São Miguel: 1-Month Stay w/ Car

Suggestion for the day: Gardens, a Palace and Pineapples

• António Borges Garden: a well-kept garden, free to enter, open daily from 9 am to at least 5 pm
• José do Canto Botanical Garden: entrance fee of about €2 to €4, open daily from 9 am to at least 5 pm
• Palácio de Sant’Ana: next to the garden, a 19th-century baroque palace that has housed the Presidency of the Regional Government since 1980. Open every day except Monday, from 10 am to 4 pm, about €3
• The pineapple plantations: A. Arruda, Plantação de Ananás dos Açores and Ananás Santo António are 7 to 12 minutes from the center, open daily from 9 am to 6 pm

Good to know: the gardens and the plantations fit in one morning. Prices and hours are approximate, so check before you go.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: The Lakes of Sete Cidades

• Sete Cidades village: a quiet village between the blue and the green lake. The O Poejo tea house serves hot local tea and homemade sweets
• Vista do Rei: the classic viewpoint over the two lakes
• Grota do Inferno: a viewpoint reached on foot from the Mata do Canário car park, about 25 minutes
• More lakes: Lagoa do Canário, Lagoa de Santiago and Lagoa das Empadadas. For Empadadas, leave the car outside and walk along the dirt path by the gates
• Lunch: Lagoa Azul, in Sete Cidades, has a regional buffet with fish and meat

Good to know: save this day for clear skies. Check the Spotazores webcams before you leave, because the lakes disappear in fog.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: A Boat Trip and a Lava Tube

• Whale and dolphin watching: a boat trip from Ponta Delgada. The best season is April to October, but trips run all year, on a catamaran or a speedboat
• Gruta do Carvão: a lava tube 7 minutes from the center, open daily from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 to 6 pm, about €9
• Milícias and Pópulo beaches: 10 minutes from the center, for an hour of sun if the weather allows

Good to know: the speedboat is not recommended for people with back or hip problems, or for pregnant women. The companies provide windbreakers and life jackets. If boats make you queasy, take nausea medication, available at any local pharmacy. Boat trips are optional and carry an additional cost.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: The West Coast

• Escalvado viewpoint: a stop on the way down to Mosteiros
• Mosteiros beach: a black sand beach, known as the best place on the island to see the sunset
• Ponta da Ferraria: a natural pool where volcanic hot water mixes with the cold sea. At high tide the warm water is barely felt, and at low tide it is too hot, so go when the tide is rising or falling
• Carneiros and Poço da Pedra: natural pools in Mosteiros
• Lunch: octopus at O Américo de Barbosa or Gazcidla, both in Mosteiros

Good to know: bring a towel and check the tide times before you go to Ferraria.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Vila Franca and the Islet

• Vila Franca do Campo Islet: a small ring-shaped islet in the sea, known as the “princess ring”. In summer, buy the boat ticket in advance to visit and swim
• Queijadas do Morgado: the local queijada da Vila, near the marina, open daily from 9 am to 7 pm except on some holidays
• Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Paz: a viewpoint with the best view of the town and the islet
• Lagoa do Congro: a lake that casts a green shadow from the trees around it, with a 15-minute walk down from where you leave the car
• Lunch: Black Whale Restaurant or Atlântico Azorean, both in Vila Franca do Campo, for fresh fish

Good to know: Vila Franca is a short drive from Ponta Delgada, so this is an easy day.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: The Volcanic Valley of Furnas

• Castelo Branco or Pico do Ferro viewpoint: a panoramic view of the Furnas lake before you go down
• The fumaroles: steaming ground, where you can taste the different mineral waters that come out of the springs
• The caldeiras: where the cozido is cooked underground, about €3 to visit
• Lagoa das Furnas: a walk around the lake
• Casa Invertida: a small house in the center that is built upside down
• Lunch: Cozido das Furnas, with meat and vegetables cooked for about 7 hours with volcanic heat. Try Vale das Furnas, casual, or Terra Nostra Restaurant, more upscale

