São Miguel: 2-Day Island Tour, Tea & Pineapple Plantation
The perfect Azores adventure: • One Full Day Tour to Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo (West side) • One Full Day Tour to Furnas & Ribeira dos Caldeirões (East Side) IMPORTANT INFO: • For tax reasons, lunches are not included but available as an add-on. Choose the "West & East Lunch add-on" on your checkout, we'll take care of your reservation and you'll pay for your meal on the spot. • The tour takes place on 2 consecutive days and your first day tour can start by the West or East Tour. The Experience: - On the West Tour, start by visiting a pineapple plantation followed by the most scenic viewpoint in the Azores, the "Vista do Rei" viewpoint on the edge of the volcanic crater, witness the beauty of the blue and green lake. Descend inside the volcano, stop at the "Cerrado das Freiras" viewpoint and Sete Cidades parish. Here you will have free time to explore the picturesque parish, walk along the edge of the lake or enjoy a typical buffet lunch if you have opted for the "Boock Lunch" option. Next, stop at Escalvado viewpoint overlooking the ocean, Ponta da Ferraria and Mosteiros Islets. Departure to the north coast, stop at Santa Barbara black sand beach. Explore Fogo volcano with a stop at the "Lagoa do Fogo" and "Pico da Barrosa" viewpoints. The last one offers wonderful views over the lagoon and the whole western part of the island. Return to the starting point. - On the East side Tour, discover Furnas volcano & Nordeste (Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park) starting with a morning stop at one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the north coast of São Miguel, Santa Iria. Enjoy a tea tasting by visiting one of the only two industrial tea factories in Europe. Admire all the beauty of the tea plantation, traveling through valleys and mountains where goats clean the bushes. This is not just any plantation, it is the last one in the world where no pesticides or fertilizers are used, being 100% natural. Head to the "Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões" in Nordeste, here, the nature lives! An old water mill park converted into a Natural Park of great beauty with its enormous waterfalls. In Furnas volcano village, explore the place locally called "Mouth of the Volcano" where you will find hot spring, countless sources of mineral waters and stroll among boiling waters. Stop for a gastronomic adventure and try the “Cozido das Furnas”. Stewed in holes set in the volcanic soil for around 7 hours, this is perhaps the most “unique” dish in the Azores. Don't forget to select the option to book lunch Next, visit the "Parque das Caldeiras" close to the Furnas lake and learn how the locals cook, using holes in the volcanic ground (extra fee 3€ per person) Pass by Vila Franca do Campo, which was the first capital of São Miguel, before its destruction in 1522.