Caldeiras Vulcânicas

Spend the day exploring the stunning volcanic landscapes of São Miguel's East side along with its coastline on a full-day sightseeing tour from Ponta Delgada. Discover how the Azoreans live inside the Furnas volcano's crater in a small group tour atmosphere. This experience also have a lunch option and is designed to show you the best of East side. ITINERARY: Following a pickup from your hotel or meeting point between 09:00 to 09:20, travel to the gorgeous Santa Iria viewpoint located on north shore where you can admire the magnificent volcanic cliffs that shape the coastline. Next, refresh your adventure with a morning stop and tea tasting at Gorreana Tea Factory, the last 100% natural tea plantations on earth. Contemplate the beauty of the tea plantations undulating through the hills. São Miguel has the only two tea plantations in Europe Venture to the picturesque Nordeste to visit Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park. A watermill museum, cascading waterfalls and experience this Azorean heritage in a magical setting. Next, head to the mystical Furnas Valley, where geothermal wonders await to be amazed by the enchanting charm of this place while seeing fumaroles and bubbling springs, a testament to the island's volcanic soul. Travel to the geothermal area of Furnas (Caldeiras). Marvel as the actives hot springs with boiling waters and mud release steam into the air creating a magical landscape. Furnas is considered to be one of Europe's largest hydropolises due to its wide variety of mineral and thermal springs. One of these, is Terra Nostra Botanical Garden & Thermal pool, appreciated for its medicinal benefits and the beautiful garden. For food lovers who have chosen the tour with lunch option, you will enjoy the most authentic dish in the Azores, Furnas stew, (Cozido das Furnas) which is cooked in volcanic soil and perfectly crafted to tantalize your taste buds. Beverages, dessert and coffee are included. On the picturesque Furnas lake, the magnificent neo-Gothic Nossa Senhora das Vitórias Chapel built on its shore tells a beautiful love story. Start your return passing through Vila Franca do Campo, the former island capital, admiring its beautiful islet, locally known as the Princess Ring Islet. The scenic road through the southern part of the island is the perfect way to end your fantastic island discovery. NOTE: Our tours are relaxed and conducted with true Azorean spirit and usually end between 17.30 and 18.30. Enjoy and feel like you're on vacation :)

Furnas, nestled within the Furnas volcano crater on the eastern side of São Miguel island, also known as Caldera, has flourished over time amidst its verdant exotic vegetation and abundant mineral and thermal water spring. - We'll start this tour by sightseeing some of the beautiful coastline landscapes and the islet of Vila Franca do Campo while we drive towards Furnas. - Secondly we'll visit the “Lagoa das Furnas” (Furnas Lagoon), naturally nestled within the “Caldera das Furnas,” stands out as a prominent attraction for tourists, hikers, biologists, and bird watchers alike, owing to its diverse array of endemic and invasive flora and fauna species freely roaming this area (non-dangerous). Being an area so rich in geo thermal activity, here the locals improvised an unique way of taking advantage of this for cooking an unique portuguese dish: the "Cozido das Furnas", a mix of meats, vegetables and tubers that are slowly cooked underground for 6-7 hours. - As part of the gastronomical experience of this tour we'll try the aforementioned geo-cooked stew at a traditional local restaurant with Starter, Main Course, Drinks, Desserts and Coffee/Tea included in the menu (vegetarian option available and alternative dishes for children with pre-warning). - Take a short walk after dinner around some of the most lush and beautiful gardens at the island. - Sip your body and soul into the hotsprings pools of Poça da Dona Beija. At a temperature of around 39ºC (102ºF), surrounded by a scenario of splendid vegetation enriched by bird sounds, this outdoor thermals are always under high demand, especially during the golden hour of the day. The switch from dusk to night make it a true moment of relaxation and contemplation that'll take your mind off the daily routine and all the worries. The rich ferrous waters are famous for its therapeutical and cosmetic effects. Booking online on Dona Beija website is mandatory before starting this tour, availability is limited. Please book for the 19h00 or 20h30 time slot, we can't guarantee attendance at other times. We book the "Dona Beija" entries for you: extra fee of 17€ charged over the listed tour price. Please confirm with us after booking if you opt for this choice and guarantee your spot inside. - We'll finish off our tour admiring the impressive boiling water pools at Furnas during the night time: a smoke and lights show given by nature awaits you, an unique experience in Azores. Have a taste of the rich mineral waters springs, a challenge with different levels and enjoy a local homemade sweet delicacy to clean your palate after. Return to your accommodation relaxed and without a worry in a safe environment with our tour guide driving. We may need to adjust the dinner and thermals hours, depending on the availability of the day.

