SaoMiguel CentralGroup
3
Day Itinerary •
Portugal
Three days on Sao Miguel and the Central Group delivers the most extraordinary volcanic island experience in the North Atlantic, where the remarkable twin crater lakes of Sete Cidades sit in an extraordinary 12km caldera, the fine Furnas valley boils with geothermal caldeiras and mud pools, and the remarkable Lagoa do Fogo crater lake occupies the centre of the island in an extraordinary nature reserve above the Atlantic. This focused route covers the essential Sao Miguel experience. The extraordinary Sete Cidades crater lakes from the remarkable Vista do Rei viewpoint, the fine caldera village walk, the extraordinary Furnas geothermal valley with its boiling caldeiras and the remarkable Terra Nostra mineral pool, the wild Nordeste northeast coast, the extraordinary Lagoa do Fogo crater descent and the fine historic architecture of Ponta Delgada.
Best Time To Visit
April to June for hydrangeas, July to September for warmest weather
Getting There
Fly into Joao Paulo II Airport (PDL), Ponta Delgada
Getting Around
Hired car essential. Roads can be steep and narrow.
Budget Per Day
Approx 60 to 140 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, optional caldera rim hike strenuous
DAY 1
SETE CIDADES
MORNING
SETE CIDADES TWIN CRATER LAKES
The most extraordinary volcanic landscape in the Azores and one of the finest viewpoints in the North Atlantic, where the remarkable twin crater lakes of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde sit in an extraordinary 12km-wide caldera on the western tip of Sao Miguel. The fine Miradouro da Vista do Rei viewpoint, named after King Carlos I who visited in 1901, gives the most extraordinary aerial view of the two differently coloured lakes divided by a single bridge. The remarkable walk around the caldera rim takes 2.5 hours. 45 min drive
MIDDAY
SETE CIDADES VILLAGE AND LAGOA WALK
The extraordinary Sete Cidades village at the base of the caldera, a remarkable hamlet of 800 people living inside an active volcanic caldera surrounded by the extraordinary twin lakes. The fine lakeside walk along Lagoa Azul gives the finest ground-level views of the remarkable blue lake with the extraordinary caldera walls rising around it. The fine local cafe serves the finest queijadas de Sete Cidades cheese pastries made in the caldera village. 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
FURNAS THERMAL HOT SPRINGS AND GEYSERS
The extraordinary Furnas valley on the eastern side of Sao Miguel, a remarkable active volcanic basin where dozens of boiling mud pools, extraordinary fumaroles and the remarkable Caldeira Velha hot springs create the finest geothermal landscape accessible in the Azores. The fine Parque das Furnas surrounds the remarkable hot spring caldeiras. The extraordinary Cozido das Furnas slow stew buried and cooked underground by geothermal heat for 8 hours is the finest traditional dish in the Azores.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Lagoa do Congro hidden in the forest 4km east of Sete Cidades, a remarkable volcanic crater lake entirely surrounded by fine laurisilva laurel forest with no road access, is one of the finest hidden lakes in the Azores. The remarkable trail through the extraordinary laurel forest to the lake takes 45 minutes each way. Almost no visitors find it.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Ponta Delgada hotel Good breakfast before the Sete Cidades drive. The caldera is clearest before the Atlantic cloud builds. | Lunch: Sete Cidades village cafe Outstanding queijadas cheese pastries and local dairy at a fine village cafe inside the extraordinary caldera. | Dinner: Tony's Restaurant, Furnas Outstanding restaurant above the extraordinary Furnas valley. Cozido das Furnas is the finest meal in Sao Miguel.
