Often lauded as the Hawaii of Europe, the Azores is an archipelago off the western coast of Portugal, composed of nine volcanic islands. The island of São Miguel, referred to as the “Green Island”, is the largest and most populated of the Azores Islands. The island offers an array of activities, from hiking, biking, and swimming, to hot springs, beautiful gardens, and coastal views. The best part about this Hawaii alternative is the affordability, with just a fraction of the cost we’ve seen in Hawaii! An approximately 5.5 hour flight from the east coast of the USA, this is a great stop on your way to Europe, or simply a great vacation location on its own.
On my recent trip to São Miguel, we spent 2 days on São Miguel and split the island into “east” and “west” for ideal exploration. The island is known for its fog sometimes completely obliterating the views, use the SpotAzores Website and App to track the weather and decide for yourself which part of the island to visit each day during your visit!
2 Days on São Miguel
Day 1: East ISLAND
Furnas
Start your day in Furnas, one of the main towns of São Miguel. Grab some breakfast and café. Portuguese bread is not what you might be expecting! Portuguese “Bolo Levedo”, which we found was served as the primary bread at most restaurants, looks like an overgrown English Muffin, but the taste is sweeter and the texture is slightly different. We found that it made for a great breakfast toast, as well as a great dinner appetizer. Of note, Furnas is also a great place to grab dinner later in the night. Consider grabbing some fresh and seasonal seafood!
Parque Terra Nostra
Located in the town of Furnas, Parque Terra Nostra is an impressive botanical garden with a historic thermal pool. Dating back to 1780, it was first the location of a large home, known as Yankee House, which was later turned into a hotel. The park was developed around this more extensively in the 1930s and now covers approximately 30 acres. Spend a morning walking the extensive garden and enjoy the variety of local Azorean flora as well as plants from countries all over the world, pools with fountains, and animal shaped topiary. Consider taking a dip in the large historic thermal pool, located in front of the hotel. The pool is quite large, with temperatures from 35-38°C. The water is rich with minerals, specifically iron, making the color quite orange; consider bringing a bathing suit you don’t mind potentially ruining, and plan on rinsing off after your dip.
Lagoa das Furnas
Next, head over to Lagoa das Furnas, or Furnas Lake. Check out the 19th century neo gothic architecture of the Capela de Nossa Senhora das Vitórias, a small but beautiful chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Victories. You can walk along the lake and enjoy the view from the outside, or pay a few euros to get into the José do Canto Forest Garden for a closer look. Next head over to the other side of the lake and check out the Fumarolas Lagoa das Furnas. A fumerole is a vent in the surface of the earth, releasing volcanic heat and gas. The Fumareolas of Lagoa das Furnas, are used to cook Cozido Stew, an Azores specialty. You can find this stew at many restaurants, but consider getting the full traditional experience at Lagoa das Furnas.
Poça da Dona Beija
End your night at Poça da Dona Beija hot springs. The Azores Islands are known for their natural thermal hot springs, and Poça da Dona Beija is a top spot. There are five pools, with temperatures ranging from 28 to 39°C. The pools are fed by heated water from an iron-rich water spring, which is believed to have therapeutic properties. The facilities are well kept, with bathrooms, showers, changing rooms, and lockers (extra charge) for your belongings. Some logistics: there is an 8 euro entry fee, and a small 20 car parking lot just outside as well as street parking. Be aware, this is a popular spot and we had to wait in line for ~30 minutes. There was a food and beverage vendor just outside where you could grab a beer or ice cream while waiting. We found the wait well worth it in the end!
2 Days on São Miguel
Day 2: West Island
Electric Bike Tour of Sete Cidades
The west island is most well known for Sete Cidades, home to some of the most iconic Azores volcanic landscapes. One of the best ways to explore the area is by bike — electric, of course! We chose a self-guided three-hour tour with Get Your Guide. The friendly staff fit us with all the essential gear including bikes, helmets, gloves, and one GPS device with the route programmed in. You start the route on low ground, riding around the lakes on dirt paths, then head up into the mountains. Despite the electric help, it is definitely a tough ride. However, the view from the top is completely worth it. Along your way you will be able to stop at the Vista do Rei Viewpoint, the iconic view of the twin lakes. The winding roads and dirt paths back down to your start are an enjoyable rest for your legs. If I had to recommend one activity from our 2 days on São Miguel, this would be it!
Monte Palace Hotel
Monte Palace, once a 5-star luxury hotel atop the rim of a dormant volcano, is now an abandoned, decrepit concrete building with an incredible view. This hotel began construction in 1977, stuttered between open and closed from 1984 to 1989, and ultimately closed permanently in 1990 due to bankruptcy. In the years since, the hotel has been ransacked and now emits a creepy vibe, with moss and graffiti covering the walls. The real draw is the rooftop view, which is essentially the Vista do Rei View Point (a viewpoint from the road) but from a bird’s eye height. To get to the roof, you do have to trek through the hotel and climb the ruined staircases. Keep in mind, this building is literally falling apart so if you decide to enter it is completely at your own risk. We found the hardest part of navigating the hotel was puddles of water from a recent rain. You do ride past this hotel on your bike tour, so if you feel you have time to stop and explore during your tour it is possible, however we chose to drive back up and explore without having to worry about getting the bikes back in time.
Miradouro da Boca do Inferno
If your legs aren’t too tired from your bike ride, next check out the Miradouro da Boca do Inferno. This is the one of the infamous views you will find if you google “Azores.” Listed on AllTrails as a 1.5 mile hike, we found it to be a little closer to 2 miles due to a permanently blocked road. However, the trail was quite leisurely until the very end when there is a little elevation. Again, the view was completely worthwhile. There are other longer trails you can follow from here for more views and hiking, but after our morning of biking, we stuck to just the one.
Ponta da Ferraria
Ponta da Ferraria is one of the most unique ecological experiences on the island. The Azores are known for their natural hot springs, but this is a volcanic hot spring located in the ocean itself. Boiling temperatures are made enjoyable by the fresh cold ocean water. In the small heated cove, you will find a ladder helping you into the water, and ropes to hold on to in the deep areas. Logistics: There is plenty of parking; don’t be fooled if your GPS stops you at the top of a hill, drive down the steep winding road slowly and you will find a large lot with an abundance of spots. Entrance is free, and there are no closing times. There are restrooms and showers for your convenience, located along the short path from the parking lot to the beach. Keep in mind, this is one attraction on the island that timing does matter. In order to experience the heated water, you should aim to visit within a 2 hour window of low tide.
Ponta Delgada
End your day in Ponta Delgada for dinner and window shopping, perhaps even a gelato.
2 Days on São Miguel
bonus: Nossa Senhora da Paz
Nossa Senhora da Paz is a beautiful chapel set high above the town of Vila Franca do Campo. A beautiful staircase leads to the chapel, decorated with exquisite paintings of the mysteries of the rosary. From the chapel and its surrounding courtyard, the panoramic view with the ocean in the background is incredible. Try to fit this in where you are able to. We stopped at the Nossa Senhora da Paz the morning we were leaving the island as it was somewhat on our way to the airport at Ponta Delgada.
Looking to learn more? Your Portuguese adventure need not stop with 2 days in São Miguel. Click HERE for more top information and content from this fantastic and fascinating country!
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