Good to know: have the cozido at lunch, not at dinner, because it is very filling. Furnas looks good even in fog, so it is a good choice for a gray day.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Thermal Pools in Furnas

• The Famous Terra Nostra Park: a large, landscaped garden in the center of Furnas, with a big thermal pool at its heart. The water is warm and orange-brown from the iron in the springs, so wear a dark or old swimsuit. Walk the shaded paths, tree ferns and ponds before or after your swim. 
• Poça da Dona Beija: thermal pools in Furnas with several pools at different temperatures, so you can move from a warmer pool to a cooler one. Buy your ticket online in advance.
• Quenturas and Alameda gardens: in the center of Furnas, with a small tank of hot thermal water where you can dip your feet.
• A simple plan: Terra Nostra in the morning, and the Dona Beija pools later in the day.

Good to know: the iron in the water stains, so wear a dark or old swimsuit. Avoid wetting dyed blonde hair, which can turn orange. The hot springs are not recommended for people with heart problems or for pregnant women.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: The Fishing Village and Two Gardens

• Ribeira Quente: a fishing village on the coast. In certain spots of Fogo beach you can feel the hot sand under the water
• Ponta do Garajau: fresh fish and limpets, open only from April to October
• A Grená Park: a garden of about €10, open daily from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
• Mata-Jardim José do Canto: a forest garden with the neo-Gothic Nossa Senhora das Vitórias chapel, about €4, open daily from 10 am to 5 pm

Good to know: the sea is cold in winter, with a water temperature of about 12°C to 17°C (53°F to 63°F), so the beach is for the scenery.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: The Lake and a Hot Spring

• Lagoa do Fogo: a lake high in the mountains, with views from the rim. Check Spotazores first for clear skies. From June to September, 9 am to 7 pm, you leave the car in the car park and take the local shuttle bus, every 45 minutes, about €5
• Caldeira Velha: hot springs in a green setting, about €10. Buy your tickets in advance
• Termas das Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande: a thermal complex that dates back to the 19th century

Good to know: this is a day for clear skies. Lagoa do Fogo is high up and the weather changes fast.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: A Waterfall and the Surf Beach

• Salto do Cabrito: one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island. Leave the car on the cemented ramp and go down on foot, or do the circular trail of 8.5 km (5.2 miles), medium difficulty, about 2 hours 30
• Ribeira Grande: the town center and its streets
• Santa Bárbara beach: the best beach on the island for surfing. Beware of the currents
• Museums: Emigração Açoreana, about the history of Azorean emigrants (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, about €2), and Arquipélago, a contemporary art center (closed Mondays, about €3)
• Lunch: Monte Verde, known for its fried fish fillets

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: A Fishing Village and Two Beaches

• Rabo de Peixe: the best-known fishing village of the island. Visit the harbor and see traditional fishing at work. It was the setting of the Netflix series Turn of the Tide
• Santa Iria viewpoint: a view of the north coast
• Moinhos beach, Porto Formoso: a beach with a local bar
• Praia da Viola: a secluded beach with abandoned watermills, reached on foot through small streams and rocks. Wear proper shoes, not flip-flops
• Dinner: Quinta dos Sabores, a farm-to-table restaurant with organic products and only 9 tables, so book in advance

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: The Tea Plantations

• Gorreana: the oldest tea factory on the island, where you can taste the tea made here
• Porto Formoso: another tea factory, also with tastings
• The Gorreana trail: an easy circular walk around the plantations, 3.4 km (2.1 miles), about 1 hour 30
• São Brás lake: 12 minutes by car from the tea factories

Good to know: the plantations are open on most days, so you can fit this in on a gray day.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Two Short Hikes in the Northeast