See the best of São Miguel's east side on an 8-hour small group tour by minivan from Ponta Delgada. Be amazed by the viewpoints on the north coast of São Miguel just befora a visit to the last 100% natural tea plantation on earth. In Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park, feel the water spray of the waterfall "Véu da Noiva" and discover a picturesque watermill area in a charming valley. Continue to one of São Miguel most iconic volcano, Furnas volcano, where everything is done differently. Admire the beauty of the volcanic crater and visit the geothermal area in the village located inside the crater and marvel as the active hot springs on the area spews steam from its boiling waters into the atmosphere. Enjoy free time to explore or taste the famous "Cozido das Furnas" (Furnas Stew) cooked by volcanic heat using holes in the ground (available by Add-on). Continue to the lake area to discover the result of a romantic promise, a charming Neo-Gothic chapel built between 1877 and 1888. Returning to Ponta Delgada, pass by the former capital of the island, Vila Franca do Campo, destroyed in 1522 by the biggest earthquake in history and have a view over Vila Franca islet during your scenic drive back. In addition, there are several opportunities to buy food or snacks during the tour

Explore Furnas crater lake, village, local food, geysers, see beautiful botanic garden, exotic and rare plants, end with a hot springs thermal bath surrounded by Nature! Meet us at the Marina of Vila Franca do Campo for check-in at the specified time. The day starts with a short briefing and van tour up the Furnas volcano crater down to the mystic Furnas valley and lake, stopping for sightseeing and photos. Have lunch in a village restaurant, taste the most genuine island meal - an authentic geyser-cooked “cozido”. Visit nearby volcanic activity and fountains of mineral water. Have one hour free to explore the beautiful village’s streets, featuring crossing rivers, watermills, chapels and fountains. At 15:30 meet the guide at Terra Nostra Gardens gate, and start a walking botanical journey showcasing a singular collection of plants and flowers of cultural and historic value from all around the World. End with a relaxing mineral-infused and beautiful thermal pool surrounded by wonderful nature. No matter what season or level of expertise there’s always something interesting for everyone to enjoy. The gardens are exuberant all year with impressive century-old trees, huge collections of colorful, rare and strange plants, specialty gardens, beautiful avenues with sculptures and fountains, and dazzling year-round blooms of fragrant flower tones for the eye, nose, and camera! Your tour is tailored according to season’s highlights and special events occurring.

Join us on a thrilling expedition to the thermal village of Furnas, where you can indulge in the distinguished thermal springs and natural pools. Commencing with a visit to Terra Nostra Park, a botanical garden with a longstanding history of over two centuries, where you can relish the natural hot water pools and savor the celebrated “cozido,” an archetypal delicacy originating from Furnas, cooked using the scorching heat of the earth. After indulging in a delectable lunch at a local eatery, we will proceed to the distinguished Furnas boilers, where you will discover an array of hot springs. Additionally, we will explore the Gorreana tea factory, which happens to be the sole tea manufacturing facility in Europe that still employs traditional tea-making methods. This is a matchless expedition, tailored for those seeking to immerse themselves in the natural marvels of the island of São Miguel.

On this tour, you will be in contact with nature in a unique experience - The Soothing Secrets of Furnas: Baths and Body Therapy Depart from your hotel and journey along the south coast of São Miguel before heading towards the Furnas Valley to experience its dramatic volcanic landscape. We will start with a photo stop at the Pico do Ferro viewpoint for a great shots to the volcanic crater, followed by a soak at D. beija hot springs. You will have the benefit of having a genuine local tour guide that will do all the driving for you while doing a story telling of the island.

