There is every shade of green and the lush pastures streaked with blue hydrangea in fields bordered with ferns and flowers. Many flowers sprinkle the slopes running down to the sea. Chestnut, beech and other trees intersperse the remains of the Laurisilva forest that predated human settlement. And there are all the volcanic features of craters and cones, lava flows, cliffs, ravines and caves, fumaroles and lagoons. Those are the natural ingredients to these islands that serve up stunning landscapes framed by the deep blue of the sea beyond.
The volcano peaks provide excellent vantage points out over the nature of the Azores. Pico, the main central cater that gave its name to this island, rises up to Piquinho, with 3 or 4 fumaroles at the top. Be it from here or the volcanic peaks of Terças, on Graciosa, Pico da Esperança on São Jorge or Cabeço Gordo on Faial, there are great views out over these islands and the others in the central group.
On Flores, it is from either Morro Alto or Pico dos Sete Pés that there are the best views. While on Corvo, the Morro do Pão de Açúcar opens up over both the island and the sea.
On São Miguel, from Pico do Carvão, surrounded by lagoons, you can see the island centre and the sea, while from Pico do Ferro, look out down on the spectacular Vale das Furnas, also visible from the Salto do Cavalo viewpoint.
While on Santa Maria, get up Pico Alto for a full panorama of the island.
All in all, there are so many viewpoints from which you can take in the fabulous land and sea panoramas, the pieces that add up to create the great natural beauty of the Azores