• Moinho do Félix: a circular trail of 5.5 km (3.4 miles), about 2 hours, medium difficulty, past an abandoned mill, lush vegetation and several waterfalls
• Poço Azul: in Achadinha, a small blue pool surrounded by green. There are some steep steps
• Salto da Farinha: a trail of 4.3 km (2.6 miles), about 2 hours, medium difficulty
• Lunch: Poço Azul restaurant for fish and meat, or Os Melos for a regional buffet

Good to know: choose one trail and not both. Circular trails bring you back to the car. Check the official trail sites, because some close with bad weather, and tell your accommodation which trail you are doing.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Viewpoints and a Lighthouse

• Ribeira dos Caldeirões: a park with a waterfall, watermills (a few still work) and plants of Macaronesia. A good place for a coffee, and one of the best spots on the island for canyoning
• Coast viewpoints: Despe-te Que Suas, Vista dos Barcos and Ponta do Sossego, over the coast and the ocean
• Ponta do Arnel: the oldest lighthouse in the Azores. To go down, walk, because the road is very steep. The lighthouse can be visited on Thursdays from 2 to 4:30 pm
• Lunch: Tronqueira, in Nordeste, for regional food with fish and meat

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: The First Village on the Island

• Pico dos Bodes and Pico Longo: viewpoints with a panoramic view of Povoação
• Povoação: the first place on the island to be inhabited. Walk the village, the port and the small black sand beach
• Fofa da Povoação: a sweet pastry similar to an éclair, at one of the local cafes
• Museu do Trigo: the old traditions of the locals, using watermills. Free, open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 2:30 pm
• Centro Ambiental do Priolo: learn about the priolo, a bird found only in this part of the island
• Lunch: O Riquim, with a buffet, or Sabores da Terra for a quick meal

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: The Nativity Scene of the Island

• Água Retorta viewpoint: a panoramic view of one of the quaintest villages on the island
• Faial da Terra: known as the “Nativity Scene of the island”, a picturesque village to explore on foot
• Sanguinho and Salto do Prego trail: one of the most beautiful trails on the island, 4.5 km (2.7 miles), about 2 hours, medium difficulty. It has a waterfall and a rehabilitated village, once home to locals who emigrated to the United States and Canada
• Portinho do Faial da Terra: natural pools, good in summer for a swim, or for snorkeling if you bring the equipment

Good to know: this trail is not circular. Check the official trail sites first, and tell your accommodation where you are going.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: The South Coast

• Caloura: a small cove with a sea pool at the foot of the cliffs
• Prainha de Água d’Alto: a dark sand beach on the south coast
• Vinha d’Areia beach: a beach in Vila Franca do Campo
• Lunch: Bar Caloura for fresh fish, Adega Caloura for gourmet meat and fish, or A Casa do Abel for meat

Good to know: in winter the sea is cold, so come for the coast and the lunch.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Ceramics, Volcanoes and Pools

• Cerâmica Vieira: a ceramics and tile factory where you can see locals at the potter’s wheel. Free, open every day except Sundays from 9 am to 6 pm
• Observatório Vulcanológico e Geotérmico dos Açores: learn about the volcanic activity in the Azores. Open on weekdays from 2:30 to 5:30 pm, about €2.50
• Natural pools: the municipal pool complex in Lagoa, or the Forno da Cal pool in São Roque
• Lunch: Boca Aberta, in Lagoa, for fresh fish

Good to know: most factories and craft shops close on Sundays.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Capelas 

• Oficina-Museu das Capelas: an ethnographic museum with a private collection of traditional arts and crafts of the Azores. Open on weekdays from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 to 4 pm, on Saturdays from 2 to 5 pm, and closed on Sundays.
• Rocha do Elefante: a rock formation on the coast of Capelas, shaped like an elephant.
• Poços das Capelas: natural swimming pools by the sea, in front of an old whaling factory (now in ruins)
• Lunch: Canto do Cais, in Capelas, a tavern with very generous portions

