Our most recommended things to do in Ribeira Grande

São Miguel Island: 2-Day Guided Island Tour with Meals

1. São Miguel Island: 2-Day Guided Island Tour with Meals

2x Full-days Package excursions Furnas + Nordeste + Sete Cidades + Fogo Lake (4 Tours in 2 days) 1st Full Day tour to Furnas & Nordeste. (8 hours tour)) 2nd Full Day tour to Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo. (8 hours tour) As the reservation calendar only allows you to mark 1 day at a time, the 2nd day of the tour will be automatically reserved for the following day Ex; if you book for the 8th of May, automatically the 2nd day of the tour will be the 9th. What will make your reservations on the 8th and 9th of May. *The order of days tours may be changed. Our local gastronomy will be represented on both days. On the day of Furnas & Nordeste tour, we will have the opportunity to lunch the famous “Furnas Stew”, cooked in volcanic soil for 6 hours, and also have the opportunity to see taking out our pot from the interior of the volcanic soil, and all the volcanic manifestations existing there. On the day of Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo tour, lunch will be served as a “Buffet” with different meat and fish dishes. (Full lunch on both of 2 days of activities with starters, drinks, dessert and coffee included) In these 2 days of activitiest, you will have the privilege of having a general view of the most iconic places of the entire “green” island, from which stand out the emblematic viewpoints such as Vista do Rei in Sete Cidades, (winner of the 7 Wonders of Portugal ) or Pico do Ferro, where you can see from the top of the crater one of the most active volcanoes in the Azores archipelago and learn all about its eruptive history with more than 100,000 years. You will also have the opportunity to relax in hot thermal pools, heated by Furnas volcano, at one of the biggest and best Botanical Parks in Europe, Terra Nostra Park. Also the visit to Pineapple and Tea Plantations will be a “must”. In the Northeast area, we will visit the Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park with its 5 water mills and its imposing and majestic waterfall, entitled “Véu da Noiva”. We have selected the best TOP places to visit throughout São Miguel island in Sete Cidades, Furnas, Lagoa do Fogo and Nordeste areas, making in a 2 full days activities the most complete experience as possible at São Miguel Island in Azores

São Miguel West: Full-Day Van Tour with Lunch

2. São Miguel West: Full-Day Van Tour with Lunch

Explore the highlights of the western half of São Miguel island on this guided tour by van. Discover the famous crater lakes of Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo, picturesque waterfalls, amazing cliffs, and stunning rock formations around the coast of the island. Start with a visit to Ribeira Grande, one of the most picturesque towns of the Azores, followed by a surprising view of some amazingly beautiful cliffs on the North coast. Then travel to the inner areas of the island to see the gorgeous waterfall of Salto do Cabrito, surrounded by wild vegetation. Drive to the top of Fogo Volcano to enjoy views of the most pristine and magical of the crater lakes of São Miguel. From the top of the mountain, enjoy the stunning views over a large portion of the island. After a tasty meal to restore your energy levels, head to Sete Cidades, to understand why this is considered by the postcard of the Azores. Enjoy views from two completely different perspectives over the famous twin lakes.  End the day in Mosteiros, on the western coast of the island, where the lava rocks have formed enchanting small islets and natural pools.

Azores: Full Day Furnas & Nordeste with lunch (East Tour)

3. Azores: Full Day Furnas & Nordeste with lunch (East Tour)

This is the perfect tour to take you to discover how the Azoreans live in the volcano's mouth. Start your adventure day with a morning stop at the former Island capital, Vila Franca do Campo, for a small marina walk or try the island's unique pastry, the queijada da vila. Next, head to the mystical Furnas Valley, where geothermal wonders await. Soak in the area's enchanting charm discovering fumaroles and bubbling springs, a testament to the island's volcanic soul or a splash of pleasure by soaking in the thermal waters or visiting one of Europe's most beautiful botanical gardens, the Terra Nostra Natural Park and Thermal Pool. This Park is one of the must do thing in Furnas Volcano. (entrance fee not included) Savor a delectable local lunch, the "Cozido das Furnas" also with a vegetarian option and cooked in volcanic soil, perfectly crafted to tantalize your taste buds, this is a unique experience! After lunch break, venture to the picturesque Nordeste to visit Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park, where a living watermill museum and cascading waterfalls that seem to belong to a fairy tale awaits you, preserving Azorean heritage in a magical setting. Capture the essence of local life, and immerse yourself in the island's vibrant past. On the way back to your hotel, there is nothing better than admiring one of the last two 100% natural tea plantations in the world while enjoying a tea tasting visiting Gorreana tea plantation.

