Santa Iria Lookout

Explore the highlights of the western half of São Miguel island on a guided tour by van. Discover the hot springs at Furnas, the waterfall at Ribeira dos Caldeirões, as well as the remote rugged beauty of the Nordeste region. Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the northern coast of the island until you get to the Santa Iria Lookout, with a spectacular, ample view of the north coast in both directions, before continuing to Furnas. Find yourself in Furnas and admire a spectacular panoramic stop to gaze over the lake and town. Descend where you will be given the choice of visiting the geothermal fields and tasting the sparkling waters, or bathing in the hot springs, for an additional fee. Next, discover a traditional way of cooking as your lunch of cozido (stew) is pulled from the warm volcanic soil. In the afternoon, continue the journey eastward, with a stop at the charming waterfall of Ribeira dos Caldeirões.  Explore Nordeste, the most unexplored and rural part of the island. Visit two amazing lookouts over the high cliffs that characterize the East coast of São Miguel, before returning to Ponta Delgada.

This tour gives you the unique opportunity to get to know São Miguel island as much as possible during a short stay. The tour will start early going in direction to Vista do Rei where you can enjoy the view over the Sete Cidades Lakes. From there the tour will take you up into the mountains to enjoy the view over the gorgeous Lagoa do Fogo. Then you will venture back down the mountains for a visit to Caldeira Velha, a protected nature reserve, where you will have the option to enjoy a bath in the warm water from a waterfall. The journey will then take you to the viewpoint of Santa Iria where you can see the gorgeous northern coast. Following the coastal views, you will visit the Gorreana tea plantation and its factory, where you can taste two different kinds of tea: black and green. The tour will continue on where you will be able to enjoy the amazing view over Furnas’ valley, and a stop will be made at Pico de Ferro’s viewpoint. Arriving in Furnas Village you will see some volcanic phenomena, known as fumaroles. You will then be able to have some lunch and eat the delicious famous Cozido das Furnas (or Furnas Stew), a gastronomic dish of Azores. After lunch, a stop in the Furnas Lake to see how the famous stew is cooked, then take a walk near the beautiful lake. Returning to Ponta Delgada and passing by Vila Franca do Campo, the first capital of São Miguel, located in the south coast, a last stop will be made at Ermida da Nossa Senhora Paz to enjoy the view to the famous Ilheú da Vila Franca. The tour will finish at your hotel or at the harbor.

Begin your tour with pickup at your hotel or accommodation. Leave Ponta Delgada and make your first stop at Vila France do Campo, the first capital of São Miguel located on the south coast. Here, taste the famous Queijada da Vila pastry, a type of cheesecake created by nuns. Next, head toward Furnas Valley and spot volcanic phenomena, known as fumaroles, near Furnas Lake as you arrive. Find out how the true gastronomic specialty of Azores, the famous Cozido das Furnas, or Furnas stew, is cooked. Follow this with a visit to the Terra Nostra Garden and have the opportunity to experience a thermal bath before lunch is served. After lunch, see more volcanic phenomena in Furnas village, as well as the fumaroles in a mix of hot and fresh waters, some with medicinal properties. On the way up to the mountains, stop to admire the amazing over Furnas Valley from Pico de Ferro's viewpoint. Then, visit the Gorrean tea plantation and its factory in Ribeira Grandes, on the north coast. Taste two kinds of tea found in São Miguel, black and green. Finally, make your last stop at Santa Iria's viewpoint to have a gorgeous view over the north coast. Take some photos and capture great memories before being dropped off back at your hotel or accommodation at the end of the tour.

On reaching the town of Ribeira Grande, the architecture of the city will be highlighted, its Ribeira and municipal gardens, pass by the haystack (Viewpoint), location which overlooks part of the north coast of the island of Sao Miguel, the start rises to observe the Lagoa do Fogo, we will stop in the natural park of the Old Boiler, which offers visitors a relaxing stroll, having direct contact with nature, having at its disposal two eras of train waters, whose temperatures vary between 35 ° at the new epoch and 25 ° in the older era and along the cascade, followed by Lagoa do Fogo, a pond of very blue waters, surrounded by a dense and lush vegetation endemic, and the lagoon highest of the island of Sao Miguel (Situated in the Pico da Barrosa). Furnas, known for its beautiful Valley, due to its paradisiacal scenery, and a City that has a lot to offer, namely its Lagoon, Terra Nostra, the Poca da Dona Beija, Beatriz owner of the Garden, the fumaroles, springs hot and not only, as well as their delicacies cooked on volcanic soil that appears at high temperatures, allowing cooking in the same soil. When moving to the Furnas, have the opportunity to visit also the Vila Franca do Campo, highlights of Ilheu and Chapel of Our Lady of Peace, on the way from the town center of Furnas. Furnas Lagoon is a mandatory stop, due to its surroundings and natural beauty and there, the ritual removal of cooked Furnas. Follow a path to the town center, where an Inn offers numerous flavors, sensations, from its sources, its gastronomy and all its natural beauty, that mother nature offers. Furnas, through the Iron Peak Lookout is the next stop, the route where a local manufacture processes tea in the factory, and the cha Black and cha Green are a delight for lovers. The Sta Iria viewpoint, point of interesting landscape and history, which provide a nice view of the northern coast and on the three main mountains of the island of Sao Miguel, being your last stop before returning to Ponta Delgada.

This tour covers some of the best scenic areas of São Miguel island and the Furnas volcanic area. It offers the opportunity to enjoy the hot springs and a visit to Terra Nostra Botanical Garden (entrance fee not included in the tour). • Pisão Viewpoint and Caloura • Vila Franca do Campo and its pastry factory • Senhora da Paz Viewpoint • Furnas Lake and Hot Springs • Furnas Village • Terra Nostra Botanical Garden (optional) • Hot Springs & mineral waters • Pico do Ferro Viewpoint • Gorreana Tea Plantation and Factory • Santa Iria Viewpoint

Depart from Ponta Delgada for a full-day adventure on São Miguel Island. A dip in the Furnas thermal baths is sure to make you forget all your worries. Get a taste of local flavor with a traditional lunch. Take in some great island views and cap off the experience with a visit to Gorreana tea plantations. Following hotel pickup, head to Vila Franca do Campo, the once capital of the island and home to the Azores' best-known sweets and quintessentially magnificent landscapes. The tour then continues to Furnas Valley, with the option of a thermal bath in the morning. Visit the terra nostra botanical garden and soak in the pool and jacuzzis or choose to relax in the natural pools of Poça da Dona Beija. Check out the boilers in the center of the parish. Lunch, served in a local restaurant, will be the famous Cozido das Caldeiras (Furnas stew). Continue on to the Pico do Ferro viewpoint, overlooking the largest and oldest volcanic crater on the island. Descend to the north side of the island, stopping to visit the Gorreana tea plantations with the chance to taste and purchase tea. Stop at the Santa Iria belvedere for more classically Portuguese views of the countryside and the Atlantic before returning to Ponta Delgada.