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: A Walk Above the Lakes

• Serra Devassa: a circular trail of 4.9 km (3 miles), medium difficulty, about 2 hours, around Sete Cidades
• Vista do Rei: if the lakes were in fog on your first visit, this is the day to see them again
• Lunch: Lagoa Azul, in Sete Cidades, for a regional buffet

Good to know: pick a clear day and check the official trail site before you go. Let your accommodation know which trail you are doing.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Local Crafts and Flavors

• Museu do Tabaco da Maia: the history and social impact of tobacco on the island, with a tasting of local tea and liqueurs at the end. Open every day except Sundays, from 9 am to 1 pm and from 2 to 5 pm, about €4
• Fábrica de Licores A Mulher de Capote: see how the local liqueurs are made and taste them. Free, open on weekdays from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 to 6 pm
• Cerâmica Micaelense: known for painting regional tiles. On a weekday they may let you paint one to take home
• Something sweet: O Chocolatinho, for locally made chocolates, in Ribeira Grande
• Lunch: Fim de Século, in Maia, for generous portions of fresh fish

Photo credits to A Mulher de Capote

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Museums in the City

• Carlos Machado Museum: including the Santa Bárbara and Sacred Art cores. Open every day except Monday, from 10 am to 5:30 pm, about €3
• Azores Military Museum: in the São Brás Fortress, open every day from 10 am to 6 pm, about €3
• Louvre Michaelense: a bistro in a former hat and fabric shop. Ask for “O Segredo”, the secret chocolate cake

Good to know: a good plan for a rainy day, when the viewpoints are in cloud.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: A Thursday Morning in the North

• Mercado Agrícola de Santana: the farmers’ market, every Thursday from 8 am to 1 pm
• Faria, in Ribeira Grande: for a very local breakfast around 7 am: a traditional soup with pork meat and wine. Closed on Mondays
• Associação Agrícola de São Miguel: in Santana, the most famous restaurant on the island for steak

Good to know: plan this day for a Thursday, when the Feira de Santana is open, and carry some euros in cash, because some small stores do not accept cards.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: An Evening in the City

• Herdade do Ananás: in the evening, taste the local pineapple wine, or bathe in a small pool inside a pineapple greenhouse, naturally heated by the warm air
• Gin Library, at Solar Branco: the largest gin collection in Europe
• The rooftop bar at the Octant Hotel: a view over the Ponta Delgada marina
• Lava Jazz: the only jazz bar on the island. It is not open every day, so check the schedule
• Casa do Bacalhau: a traditional codfish dinner with live fado music
• Late bites: bifanas (pork sandwiches) on the main avenue until late, and bakeries that start selling pastries from 10 pm

Good to know: bars and nightlife are almost all in Ponta Delgada, so use a taxi if you plan to drink.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: Traditional Fishing from Rabo de Peixe

Start the day early at the harbor, and if your accommodation has a kitchen you can use, cook your catch that evening.

Good to know: the excursion runs all year, is optional and is not included in the package price. Add it during the booking process, call us or book it online.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: The Best Sunrise on the Island

• Ponta da Madrugada viewpoint: the best spot on the island to watch the sunrise, if the weather allows
• Boca da Ribeira natural pools: in Nordeste. Go down a slightly steep road by car, leave it in the car park and enjoy the pools
• Breakfast in Nordeste: a coffee and a local pastry in the village

Good to know: check the weather the night before and leave before dawn. Bring a jacket, because it is cooler on the cliffs.

All suggestions are optional.

Suggestion for the day: One Last Sunset

• Mosteiros beach at sunset: the best sunset spot on the island. Bring a bottle of Pico wine (Frei Gigante or Terras de Lava) and a selection of local cheeses
• A late dinner: Cais 20, in São Roque, open every day from 12 pm to 4 am, with tapas-style dishes from meat to fish

Good to know: tomorrow you return the car. Fill the tank (most rental cars use diesel, and the correct fuel is on a sticker in the car) and check the car return time in your booking.

All suggestions are optional.

Return your rental car and head to the airport for your flight home. Check the car return time in your booking confirmation.