If you like nature tourism, adventure, being surrounded by green, listening to the waves, crystal clear water, breathtaking viewpoints, flowers, and a completely relaxed environment. If you want to take a bath in hot thermal waters, you are in the right post.
The Azores are composed of 9 islands and are considered the Hawaii of Europe. Today I will show the Island of São Miguel in the Azores. I will share with you the itinerary I did, where I stayed, where to eat and other tips that will be very useful while you are preparing your trip. Are you ready?
If you wish see this article in Portuguese: Click here.
How to go?
There are direct flights from Lisbon and Porto, and the airlines that operate this route are Ryanair, TAP Air Portugal and SATA.
Where to stay?
I stayed in Ponta Delgada during the five days at the My Story Hotel Vila Nova, located very close to the riverside area and the airport. I highly recommend this accommodation, as it has great conditions, exceptional staff and a very good breakfast.
How to get around the Island?
No doubt that to visit the island I advise you to rent a car. Renting a car was a challenge for me and my friend. Many of the car rental companies that appear on the websites only authorise the rental of the vehicle if the driver has a credit card to give as a guarantee. Unfortunately, I was going to be the only driver, and I don’t have one, and they wouldn’t give me the chance to use a family member’s credit card.
So we discovered a local rent-a-car company called Way2Azores, that by choosing the Premium Plan, they allowed us to book the car without needing a credit card or deposit. The car I rented was a Mazda CX3 for a very affordable price. The vehicle was very comfortable and very safe.
5 Days Itinerary
The first itinerary I’m going to show you is the itinerary we did for the five days and not the itinerary we planned to do. Unfortunately, the weather was not in our favour, so we made last-minute changes depending on the Spot Azores app (I will talk about this app in the tips section). I will also give you tips on restaurants (we chose to go to unfamiliar restaurants).
For example, it was impossible to visit the Lagoa do Fogo and its viewpoints due to heavy rain and fog. However, I will also leave a link to see the original itinerary at the end of the post.
First Day
On the first day, we arrived around 1:30 pm. After filling out the rental car contract, we had lunch at “Sal Grosso” Restaurant in Ponta Delgada, and then we started our itinerary around 3:30 pm.
- Ribeira dos Caldeirões Park
Ribeira dos Caldeirões Park is one of the most visited and admired tourist attractions of São Miguel in the Nordeste Municipality. It is an obligatory stopping place.
The Park has magnificent flora, fantastic waterfalls, several windmills and several places to have a picnic. You’ll have to explore the area with a camera in your hand, as you’ll always be coming across wonderful attractions.
Entrance & Parking: Free of charge
- Gorreana Tea
The Gorreana plantation is the oldest tea plantation in Europe. Gorreana has been growing this wonderful product since 1883, maintaining the original oriental traditions ever since.
The smell of the tea and flowers surrounding the property and the breathtaking view of the blue sea and the green of the mountains is a true paradise.
Entrance & Car Parking: Free of charge
Click here to see the map of the itinerary – Day 1: First Day in São Miguel
Second day
- Terra Nostra Park
Terra Nostra Park dates back to 1775. It all started when the wealthy American merchant, Thomas Hickling, fell in love with Furnas and created the perfect relaxation retreat that still seduces all visitors. Condé Nast Traveller has even awarded it in the category of “Best Green Retreats”.
The Park has “one of the most remarkable collections of camellias in Europe”, with around 800 specimens and is known worldwide for its thermal pool.
We stayed here the whole morning of the second day, so we could see the Park calmly and enjoy the thermal tank.
Tip:
If you stay at the Park Hotel, you can experience the unforgettable thermal bath until 10 pm (I didn’t have the opportunity to have this experience, but if you have time to do so, I advise you to add this experience to your itinerary).
If you want to try the thermal tank, take a change of clothes (preferably old clothes). Due to the high iron content in the water, your clothes may be damaged.
If you want to eat the “Cozido das Furnas” typical dish in the area of the Parque Terra Nostra, you have several options of restaurants. I leave you here several choices of restaurants (Restaurant “Terra Nostra Garden”, Restaurant “O Miroma”, Restaurant “Tony’s”).
- Poça da Dona Beija
The Poça da Dona Beija is a place of pure relaxation and revitalisation of soul and body due to the high iron waters known for their therapeutic results.
(This place is on the itinerary, but we ended up not visiting. Due to COVID, there cannot be gatherings of people, so to visit the site, we would have to wait for 1h30 so that the people already in the place could leave. We then opted to go directly to Lagoa das Furnas).
- Furnas Lagoon
Did you know that intense volcanic manifestations surround this area? However, you don’t have to worry! Although there are five volcanoes considered active on the island, all are dormant. The last eruption of the Furnas Volcano was in 1630.