Starting through Ponta Delgada, along Avenida do Mar, following the beaches of Água D´Alto, until we reach the first capital of the island, Vila Franca do Campo, stopping at the viewpoint of Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo where we can see its incredible islet, the result of an underwater volcanic eruption and where the Red Bull Cliff Diving has been running for 3 years, now; After this short break, we will drive to the bucolic Lagoa das Furnas (Entry not included, available by choice or at customer’s expense), area where the famous “Cozido das Furnas” is cooked in volcanic soil for 6 hours, and here we can observe the removal of the pots from the volcanic ground by local restaurants. We will also visit the various fumaroles and boilers from that area; Back on the road and towards the parish of Furnas you can optionally relax in pools of hot springs, over 30 degrees, that spur incessantly from railway springs. This is an experience of thermal charisma, with the option of the client and alternative, between Poça da Dona Beija) and the pools of Parque Terra Nostra, where in addition to being able to swim, you can also visit its amazing Botanical Garden Terra Nostra Park, considered one of the best and largest in Europe. (Entry not included, available by choice or at customer’s expense); Lunch Break (Lunch included) After lunch, a pedestrian visit to the the center of the parish of Furnas; Driven north of the Island, next stop will be at the Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park, one of the most visited areas in the Nordeste area, with its 5 Watermills and her amazing waterfall; The last stop of the day, will be the tea route, until the tea plantations and their factories. A view of the splendid bay, a magnificent garden and a smiling welcome for a tea tasting at the Gorreana Tea Factory or Porto Formoso Tea Factory.

We start the evening with your pick-up, and then we head Furnas with a stop at "Gorreana" tea plantation, and "Pico do Ferro" viewpoint on our way. Once in Furnas, you get to walk amongst the "caldeiras" where the famous "cozido" dish is cooked under ground, by the breath of the volcano. While your dinner is being prepared relax and enjoy your time at the magical hot springs of Poça D. Beija (entrance included). After the bath you will be ready to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, tasting the most famous island delicacy- the "cozido". Dinner after bath guarantees good digestion and sleep, while the other way around, like most tours do, will not be digestion friendly. Finish your evening enjoying the enchanting geysers under the night starry sky, before our drive back to your accommodation. We pick up at any location on Ponta Delgada, Lagoa, Ribeira Grande, Vila Franca and Furnas areas. Other locations are subject to request, you might need to meet us at a meeting point, or pay an extra fee. Please inquiry. Pick-up time: between 4-5PM

This activity starts and ends on the north coast of the island, near the famous Areal de Santa Bárbara beach in the town of Ribeira Grande ( approximately 20 minutes by car from Ponta Delgada). At the starting point, we conduct a safety briefing and a demonstration of how to use the electric bicycle and all its functions, which takes about 15 minutes, and then distribute the equipment. Once we finish, we are ready to embark on a memorable adventure! We begin by heading directly to the ‘heart’ of Ribeira Grande, where we will have the opportunity to pass through some of the parishes in this municipality. We will learn the history, culture, and traditions manifested in geosites such as the ‘Fontanário da Ribeira Seca‘, a result of a volcanic eruption whose lava flows buried part of the parish of Ribeira Seca. We also observe the architecture of many ancient buildings, as the Espírito Santo Church, the building Paços do Concelho and the Bridge Oito Arcos. We continue our adventure surrounded by nature and accompanied by the sound of water from various springs that lead us to the Fajã do Redondo Dam. At Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande, we explore the volcanic activity area, where we find hot water springs used by the spa and an area used for cooking “cozido” and other local dishes which are slowly cooked by natural heat. Moving on to our next stop, the Coroa da Mata Viewpoint, we travel along secondary paths surrounded by a variety of flowers and trees, enjoying panoramic views. We continue to explore the lush landscapes resulting from volcanic eruptions on the north coast of the island, passing by the Santa Iria Viewpoint, the Santa Iria port, and the Cintrão point where the lighthouse is located. We will return along a dirt path along the coast, observing the unforgettable landscape until we are back on the city streets. Note: A minimum height of 1.50 cm / 5 feet 11 inches is required to use the electric bicycle.

We have this amazing guided tour to Furnas in full day tour, with the Azorean Stew for a full meal, in one of most unique experience, of food and the thermal baths, this is one of the kind of things you dont want to miss, you must try, this is our recommendation, you gonna loved. In the morning we gonna start the guided tour, where we will visit several tourist places especially in the south side of the island, then we continue towards to the east side of the island to Furnas, where we also have several tourist places to visit around the parish of Furnas and stop there for lunch in local restaurant to eat the Cozido das Furnas (Azorean Stew). In the afternoon, you can try the thermal baths, we make one hour (1H) available for all people to enjoy inside, in one of the most beautiful botanical gardens the Terra Nostra Park, where also can try the termal baths in the pools inside the park, the ticket in this park have a payment of 10€ euros per person. On the way back, we will return along the north side of the island, where we will visit several tourist places especially in the north side of the island, where we also have a visit inside of the tea factory and other viewpoints in the way back to Ponta Delgada.