DAY 2
FURNAS
MORNING
FURNAS LAKE AND GEOTHERMAL CALDEIRAS
The extraordinary Lagoa das Furnas, a remarkable volcanic caldera lake surrounded by extraordinary geothermal activity, with remarkable boiling mud pools erupting directly from the lake shore and the extraordinary hot spring plumes rising from the lake surface. The fine 14km road around the lake passes the most accessible caldeiras in the Azores. The remarkable Terra Nostra Botanical Garden at the lake edge contains an extraordinary geothermally heated swimming pool of rich orange mineral water. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
NORDESTE AND THE WILD NORTHEAST COAST
The extraordinary Nordeste municipality on the remote northeast tip of Sao Miguel, the finest and most overlooked part of the island, where the remarkable sea cliffs, extraordinary hydrangea-lined roads and the fine traditional agricultural landscape of the oldest settled part of the island are almost entirely free of tourists. The remarkable Miradouro do Nordeste viewpoint gives the finest Atlantic panorama on the island. 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
RIBEIRA GRANDE AND NORTH COAST WATERFALL
The extraordinary north coast of Sao Miguel from Ribeira Grande to the remarkable Salto do Cabrito waterfall in the island's interior, where the fine 30-metre cascade drops into an extraordinary forest pool accessible by a short walk from the road. The remarkable north coast hydrangea hedgerows in June and July are the finest in the Azores. The extraordinary Caldeira Velha natural hot pool in the forest gives a remarkable bathing experience in geothermal water surrounded by tree ferns.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Gruta do Carvao lava tube 2km from Ponta Delgada city centre, the longest known lava tube in the Azores at over 2km and entirely within the urban fabric of the island's capital, is one of the finest and most accessible geological wonders in the Azores. Guided tours approx 5 EUR. The remarkable lava tube formations are extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Furnas valley cafe Good breakfast near the extraordinary Furnas caldeiras before the lake circuit. | Lunch: Nordeste village restaurant Outstanding fresh Atlantic fish and remarkable local cheese in the extraordinary northeast village. | Dinner: Restaurante A Tasca, Ponta Delgada The finest traditional Azorean restaurant in Ponta Delgada. Extraordinary alcatra beef and local lapas limpets.
DAY 3
LAGOA DO FOGO
MORNING
SETE CIDADES CALDERA RIM WALK
The extraordinary 12km caldera rim trail around the remarkable Sete Cidades volcanic complex, the finest hiking route on Sao Miguel, traversing the extraordinary green ridge above both crater lakes with fine views of the North Atlantic on both sides of the island simultaneously. The remarkable volcanic geology, the extraordinary laurel forest patches and the fine hydrangea hedgerows along the rim make this the finest walk in the Azores. 20 min drive
MIDDAY
LAGOA DO FOGO CRATER LAKE
The extraordinary Lagoa do Fogo, the Fire Lake, a remarkable volcanic crater lake at 590 metres in the centre of Sao Miguel protected as a nature reserve, with the finest black sand beach of any crater lake in the Azores. The remarkable 3km descent trail from the road viewpoint to the extraordinary black sand shore is steep but gives the finest swimming in geothermal crater lake water. The remarkable view of the Atlantic on both sides of the island from the ridge above is extraordinary. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
PONTA DELGADA HISTORIC CENTRE AND DEPARTURE
The extraordinary Ponta Delgada historic centre, the finest Baroque architecture in the Azores, with the remarkable Portas da Cidade city gates, the extraordinary Igreja Matriz de Sao Sebastiao church and the remarkable 18th-century convent buildings that give Ponta Delgada its distinctive black basalt and white limestone architectural character. The fine Mercado da Graca covered market has the finest selection of Azorean produce.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Pico da Vara, the highest point on Sao Miguel at 1,103 metres in the far east of the island, is the only place in the Azores where the remarkable Priolo bird, the critically endangered Azores bullfinch found nowhere else on earth, can be seen in the extraordinary cloud forest. The fine trail to the summit takes 4 hours return. The most extraordinary birdwatching in the Azores.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the caldera rim walk. The trail is exposed with no facilities. | Lunch: Packed lunch on the caldera rim Simple food for the extraordinary caldera walk. The finest picnic location in the Azores. | Dinner: Anfiteatro Restaurant, Ponta Delgada Outstanding modern Azorean cuisine. Extraordinary fresh Atlantic tuna and local Azores cheese.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Ponta Delgada, All Nights Hotel do Colegio or Azor Hotel. Historic centre. Approx 80 to 200 EUR per night. Furnas Option Terra Nostra Garden Hotel. Geothermal pool access included. Approx 150 to 300 EUR. Budget Hostels or guesthouses in Ponta Delgada. Approx 25 to 60 EUR per night.
Top Tips
1. The Sete Cidades vista is clearest before 10am. Atlantic cloud builds quickly and can obscure the lakes.
2. Hire a car. Sao Miguel's highlights are spread across 65km and unreachable by public transport.
3. The Cozido das Furnas must be ordered at Tony's or Restaurante Miroma the day before your visit.
4. Caldeira Velha natural hot pool entry is free. Go early morning before it fills with visitors.
5. The Lagoa do Fogo trail to the black sand beach is steep. Allow 2.5 hours return.
6. Azores weather is changeable. Always carry a waterproof layer even on clear mornings.
Total Budget
65 to 420 EUR/day