The Azores Triangle Adventure once again brought the best trail runners to the islands of Pico, São Jorge, and Faial in the Azores archipelago for a three-race event held on October 27, 28, and 29, 2023. An incredible adventure spanning over 80 kilometers in one of the most beautiful settings in the Atlantic: the Azores islands.

What is the Azores Triangle Adventure?

It is a trail running race consisting of three stages held over three days on three different islands in the Azores archipelago: Pico, São Jorge, and Faial. The race covers a total of 87 kilometers and serves as a qualifier for the iconic Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB).

From the Vineyards to the Mountain, Stage 1

The first stage took place on the island of Pico and was titled “From the Vineyards to the Mountain” (FVM), a direct reference to the trail that began at Porto da Madalena and led the athletes through the vineyards to the finish line at the summit of Pico Mountain, at an altitude of 2,352 meters. The route wound through the unique landscapes of the vineyards flanked by basalt stone walls, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
Along this approximately 27-kilometer trail, participants were able to observe various micro-landforms typical of the effusive volcanism in this area, which is part of the geosites that make up the Azores Geopark, classified by UNESCO as a Geological Heritage Site.

Fajãs Trail, Stage 2

The second stage of this event took place on the island of São Jorge and is called the “Fajãs Trail” (FT), as the route passed through several fajãs located along its approximately 27-kilometer course. Fajãs are a type of terrain that characterizes the São Jorge coastline and attracts tourists from all corners of the world for their landscapes—which are also classified—and for their unique features, such as the fact that it is the only place in Europe where coffee is grown.
This second stage began at the volcanic complex in the parish of São Tomé and ended at Fajã dos Cubres.

Volcanoes Trail, Stage 3

“Volcanoes Trail” (VT) is the name of the third stage of the Azores Triangle Adventure, which took place on the island of Faial, against a backdrop of volcanic ash, tuff, and bombs formed when the Capelinhos volcano first erupted in 1957. It is at the Capelinhos volcano, more specifically at the old whaling station of Porto do Comprido, that this race begins and ends. Then, over the course of 33 kilometers, the race took the athletes past 10 dormant volcanoes, across the bridges and through the tunnels of the impressive artificial water channel ‘Levada,’ and through the Caldeira do Faial, one of the most impressive volcanic craters in the world.

The Azores Triangle Adventure is an international race organized by the association Azores Trail Run, under the High Patronage of the Government of the Azores and with the recognition of the most prestigious entities and organizations in the trail running world, such as the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), the Ultra Trail World Tour, the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, and the 100-Mile Western States Endurance Run, among others
To honor this year’s participants and winners, Azores Trail Run opted for sustainable medals and trophies and contacted Tributus to develop the solution.
If you’re planning an event, follow Azores Trail Run’s example and contact us. We’ll help you deliver unique awards that immortalize the moment and your brand.

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