azores and partly because of that it has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Register since 1983.
As a port city, Angra was a real trading post, strategically located between mainland Europe and America. The wealth this brought about is still clearly visible today.
Highlights in Angra are the cathedral Sé de Angra, the church Igreja da Misericórdia and the palace Palácio dos Capitães Generais. When visiting Angra, hike to the top of nearby Monte Brasil for a great view of the city.
Serra da Ribeirinha
Make a stop at the Serra da Ribeirinha Mountain during your trip to Angra do Heroísmo. Here you’ll find lush green meadows, fenced off by basalt black stones and wooden gates, and a view of two uninhabited islands. This makes it the perfect place to enjoy a beautiful sunrise and sunset.
Hi, we are Samira & Maurits, a travel-hungry couple with a passion for photography.
With our free travel guides, we hope to inspire you and help you plan your dream holiday. We also provide important tips and tricks for making new journeys, but also for capturing those precious memories in your own travel photos.
All the photos on this site were taken by us (unless it says otherwise underneath a picture).
Do you want to experience this too? In our blogs we link to relevant pages and our favourite travel services that make this possible. For this we (sometimes) receive a small commission, without it costing you anything extra.
This enables us to keep the site running and we are very grateful to you for that!
Newsletter
Don’t miss anything from our site! Get our latest travel blogs, photography tips, discounts and more.
| Want to explore more?
Descend into a volcano on the Azores: Visit the Algar do Carvão on Terceira
Descending into a lava tunnel is not an everyday activity, but there are places in the world where it is possible. This is the case on the Azores, a small island group in the Atlantic Ocean. Here, on the island of Terceira, you will find the Algar do Carvão, the so-called ‘cave of coal’.
Ethical whale watching and swimming with wild dolphins in the Azores
Have you ever dreamed of spotting whales and swimming with dolphins? But do you want to do this in an ethical way, as we do? In the Azores it is possible! In this blog we tell you how.
Furnas travel guide: Visit this unique village inside a volcano
Furnas. A small picturesque Portuguese village in a very special location. The village is located in a volcano of the same name. Here you will find a geothermal park with several geysers and many thermal baths. The ground is so hot in some places that the local restaurants have dug holes in it in which they prepare the local dish Cozido das Furnas.