Welcome to
Sao Miguel
Discover the Azores Islands: A Self-Guided Tour
- Duration8h 30m
- Max Travelers15 people
- Free CancellationUp to 24 hrs
- CategoryAgent Low Quality Product, Audio Guides
Overview
Discover the Azores with self guided tour, allowing you to explore Europe’s most spectacular volcanic archipelago at your own pace. Stand on the rim of Sete Cidades, a massive volcanic crater cradling twin lakes of emerald green and sapphire blue on the island of São Miguel, one of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in all of Europe. Soak in golden hued thermal pools heated by the earth itself at Terra Nostra in Furnas, where locals slow-cook traditional cozido stew by burying pots underground in volcanic steam for six hours. Walk through ancient laurel forests draped in moss and swim in natural lava rock pools carved by centuries of ocean waves at Mosteiros beneath towering sea stacks. Discover nine islands where Azulejo tiled churches, cobblestone harbour villages, and Europe’s only tea plantations dot a landscape of dramatic calderas, hydrangea lined roads, and mist-shrouded peaks rising from the mid Atlantic.
Gallery
What's included
Self-guided walking tour (app)
Enjoy audio guide access for more than 50 sites across the Azores Islands
Digital Map
What's Not included
Private transportation
Entrance fees, in-person guide, headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals
Itinerary
The Azores' charming capital u2014 enter through the iconic 18th-century Portas da Cidade gates onto the waterfront promenade and explore the cobblestone old town with its black-and-white basalt churches, the ornate Matriz church, the Conceiu00e7u00e3o Palace, lush botanical gardens, and the lively marina lined with seafood restaurants.
The Azores' most iconic landscape u2014 a vast volcanic caldera cradling two lakes side by side, one emerald green and one sapphire blue, ringed by lush crater walls. The viewpoint at Vista do Rei offers one of Europe's most breathtaking panoramas, while trails descend to the lakeshores through hydrangea-lined paths.
A geothermal wonderland in the heart of Su00e3o Miguel u2014 bubbling fumaroles, boiling mud pools, and natural iron-rich hot spring pools surrounded by lush botanical gardens. Locals cook cozido das Furnas u2014 a traditional meat-and-vegetable stew u2014 by burying pots in the volcanic earth for six hours at Lagoa das Furnas.
The 'Lake of Fire' u2014 a pristine crater lake perched at 575 meters in the centre of Su00e3o Miguel, surrounded by untouched native vegetation and often partially shrouded in atmospheric mist. The steep trail descending to the white-sand beach at the lake's edge rewards with one of the most remote and beautiful spots in the entire archipelago.
Europe's only commercial tea plantation u2014 the Gorreana family has been growing and processing green and black tea on the misty hillsides of Su00e3o Miguel since 1883. Walk through the emerald rows of tea bushes stretching down to the Atlantic, tour the original Victorian-era processing factory, and taste freshly brewed Azorean tea.
A dramatic coastal village on Su00e3o Miguel's western tip u2014 famous for its black volcanic beach with towering sea stacks rising from the surf, and natural rock pools carved from lava where locals swim in crystal-clear Atlantic water. The sunset views towards the distant island silhouettes are among the finest in the Azores.
The wild, unspoiled northeast corner of Su00e3o Miguel u2014 dramatic sea cliffs, cascading waterfalls, ancient laurel forests, and the stunning viewpoints of Ponta da Madrugada and Ponta do Sossego. The remote village of Nordeste and its botanical park offer a glimpse of traditional Azorean life far from the tourist trail.
A hidden hot spring waterfall in the heart of Su00e3o Miguel's laurel forest u2014 warm iron-rich waters cascade down a fern-covered cliff face into a natural bathing pool surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. The site sits on the volcanic slopes between Lagoa do Fogo and Ribeira Grande, with boardwalks through steaming fumaroles and dense forest.
A volcanic crater islet just offshore from Vila Franca do Campo u2014 the collapsed cone forms a near-perfect natural swimming pool of calm turquoise water connected to the Atlantic by a narrow channel. Accessible by boat in summer, this protected nature reserve is one of the most unique bathing spots in Europe.
A traditional Azorean pineapple plantation in Ponta Delgada where the fruit has been grown in Victorian-era greenhouses since the 19th century u2014 using a unique smoke-based technique to force flowering. Walk through rows of glass hothouses filled with thousands of pineapple plants at every stage of growth and taste the exceptionally sweet local fruit.
A natural ocean hot spring on Su00e3o Miguel's western coast u2014 where volcanic thermal water mixes with Atlantic waves in a rocky cove, creating a unique geothermal bathing experience in the open sea. The water temperature varies with the tides, warmest at low tide when the volcanic vents dominate. The dramatic clifftop setting with crashing waves completes one of the Azores' most extraordinary natural phenomena.
Good to know
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.