São Miguel: 2-Day Tour of Natural Wonders & Top Spots

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Recommended by 96% of reviewers

| Sao Miguel, Portugal

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2 days (approx.)

Hotel pickup offered

Mobile ticket

Overview

Embark on a 2-day adventure through the island of São Miguel, visiting the main attractions where every moment is designed to give you a taste of the best Azorean history, landscape, folklore and gastronomy.

The western part of the tour reveals the mythical Sete Cidades volcano, the eternal Azorean postcard, where the colors of the blue and green lagoon gave rise to one of São Miguel's most beautiful legends, and the Fogo volcano, a true nature monument, a refuge for seabirds and migratory birds.

The eastern part of the tour takes you to explore the mysterious Furnas Volcano, where the geothermal volcanic landscape blends perfectly with local life, and the Ribeira dos Caldeirões Park, with its waterfalls and windmills. A visit to the Gorreana tea factory and plantation, the world's last 100% natural tea factory, rounds off a memorable tour.

This is the best way to combine a trip with the unparalleled beauty of São Miguel's volcanic landscapes.

• The order of the tours may vary according with weather or bookings.

What's Included

Lunch
1 Full day Tour: São Miguel East side
100% Local Storyteller
Pineapple & Tea plantation visit with tastings
1 Full day Tour: São Miguel West side
Transportation by shared air-conditioned vehicle
Option to book the tour without lunch

Entrance fees for thermal baths or activities not mentioned
Personal purchases
Stew park entrance fees

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Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point

Pickup details

IMPORTANT: The order of the day's tours displayed may not be the same as the actual tour, your tour may start on the east or west side. Contact us in case of doubt.• The first pick-up starts at 09:00 and, depending on the number of pick-ups, may last until 09:30. Please wait at your hotel or at the location agreed with the tour operator.• Pick-ups in Ribeira Grande will be after 09:30.• We offer pick-up for hotels and accommodation located on the main roads of Ponta Delgada, Lagoa and Ribeira Grande.• Pick-up is not available for hotels in the city center or on narrow streets, but we do provide locations close to your hotel for your pick-up, please contact us if you have any questions or would like to know your pick-up location.• For pick-ups outside the selected area please contact us.

Meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

What To Expect

Day 1

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

10 Stops

Miradouro da Ponta do Escalvado

After being picked up from your hotel, enjoy an early morning coastal drive to the Escalvado viewpoint on the southwest coast of São Miguel. Along the road, you will pass through green pastures and beautiful landscapes.When you reach the viewpoint, admire the magnificent cliffs, the Atlantic Ocean as far as the eye can see and a beautiful panorama of the Mosteiros islets.This is a former whale-watching post that is now used by whale-watching companies.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mosteiros

As you descend into the village, the rocks off the coast become different and tell the cursed love story between a priest and a nun. Pass by a black sand beach offering dramatic photographs before visiting one of the attractions of this place, the natural pools of Mosteiros, where locals and visitors can enjoy a magnificent sunset while having a picnic.

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Miradouro Da Lomba Do Vasco

This viewpoint located at the top of the crater offers an impressive view of both the interior of the volcano and the coast. Turning your gaze towards the ocean, you can contemplate the islets of Mosteiros, small rocky outcrops that emerge from the waters, creating a breathtaking scene. This panoramic view, which combines the serene beauty of the volcano's interior with the grandeur of the ocean, offers visitors a unique perspective of this volcano

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sete Cidades

Visit to the picturesque parish of Sete Cidades, one of the most picturesque in São Miguel, and stop for lunch. Located inside an ancient volcanic caldera, the parish coexists with the famous Blue and Green lagoons, forming a setting of singular beauty. You can explore the quiet streets of the village and visit the church of São Nicolau before the lunch break. Lunch will consist of a buffet of regional dishes, drinks and coffee, giving you the opportunity to discover real local cuisine. (Lunch included except for bookings without lunch)

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Miradouro do Cerrado das Freiras

Resuming the tour and passing the bridge where two lovers once mourned a forbidden love, we arrive at the Cerrado das Freiras viewpoint, where visitors are presented with a breathtaking view over the Sete Cidades lagoons. This privileged point offers a different panorama of the Blue and Green Lagoons and the mountain range that forms the volcanic caldera. It's the perfect introduction to what's to come.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Vista do Rei Miradouro

