In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean the Azores are a beautiful group of islands that not many people know about but should be on every traveler’s radar. The largest island of this Portuguese archipelago, Sao Miguel, is home to a stunning landscape that includes volcanic crater lakes, beautiful coastlines and thermal hot springs. With such a gorgeous landscape the Azores are perfect for both relaxed travelers and those looking for a bit of adventure. These are some of the best things to do in Sao Miguel on your visit to the Azores.
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How to Get to the Azores
With more flights being added the Azores is getting easier to get to. From the United States you can fly direct to the main airport in Ponta Delgada (PDL) directly from Boston on SATA airlines or from Newark on United Airlines. There are also multiple flights from both Porto and Lisbon making the Azores a great addition to a larger Portugal trip.
Sao Miguel Weather
Summers (June-September) are typically warm and sunny with highs in the low to mid 80s and lows near 70 degrees while winters are wetter and cooler (though not cold) with highs around 55 degrees F. June through September is typically the best time to visit the Azores, not just because of the good weather but also the hydrangeas planted throughout the island are in bloom. Regardless of when you visit clouds, rain and sun can be highly variable due to the islands topography. When planning you day’s activities it’s best to check out the real time views of popular spots on Spot Azores, especially Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo as cloud cover in these high elevation spots can complete occlude your view.
Hotels and Where to Stay in Sao Miguel Island
Sao Miguel Island is small enough that you can base yourself in one location and easily visit other parts of the island. While it’s the capital of the Azores Ponta Delgada is a relatively small city and offers the greatest choice in restaurants. Ponta Delgada is a good option if you opt not to rent a car and do tours instead as most tours leave from the city. Good hotel options in Ponta Delgada are the Azoris Royal Gardens and Octant Hotels.
For me the Azores are all about nature and relaxing and if you have a car I recommend staying outside Ponta Delgada. I stayed at Quinta do Mar, a small bed and breakfast in the village of Caloura with beautiful views and great service. Other great options would be the Santa Barbara Eco-Beach Resort in Santa Barbara, Sul Villas and Spa in Lagoa and Terra Nostra Garden Hotel in Furnas.
Food in the Azores
Food in the Azores is rather simple but incredibly fresh and tasty. The temperate climate on Sao Miguel has made it a good place to grow tropical fruits like passion fruit and pineapple. The Azorean pineapple is a little smaller but incredibly flavorful and sweet and is served fresh, as part of a dessert or made into a pineapple liqueur. The fertile volcanic soil as also made the Azores a great place to raise cattle (mostly dairy but some beef), and the cheese here is regarded as some of the best in Portugal. Being surrounded by the Atlantic seafood is widely eaten with fresh fish grilled simply or lapas (limpets) served with a garlic butter sauce and lemon seen on most menus throughout the island. For the best seafood on Sao Miguel be sure to stop by Bar Caloura (in the village of Caloura, about a 15 minute drive from Ponta Delgada). Here the chef cooks up whatever is freshly caught that day and served on an outdoor terrace with stunning views of the oceans and cliffs. A dinner for two with two courses of seafood, salad, dessert and wine set us back just $60 euros.
Do I Need a Car in Sao Miguel?
For the most flexibility I highly recommend renting a car in Sao Miguel but I do have some advice. As Sao Miguel becomes a more popular destination car rental availability has been limited, be sure to book your car rental as far in advance as possible ( I booked my rental 2.5 months before my trip and had trouble finding a car!). Also some of the roads in Sao Miguel can be quite narrow and steep, be sure to rent the smallest car you can get away with.
If you don’t want to rent a car there are plenty of great tours you can take to explore everything has to offer. The great thing is most tours will pick you up from your hotel!
Things to Do in Sao Miguel
Ponta Delgada
While Sao Miguel’s greatest charms lies in it’s natural beauty the capital city of Ponta Delgada is certainly worth a visit. The compact old town, with it’s signature Portuguese mosaic streets are easily explored by foot. Built in the 18th century the Portas da Cidades (City Gates) have longed welcome visitors and are the most iconic monument of Ponta Delgada. This city is home to the largest number of restaurants on the island, a few of my favorites include Louvre Michealense ( a cafe in a former department store), A Tasca (authenitic Azorean cuisine) and Reserva (Portuguese wine bar).
Sete Cidades
Sete Cidades is one of the “7 Wonders of Portugal” and arguably the most famous site in the Azores. Two volcanic crater lakes, one green and one blue, sit side by side creating quite the striking view. Legend holds it that these lakes were formed from the tears of a princess and a shepherd that shared a forbidden love. The best views can be seen from the Miraduoro da Baca do Inferno (expect about a 20 minute walk from the parking lot, make sure to get there early to ensure you get a parking spot) or you can also get a great view from Miraduoro da Vista do Rei.
Lagoa do Fogo
Lagoa do Fogo is another stunning volcanic crater lake and sits near the highest elevation point of the island at over 1,800 feet. You can take in the views from Miraduoro da Barrossa and Miraduoro da Lagoa do Fogo. From Miraduoro da Lagoa do Fogo there is a short, but steep hike down to the lake that takes about 30 minutes. Alternatively there is a longer hike with stunning views of the Atlantic that starts in Praia and takes 3.5-4 hours to complete.
Furnas and Terra Nostra
As a volcanic island Sao Miguel is still home to geothermal activity and no where is that more evident than the town of Furnas. Parque Terra Nostra is a beautiful garden dating back to 1775, and home to the Terra Nostra Hot Springs and the Terra Nostra Boutique Hotel. These thermal springs owe their signature copper color to a high iron content in the water, and relaxing in springs is one of the most popular things to do in Sao Miguel.
Nearby at Lagoa das Furnas you can find fumaroles, or underground pits naturally heated by geothermal activity, where locals cook a stew called cozido. This traditional Azorean stew can be sampled at restaurants throughout Furnas.
Visit a Tea Plantation
With Sao Miguel’s temperate climate and rich volcanic soil conditions here are perfect for growing tea. Cha Gorreana is Europe’s oldest tea plantation (there’s also a plantation in England) and you can take a tour of the factory and sample their black and green tea. The tea fields are absolutely stunning and if you have the time be sure to take a walk through the fields that surround the factory.
Vila Franco do Campo
Whether by land or sea the town of Vila Franco da Campo has magnificent views no matter which way you look. Just off the coast is Isla Franco da Campo, an perfectly shaped crescent island surrounding a crater lagoon. While this island is uninhabited you can take a quick boat ride to explore this rocky island, relax on the small remote beach or snorkel in the lagoon.
High up on a hill overlooking the town, sea and island is the beautiful church Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Paz. The 10 levels decorated in traditional Portuguese tiles represent the Lord’s Prayers while the steps correspond to the respective rosaries. Whether you are a devout Catholic or non-religious this unique church is worth a stop for the views alone.
Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões
Located in ruggedly beautiful part of Sao Miguel known as Nordeste Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões offers up stunning views and adventure. This lush canyon is home to a temperate rainforest, waterfalls and hiking trails making it the perfect place to experience the sport of canyoning. Climb, zipline and swim through waterfalls and cedar forests for one of the best adventures you can have in the Azores.
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simplyjolayne says
My husband was just mentioning that the Azores would be a cool destination. Thanks for the great tips. It helps those of us planning a visit to narrow down the do’s and don’ts.