The Whalers Great Route Ultra-Trail® (WGR)

More than a race, the Whalers Great Route Ultra-Trail® is a journey into the soul of the Azores. As midnight falls on Faial, runners set off from Porto do Comprido, a place where the island once turned its eyes to the ocean in search of whales, and where today, under the protection of the UNESCO Azores Geopark, it watches over them.

Through the long Atlantic night, the trail climbs into the Caldeira do Faial, the great green heart of the island and one of Europe's most extraordinary protected landscapes. From cliff-top lookouts where whalers once scanned the horizon, to ancient cobbled paths and quiet coastal villages, every step traces the memory of a people who lived from the sea, with the sea.

When dawn breaks, the route turns toward Horta. Past the whaling complex of Angústias, beneath the walls of the São Sebastião Fort, along the bay where ocean sailors from every continent meet, the finish line waits at Avenida 5 de Abril, on the seafront, where the city itself comes out to welcome each runner home.

The WGR is a celebration of endurance, heritage, and place. It is the longest, deepest experience the Azores Trail Run® offers: a chance to feel the islands at their wildest, to share the warmth of a community that runs alongside you, and to come away changed.