2-Day Discovery of São Miguel: Landscape, Volcanoes and Lakes

Itinerary

Day 1: São Miguel Oeste | Discover Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo's highlights

Stop At: Pineapples Santo António, R. jose manuel bernardo cabral n1, 9500-450 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
The Azores is the only place in the world to use a glass greenhouse for pineapple production, in this visit we will learn a lot about the growing process that can take up to 24 months.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Miradouro do Pico do Carvao, M508, Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Portugal
A stop to dazzle travelers, a magnificent view over the south and north coast of the island of São Miguel, with the volcano of Lagoa do Fogo as a backdrop.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Vista do Rei Miradouro, Sete Cidades, Sao Miguel 9555-000 Portugal
The most famous viewpoint in the Azores from where you can admire the green & blue lagoon. The famous abandoned Monte Palace hotel is located here.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Miradouro do Cerrado das Freiras, En 9-1a, Sete Cidades, Sao Miguel 9555-000 Portugal
Located on the descent to the interior of the volcano, this point offers a magnificent view from another angle over the lakes and the parish of Sete Cidades
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Sete Cidades, Sete Cidades, Sao Miguel, Azores
Visit the quiet Sete Cidades parish with the São Nicolau church in the center. Walk to the edge of the blue lagoon, where you will find some species of flora endemic to the Azores and breathe the pure air scented by the many surrounding flowers.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Miradouro da Ponta do Escalvado, En1-1a, Varzea, Sao Miguel 9500-000 Portugal
Already outside the Sete Cidades volcano, this viewpoint on top of a coastal cliff, has a breathtaking view of Ponta da Ferraria and the Mosteiros islets. This is an old whale watching point and still in use by whale watching companies in São Miguel.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Praia do Areal de Santa Barbara, Ribeira Grande, Sao Miguel Portugal
Santa Barbara beach with its black sands is one of the most visited places in the summer. Famous for its swell, it is very popular with surfers from all over the world and international competitions organized here bring an added fame to this place.
Throughout the year it is frequent to find practitioners of paragliding enjoying the winds from the ocean and conducive to its practice.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande, Sao Miguel, Azores
Ribeira Grande is the second largest city in São Miguel and has a very typical architectural style that we invite you to discover through a short walk. In the center, you will find the Jardim do Paraíso (Paradise Garden) crossed by the stream that gives its name to this place. In the same place, you can do a free tasting of the most varied traditional liqueurs or delight yourself with chocolates filled with the typical flavors of São Miguel.
Duration: 25 minutes

Stop At: Salto do Cabrito, Ribeira Grande, Sao Miguel Portugal
The Cabrito's waterfall is one of São Miguel's hidden gems. Its access is impressive, but once you arrive, no one is indifferent to this natural beauty. It is normal to find travelers taking a bath in the waterfall's pool or canyoning practitioners.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Lagoa do Fogo, Miradouro da Serra Barrosa Agua de Pau, Sao Miguel Portugal
It is considered by many the most scenic lake in the Azores. From the viewpoint, you will marvel at the turquoise blue colors of its waters and all the lush green vegetation around it. This is a sanctuary for seabirds where many come to nest only here.

Further up, Pico da Barrosa is located on top of this volcano and offers a magnificent 360º panorama over the entire island.
Duration: 15 minutes

Meals included:
• Lunch: Lunch consisting of several Azorean cuisine dishes at a buffet with drinks, dessert and coffee included
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: East of São Miguel | Furnas and Nordeste with lunch, Ribeira dos Caldeirões and tea plantation included

Stop At: Vila Franca do Campo, Vila Franca do Campo, Sao Miguel, Azores
Morning stop at the Vila Franca do Campo marina, the former capital of São Miguel. Opportunity to admire the Vila Franca islet or have your coffee, savoring the typical and traditional conventual sweet " Queijadas da Vila ".
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Lagoa das Furnas, Sao Miguel 9675-090 Portugal
Discover the beauty of the Furnas lake, walking along its edge passing by the magnificent chapel of Nossa Srª das Vitorias, unique in its gothic style and discovering the various statues made of old tree trunks that adorn the edge.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Parque Terra Nostra, Largo Marques da Praia e Monfort 2, Furnas, Povoacao, Sao Miguel 9675-037 Portugal
- Optional / entrance not included - Considered one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Europe, you will find inside a huge thermal water tank, naturally heated by the Furnas volcano and two other thermal pools. You can include a stop here in your tour and enjoy a relaxing thermal moment in the outdoors.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Caldeira das Furnas, Furnas, Povoacao, Sao Miguel 9675 Portugal
The Azores' natural "cuisine", here the locals cook the famous "cozido" (stew) in potholes made in the volcanic floor. Watch the removal of the cozidos before a tasting of this unique dish, cooked slowly for seven hours on the volcanic floor, in a traditional restaurant in the village of Furnas. (Entrance fee 3€ per person)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Caldeira das Furnas, Furnas, Povoacao, Sao Miguel 9675 Portugal
After a unique gastronomic experience, a visit to the enchanted valley or " volcano's mouth" takes you between water and muddy boilers where you can feel the strength of a volcano. Place of several mineral water springs, we can taste some of the best known, before a traditional liquor tasting in a local handicraft store.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeiroes, Estrada Regional Achada, 011, Sao Miguel 9630-024 Portugal
Magnificent watermill area, now transformed into a natural park where its waterfalls are the main attraction. Considered one of the most beautiful areas in Nordeste, you can also take the opportunity to find the typical and traditional "corn leaf dolls" made by hand, in the local handicraft store.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Plantacoes de Cha Gorreana, Gorreana, Maia, Ribeira Grande, Sao Miguel 9625-304 Portugal
On the way back, a stop at the Gorreana tea factory will give you some leisurely moments as you taste the last all-natural tea in the world. Its undulating plantations are a magnificent decoration for the surrounding valleys.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Miradouro de Santa Iria, Ribeira Grande, Sao Miguel Portugal
Observe from this viewpoint, the immense beauty of São Miguel's north coast, from Sete Cidades to the Northeast, a scenic coastline jutting out into the ocean. This is our last stop before returning to your accommodations.
Duration: 10 minutes

Meals included:
• Lunch: Appetizers, the traditional Furnas stew (vegetarian option available), drinks, dessert and coffee
No accommodation included on this day.