Azores: Canyoning in Salto do Cabrito

4. Azores: Canyoning in Salto do Cabrito

Relax and disconnect in a beautiful setting on a morning canyoning adventure in Salto do Cabrito. Explore the natural side of São Miguel Island hiking and canyoning through lush forests and cool streams.  Meet your guide in central Ponta Delgada or choose to be picked up directly from your accommodation. Travel by air-conditioned van for 20 minutes to Salto do Cabrito. Start with a 30-minute hike to the stream where your guide will give a security briefing and distribute all the equipment needed for the activity. Once suited and ready to go, spend a few hours exploring the pools and waterfalls. Wade down the river and reach several waterfalls where you'll abseil or zip-line down a deep canyon surrounded by the amazing nature of this volcanic area. The highest rappel can reach up to 16 meters and, unlike other canyons, there won’t be any required jumps. To end the adventure, opt for a 4-meter jump at the last waterfall. A zipline is also available for those who'd prefer flying to jumping.

From Ponta Delgada: Half-Day Sete Cidades Quad Tour

5. From Ponta Delgada: Half-Day Sete Cidades Quad Tour

Enjoy a half-day quad tour around Sete Cidades, the largest freshwater lake in the Azores, situated in the western part of the island of São Miguel. Starting from Ponta Delgada, discover the stunning landscapes of the island.   Experience the amazing view over the island at the Pico do Carvão viewpoint, with Ponta Delgada on one side, and Ribeira Grande on the other. Climb up into the mountains to see the Lagoas Empadadas, and the Serra Devassa. The mountains and lakes in this region play a very important role supplying water to the villages. Stop at Canário Lake for one of the best views of the Boca do Inferno trail.   On the way back to the city, you will see the majestic view at Vista do Rei, providing you with spectacular views of the magical blue and green colors that characterize the waters of these lakes.

São Miguel: Full-Day Tour to Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo

6. São Miguel: Full-Day Tour to Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo

Start by visiting a traditional pineapple plantation, which is a biological culture developed on greenhouses where it’s possible to taste the pineapple´s liquor. Continue along the west coast of the island where it´s possible to enjoy the view of both São Miguel’s coasts from the Pico de Carvão‘s viewpoint. Surrounded by the greenest vegetation, visit the Vista do Rei‘s viewpoint at Sete Cidades. From this point, see the twin lakes with their varying colours. Then, inside the crater, admire the stunning Santiago lake. Head next to the stop will be made in the picturesque town of Sete Cidades where lunch will be served in a regional restaurant. After lunch, admire the beauty of São Nicolau church. In the afternoon, continue along to the Escalvado Viewpoint. Along the north coast, stop to visit the town of Ribeira Grande where you can explore its historic center. Visit the Regional Liquors' Factory to taste a variety of its products. The last stop will be at the fantastic Lagoa do Fogo for fantastic views of the island. Finally, return to Ponta Delgada, through Pico da Barrosa.

From Ponta Delgada: Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo Day Tour

7. From Ponta Delgada: Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo Day Tour

We created this amazing guided tour, with the intention to combining two different places in two different areas, in one day we can visit the most beautiful places in the area of Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo. On this guided tour we use a van with a maximum of space for 8 people, comfortable with plenty of space and with all the necessary conditions for this event. Start with pickup in the morning. Then proceed to visit Pineapple Plantation in the Greenhouses/Viewpoint of the Pico do Carvão/Natural Park of Lagoa das Empadadas/Natural Park of Lagoa do Canário and Grota do Inferno/Viewpoint of the Blue and Green lakes of the Sete Cidades/Viewpoint of the Cerrado das Freiras/Center of the Sete Cidades Parish we end the morning with lunch time. At lunch time, we offer a complete meal in a local restaurant, in order to be able to offer better and typical traditional food fish or meat. (If for example: you are vegetarian, you can always choose something different). We start in the afternoon our guided tour, in which we have several stops, all our stops are easily accessible, in the afternoon we start visiting (Lagoa downtown/pottery factory/Viewpoint of the Pico da Barrosa/Lagoa do Fogo Lake/Natural Park Caldeira Velha- Hot spring waterfall/Liquor Factory/Ribeira Grande downtown). At the end of our guided tour, we finish at 18:00pm, and we drop off all people at the same places where we picked them up.

Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo: Full Day Jeep Tour with Lunch

8. Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo: Full Day Jeep Tour with Lunch

Discover hidden secrets on São Miguel aboard a jeep, which takes you to places where others do not go with a friendly, english speaking local guide. Embark on a trip to Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo and get amazing views along the way. Dine at a local restaurant for a delicious lunch. Leave Ponta Delgada behind and travel to the Empadada Lakes. Be surrounded by the natural beauty as the sound of silence embraces you. Make many stops, while exploring the western craters of São Miguel. See the rim of the crater and get the best views in São Miguel. Visit the church of São Nicolau, and get breathtaking views from Vista do Rei. Eat a delicious lunch with drinks at a local restaurant. Discover the beautiful crater of Lagoa do Fogo, also known as Fire Lake in the afternoon. If the weather is clear, you can view the island of Santa Maria from afar.