Passing along one of the most beautiful roads on the island of São Miguel, where hydrangeas give the feeling of driving through a garden, we arrive at the highlight of the day, the Vista do Rei viewpoint. The eternal postcard of the Azores will give you one of the most spectacular panoramic views in Portugal. This viewpoint offers a breathtaking view of the iconic Blue and Green Lagoons. Located in the heart of the Sete Cidades volcanic caldera, locals believe that their formation was due to the tears of two lovers who cried over a forbidden love. The landscape captured from Vista do Rei is a unique combination of natural beauty and tranquillity, making it a memorable moment on any guided tour.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ananás Santo António

Discover the history of São Miguel pineapple, a unique and authentic production in the Azores, exploring an agricultural tradition that dates back more than a century. During the guided tour, visitors will be led through the glass greenhouses where the famous Azorean pineapple is grown, getting to know the stages of this artisanal process up close, from planting to harvesting. This is the only place in the world where pineapples are produced in glass greenhouses, taking between 24 and 30 months to grow and ripen. Its distinctive flavor and texture make this fruit one of the region's unique delicacies.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ribeira Grande

When you visit Ribeira Grande's city center, you'll discover charming cobbled streets lined with historic buildings of Baroque and Neoclassical architecture. Highlights of the visit include the imposing Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Estrela and the iconic Jardim do Paraíso. The sound of the water flowing in the stream that runs through the town, combined with the view over the arched bridge and the traditional houses, creates a picturesque and relaxing atmosphere. This visit offers an immersion in the authenticity and charm of one of the island's most emblematic towns before beginning the ascent to São Miguel's central volcano, Lagoa do Fogo.There is the possibility of our travelers being treated to extra stops such as the Surf Spot of São Miguel, Stª Barbara Beach, a visit to the Mulher de Capote liqueur factory or the Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande, our tours are adjustable to the interests of the group and weather conditions.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lagoa do Fogo

By stopping at the Lagoa do Fogo viewpoint, travelers will be captivated by one of São Miguel's most impressive landscapes. This viewpoint offers a spectacular view of Lagoa do Fogo, a crystal-clear lagoon located inside a volcanic crater and the highest altitude in the Azores. Surrounded by mountains covered in lush vegetation and often shrouded in mist, the lagoon exudes a sense of purity and natural isolation. During the guided tour, visitors will be able to appreciate the serenity, capturing the untouched essence of this natural sanctuary. A nature reserve since 1974, it is also considered a sanctuary for seabirds and migratory birds, which find this place a safe haven for nesting. The experience is a unique opportunity to connect with the wild and unspoiled beauty of the Azores.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Miradouro da Barrosa

The Pico da Barrosa viewpoint is located at the top of the Fogo volcanic crater and offers an impressive panoramic view of the western part of São Miguel. On clear days, visitors will be able to see both the north and south coasts of the island, capturing the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean and the beauty of the volcanic landscape. The winding descent of the mountain is the moment that marks the return to the starting point, often revealing real scenic moments.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Day 2

East of São Miguel | Furnas volcano & Nordeste, tea plantation

7 Stops

Vila Franca do Campo

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 ".

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lagoa das Furnas

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.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Furnas

The lunch break will be a true gastronomic experience. Cozido das Caldeiras, or Furnas stew, is a unique dish and will be served for lunch. It is a dish made slowly with the heat from inside the volcanic soil, a delicacy with an unparalleled taste that attracts thousands to this place, which many people find enchanting. There is also a vegetarian version, made exclusively with local vegetables.If you've booked your tour without lunch, you'll have plenty of opportunities to buy food to your liking or use the lunch break as extra time.

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Caldeira das Furnas

After a unique gastronomic experience, a visit to the enchanted valley or " volcano mouth " will take you on a walk among boiling water calderas and fumaroles, where you will feel the full force of a volcano. Home to a number of mineral springs, it is considered by experts to be the largest hydropolis in the world, with 22 qualities of classified mineral-medicinal waters. You can try some of the best known, before sampling traditional liqueurs in a local craft store. This is undoubtedly a place of great diversity and unique beauty, and the surrounding volcanic landscape will surprise you.

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeiroes

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.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Plantacoes de Cha Gorreana

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.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Miradouro de Santa Iria

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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Specialized infant seats are available
IMPORTANT: The order of the day's tours displayed may not be the same as the actual tour, your tour may start on the east or west side. Contact us in case of doubt.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the São Miguel: 2-Day Tour of Natural Wonders & Top Spots?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (+00).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025