Here you will find unmissable lush greenery, the place where the famous stew is prepared and the beautiful Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias.
Entrance: 3€
Parking: Free
- Grená Park
Parque Grená is located in Furnas and is a park immersed in nature. The Park has one of the highest waterfalls on the island, several trails ranging from 500m to 5.4km, one of the largest eucalyptus trees on the island, and is often requested as a backdrop for several films.
In recent years, the Park was abandoned and suffered a huge degradation, until, at the end of 2019, it reopened, fully renovated and after more than three tonnes of rubbish had been removed.
For me, this is a must-visit place on the island. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever had the opportunity to visit, and here you will experience what it is to be surrounded by nature.
Entrance: 7€
Click here to see the map of the itinerary – Day 2: Second Day in São Miguel
Day Three
- Ponta do Sossego Viewpoint
A must-see attraction. The green landscape, its cliffs, the immensity of the ocean and the contrast with the several flowers that exist in the place make this viewpoint a mandatory stop for those visiting São Miguel Island.
All the elements were in perfect harmony. Here I felt a sensation of absolute freedom and an enormous inner peace that I hadn’t felt for some time.
Entrance & Parking: Free of charge
- Caldeira Velha
Caldeira Velha, located on the perimeter of the volcano of Fogo, also known as Caldeira Velha Environmental Interpretation Centre, is a Natural and Regional Monument.
The site is formed by pools of thermal water with an average temperature of 34º degrees. Here you will see wonderful landscapes, which will give you a unique experience of peace, silence and tranquillity.
Entrance: If you only want to visit the place, the adult ticket costs 3 euros. If you’re going to take a bath in the thermal waters, the price is 8 euros. Due to Covid, reserve your place in advance, as access is restricted depending on the number of people.
Parking: Free of Charge
- Congro Lagoon
The Lagoa is a hidden treasure and is not part of the traditional tourist route, and not all people venture to know it. Bear in mind that this is a difficult place to access. The path can present some challenges, such as rock formations, fallen trees and huge roots.
However, this trail is well worth the effort. Here you will be able to find a unique atmosphere and connection with nature. The Lagoon has lots of vegetation, deep green water and lots of jumping fish.
On the day I made this trail, it was raining and foggy, making it even more difficult.
Click here to see the map of the itinerary – Day 3: Third Day in São Miguel
Fourth day
We postponed the visit to Lagoa das 7 Cidades to the fourth day. The weather APP said it would be the day with less chance of rain. However, the morning was spent in heavy rain and fog, making it difficult to drive and impossible to see all the viewpoints and lagoons around the Seven Cities Lagoon.
The only one it was possible to visit was the Canário Lagoon. After that, we made our way to the village of the seven cities and then to Mosteiros beach. Luckily, when we considered the day over and discouraged, we decided to give the Lagoon one last chance. So opened the Spot Azores App, and out of a sudden, the Lagoon’s weather was uncovered. We grabbed our gear, headed to the car, and in less than 30 minutes, we accomplished our goal.
- Canário Lagoon
Its access is quite easy, and you can do the route on foot. The path goes through the vegetation and will give you once again a sense of calm due to the precious nature, full of trees, plants and flowers.
Car park: On the Lagoon. Free of charge.
Entrance: Free of charge.
- Sete Cidades Village
Sete Cidades village is very picturesque, with typical houses and a neo-Gothic style church.
- Ponta do Escalvado Viewpoint
The Ponta do Escalvado viewpoint offers a fantastic view of two reference points in the natural landscape: Ponta da Ferraria and Mosteiros Islets.
- Mosteiros Beach
Mosteiros beach is well known for its dark volcanic sand and its magnificent sunsets, and the permanent presence of the Mosteiros islets on the horizon.
- Seven Cities Lagoon: King’s View Viewpoint
Sete Cidades Lagoon is considered one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal, where the Green and Blue lakes are located.
According to legend, the Lagoon was formed from the tears of a shepherd and a princess. They had a forbidden love relationship, as the princess was destined to marry a prince, a successor from another kingdom. When they met for the last time, they both cried so much that their tears formed two lagoons at their feet: one blue, made of tears falling from the princess’s blue eyes; the other green, due to the tears of the shepherd’s green eyes. With this, their love was sealed forever.
The King’s View Viewpoint offers a breathtaking view over the crater of Sete Cidades. This is one of the best-known postcards on the Island.
Click here to see the map of the itinerary – Day 4: Fourth day in São Miguel
Fifth day
- Pineapple Plantation
There are several pineapple plantations you can visit on São Miguel Island, and we chose to visit the Pineapple Plantation of the Azores. This is a delicious place located a few minutes away from the centre of Ponta Delgada.