Sao Miguel: Salto do Cabrito Guided Canyoning Experience

9. Sao Miguel: Salto do Cabrito Guided Canyoning Experience

Jump, slide, and rappel in beautiful canyons and natural waterfalls on this guided canyoning tour through the Salto do Cabrito canyon in Sao Miguel. Select a tour where you get to the starting point on your own or choose the option to be picked up at the activity provider's office in Ponta Delgada. Upon arriving at Salto do Cabrito, meet your guide and get set up with your well-maintained canyoning equipment. Take a short walk to the start of the canyoning trail, where you guide will provide you with a safety briefing. Rappel over 3 vertical waterfalls, with the highest waterfall being 15 meters in height. Walk through lush vegetation, pass thorugh a natural amphitheater, view the ruins of an old hydroelectric power station. Enjoy a trip with that has more technical canyoning, but still filled with adrenaline inducing moments. At the end of your experience return to the starting point of your tour.

São Miguel: 2-Day Sightseeing Tour Including Lunches

10. São Miguel: 2-Day Sightseeing Tour Including Lunches

Your multi day tour will start by the West or East excursion according to the availability, you will informed about before the tour starts. • São Miguel West & highlights Tour (Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo) On the Western side Tour, we start by visiting a pineapple plantation in Ponta Delgada followed by the Pico do Carvão and Vista do Rei viewpoints. From this spot, you will admire all the beauty of the blue and green lagoon with the picturesque parish of Sete Cidades on its edge. Descending inside the volcano, stop at the Cerrado das Freiras viewpoint and then at the Sete Cidades parish for a regional lunch and to visit the main church of São Nicolau. After lunch we leave towards the viewpoint of Escalvado overlooking the ocean, Ponta da Ferraria and Mosteiros Islets. Departure to the Ribeira Grande city on the north coast to explore the historical center and the Jardim do Paraíso. Stop at the Mulher de Capote liqueur store for a tasting of traditional liqueurs, they are free and you can buy a nice souvenir. Up to the 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. • São Miguel East & Highlights Tour (Furnas & Nordeste) We start the tour to the East side stopping at the first island capital, Vila Franca do Campo, where you can enjoy a small walk along the marina or do a coffee breack and try a typical conventual sweet, the "Queijada da Vila" before heading to Furnas volcano. On the Furnas volcano, one of the most visited attractions by travelers is the Terra Nostra botanical garden, home to one of the most beautiful thermal pools. Although this attraction is not included in our tour it remains an option and all travellers will have the opportunity to visit or have a thermal bath if they wish to include this attraction in their day tour. The admission can be acquired at the ticket office costing 10€ per person. Lunch will consist of starters, Furnas stew (vegetarian option available), alcoholic drinks, juices, water, dessert and coffee or tea. After a lunch breack tasting this unique delicacy, visit and explore the exotic Furnas village where hot springs, gardens and boilers transport you into a magical volcanic world. Ascend to Pico do Ferro viewpoint for a privileged panoramic view over the entire volcano crater Head to Nordeste stopping at its ex-libris, the Ribeira dos Caldeires Natural Park inserted in a beautiful valley with 5 watermills and the famous waterfall "Véu da Noiva". Return by the north coast stopping at the tea factory where you will visit the last natural tea plantation in the world and do a tasting.

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What people are saying about Ribeira Grande

Overall rating

4.9 / 5

based on 1,195 reviews

First things first, we would like to thank our guide, Vera, for this amazing experience! She is very smart, funny and kind person and we were lucky to have here by our side during this trip, 10/10 ❤️ However, if we could rate this tour 4,5 stars, we would just because the agenda. The thing is thermal bathtubs: the location we went to on the first day was magnificent, but the second day..we didn't enjoy it that much. We would 100% recommend to take this tour, however we suggest to switching east and west part in order to not lose this sparkle, you know

Our tour of the west side of São Miguel island with João was fantastic! We lucked out with terrific weather following the previous day's heavy storm and were able to see all of the sights with João's expert read of the clouds and timing. It was so great to hear about the island's history and current self-sustaining and sustainability practices from a born-and-bred local. The small group was fantastic and felt like the perfect size. João was extremely knowledgeable, an excellent driver, and a great photographer to boot! It was a magical day!

the trip was perfect. We had the best guide, very friendly with sense of humour and lot of knowledge.

Very entertaining guide. Saw lots of things that we would never have found on our own.

This tour was a wonderful introduction to the island!