Here you will embark on a journey through the history and culture of the century-old production that gives origin to the best pineapple in the world: the Azores Pineapple. You will also be offered a free tasting of the 1864 Pineapple Candy and the 1864 Pineapple Liqueur.
Entrance: Free of charge
Parking: Free of charge
- Exploring the Centre
Graça Market + King of Cheeses
City Gates
Marina
- Back to Lisbon
Click here to see the map of the itinerary – Day 5: Fifth day in São Miguel
Planned Itinerary:
Here is the link to the itinerary we had planned to do had there been no changes due to the weather:
Click here to see the full itinerary
What we did not put on the main itinerary:
When the itinerary for this trip was planned, we did not include some points as we decided to prioritise other attractions. However, I recommend taking a look at these options and including them in your itinerary.
- Salto do Cabrito Waterfall
- Salto do Prego Waterfall
- Ribeira Quente Waterfall
- Salto da Farinha Waterfall
- Ponta da Ferraria Beach
- Whale and Dolphin Watching
- Fogo Beach
Travelling during COVID:
There are three options for entry to the Azores, available for travellers screening at the airports:
- Valid EU COVID Digital Certificate of Vaccination or Recovery: passengers do not need to perform screening tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as do not need to fill in MySafeAzores.
- EU Digital COVID certificate of testing or lab test result: passengers must fill in the MySafeAzores questionnaire and submit the lab result or the testing certificate within 72 hours before the beginning of their trip, whose code is generated by the MySafeAzores platform will be validated upon arrival in the Azores.
Passengers aged 12 years old or under, although exempt from the test and its presentation on arrival in the Azores, must also fill in the MySafeAzores form;
- No certificate and no test result: passengers will perform the test on arrival, and their data and result are introduced in the platform by the teams present at the airport.
Information from https://www.azoresairlines.pt/pt-pt/procedimentos-obrigatorios-para-entrada-nos-destinos#raa
(The information is constantly changing, so inform yourself before the trip).
Dicas:
- Raincoat
The Azores are well known for their microclimate. So for this trip, I advise you to bring a raincoat, comfortable clothes and walking shoes, as well as some summer clothes (like shorts and t-shirts), but also “winter” clothes (trousers and a sweatshirt).
- Changing clothes
Suppose you want to try the various hot springs (Poça da Dona Beija, Parque Terra Nostra or Caldeira Velha). In that case, I advise you to take old clothes that can get ruined and different bikinis (opt for bikinis or dark swimsuits) because the iron in the water can ruin your clothes.
- Roads very easy to drive
One of my biggest fears was driving, as I’m used to a city with little traffic, no big inclines, so I was afraid to drive on the island due to its pavement. However, the roads are very quiet and easy to drive.
- Parking at attractions is almost always free
- Go in June (recommendation from the hotel staff member)
The big dislike of the Azores was the weather. When talking with one of the hotel staff about the fact that we did not have the opportunity to see several of the attractions due to rain and fog, the lady advised us to visit the island in June. It is a month where usually the lagoons are more likely to be uncovered, and there is still little tourist traffic.
- SpotAzores
A mandatory App to install for your trip to the Azores. Here you will be able to see in real-time how the attractions are due to the cameras placed in the different places.
- Always carry food and water
Many places are remote and completely in the middle of nature, so always take food and water with you to safeguard yourself.
- Restaurante O Estradinho:
A typical Portuguese restaurant with great food (I deeply advise you to try the tuna) and excellent service, without delays. I put this restaurant as a tip, as it is located near the marina of Ponta Delgada, with very affordable prices. I had my last three meals here, as the hotel where I was staying is right next door. Many times there are overrated restaurants, and that sometimes lose their essence. That’s why I leave this suggestion.
Questions and Answers
- How long did you go? I made this trip for five days. However, due to the airport transfers, I only had three full days on the island. I would advise you to stay 1 or 2 more days to see the attractions calmly.
- What did you like the most about the Azores? The fact of being in constant contact with nature. It is a very quiet place, perfect for recharging your batteries.
- Did you rent a car? If yes, where? Way2Azores
- Can you make a top 5 of attractions? In my opinion, in no order, I would say the Lagoa do Congro, the Lagoa das Sete Cidades, the Parque da Ribeira dos Caldeirões, Mosteiros Beach and Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego.
- Do you recommend staying in the same hotel? Or change depending on the itinerary? I always stayed in the same hotel, and I enjoyed my stay. However, knowing what I know today, I think I would choose to change hotels depending on the places on the island to visit so as not to be so tiring and to be able to stay longer in certain sites.
I hope you enjoyed this post and got some useful information! If you have any questions, please contact me.
With love,
Sofia Gomes x
photobookbysofia.com 