Sete Cidades

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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.

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

Get off the usual tourist trail on a 3-hour 4WD tour of the Sete Cidades (Seven Cities) region of the Azores island of São Miguel, departing from Ponta Delgada. Traveling by 4WD vehicle, you will experience the dramatic scenery of the volcanic crater and its flora and fauna in a more immersive fashion.  Drive to the mountain top to look down on the 2 impressive lakes of the caldera (basin), one with blue water (Lagoa Azul) and the other with green water (Lagoa Verde). Along the way, take in many other picturesque spots of São Miguel, including the peaceful lakes of Lagoa das Empadadas, Lagoa de Santiago, and Lagoa do Carvão.  Enjoy stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, volcanic cones, and stretches of green, and go to villages that have played a vital role in the story of the island.

Your tour starts at Ponta Delgada with a safety briefing about the vehicles and how to manage them. You need to present to the guide your drivers license and credit card for the deposit. We have available 2 different itineraries Sete Cidades or Coast to Coast in Ribeira Grande and the full day or half day option. -Sete Cidades: drive around the crater witch was a volcano thar creates itself. Driving around the landscapes are unbreathing, stunning. The crater from one side and the ocean from the other side. You will also have the chance to drive down to the village and be involved directly with the nature. -Coast to Coast in Ribeira Grande: drive near the coast of Ribeira Grande next to the option. Then you will drive into small off-road trails and in the middle of the nature. Feel the adrenaline and feel yourself insie the adventure.

Pelas rota da covoada entremos pelos complexo grande da caldeira de colapso das 7 cidades. Paragem no miradouro do pico do carvão, que se ve o complexo dos picos, em que se vê o ponto mais estreito da ilha, 8km. Passagem pelo antigo aqueduto de água (muro das 9 janelas). Paragem na lagoa do canário. Paragem na vista do rei. A maior caldeira de colapso dos Açores, reserva da natureza, geositio 1 das 7 das maravilhas de natureza de Portugal. Vista do rei, na visita do rei D. Carlos 1 (1901) ao miradouro, disse: Isso sim, é a vista de 1 rei. Paragem no miradouro do serrado das freiras, paragem na lagoa do Santiago. Passagem pelo serrado das freiras e um pouco de passeio a pé, lagoa azul. Passagem pela ponte e lagoa verde. Almoço Saída das 7 cidades em direção à cumieira grande, paragem na "vista da rainha", Passagem pelo troço do rally, cumieira grande. Saída no muro das 9 janelas. Ir em direção à ribeira grande lado norte Entrada pela ribeirinha estrada velha, ir ao miradouro de santa luzia(miradouro do palheiro) Vista norte da orla costeira, Passagem pelo antigo forte, Passagem pelo ponte dos 8 arcos. Ir à fábrica de licores (visita guiada gratuita). Sair em direção ao salto do cabrito. Paragem para ver a cascata e central hídrica. Passagem pelas centrais geotérmicas, Passagem pela caldeira velha e paragem na lagoa do fogo. Paragem no miradouro principal, saindo em direção ao pico da Barbosa. (875m de altitude)ponto de visto panorâmica sobre o lado sul e norte da ilha.

ITINERARY 1: Along the shores of the Lagoa Azul you’ll reach the Sete Cidades Tunnel. We return to the heart of the parish and visit the Church of São Nicolau. Cycle through the traditional rural houses to the bridge that divides the lake in two, Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul. Passing along the shore of the Lagoa Verde, we can find the showy cryptomeria trees until we reach the Bay of Silence. Returning along the same route to the bridge, you can enjoy the shores of the Lagoa Azul while getting to know the Peninsula and Cerrado das Freiras. ITINERARY 2: You'll cross the bridge that separates the Lagoa Azul from the Lagoa Verde. After observing the tranquillity of this place, we head back in the direction of Cumeeira Pequena, passing by the Lagoa do Santiago, Cerrado das Freiras and the Regional Road. You'll descend towards the Vista do Rei viewpoint for a panoramic view of the lakes, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde, and also the abandoned “Monte Palace” hotel. You'll follow a more adventure trail that will take you along Cumeeira Pequena, where we can find several endemic species. We'll at the Lomba do Vasco viewpoint, where it is possible to see the islets of Mosteiros and its parish. We'll end the tour by descending into the heart of the town of Sete Cidades, which will lead us to the Church of São Nicolau. ITINERARY 3: Start the tour by cycling towards Cumeeira Grande, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the coast and the Sete Cidades caldera, where you can pass the Cumeeira viewpoint and the highest point, Pico da Cruz. Then, after passing the Nove Janelas Aqueduct, you'll have the opportunity to visit the Lagoa do Canário and Miradouro da Grota do Inferno. You'll continue along the Regional Road where you'll find a variety of hydrangeas with their different colors, Lagoa do Santiago, and the opportunity to stop at the Cerrado das Freiras viewpoint. To end this tour pedal along the shores of Lagoa Azul. ITINERARY 4: Start the tour with a relaxed warm-up, crossing the bridge that separates the Lagoa Azul from the Lagoa Verde. We head back towards Cumeeira Grande, passing through the parish of Sete Cidades. Along the Cumeeira Grande, you'll be amazed by the view over the sea, lakes, pastures and where you’ll stop at the highest point of the Sete Cidades volcanic complex, with a height of 845m. Back on the road, you'll pass throught the Nove Janelas Aqueduct, with a stop at Lagoa do Canário and the most emblematic viewpoint on the island of São Miguel, Miradouro da Grota do Inferno. You'll descend towards the Vista do Rei viewpoint for a panoramic view of the Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde, and also abandoned “Monte Palace” hotel. We then follow a more adventure trail that will take us along Cumeeira Pequena, arriving at the Lomba do Vasco viewpoint, where we can see the islets of Mosteiros and its parish. We will end the tour by descending into the heart of the town of Sete Cidades, which will lead us to the Church of São Nicolau.

Drive a quad or ATV on this adventurous tour and experience the beauty of São Miguel Island. Reach the highest peaks of the mountains that surround Sete Cidades Volcano, dash along dirt roads, and absorb the incredible views of the lakes and ocean. Take the opportunity to visit some of the trails that are part of the Azores Airlines Rallye and enjoy both on-road and offroad moments. Expect adventure and stunning natural sights as your guides ensure your safety throughout the tour.

Sete Cidades Volcano Route (Green Route) - The route lasts approximately 4 hours.Departure at Rua do Paím in Ponta Delgada, explore the South coastal area of the island with passage on the grass rock. Pass by the Muro das Nove Janelas and glimpse the view of Pico da Cruz. Go around the volcano and enjoy the descent to Sete-Cidades, then you get to the base. An unforgettable tour through the island's wild nature, you will have the best experience of your life, enjoying the calm and tranquility of the island, with some adrenaline.

Sete Cidades Lake is the largest natural freshwater reservoir of surface water in the Azores, and is considered one of the 7 wonders of Portugal. Enjoy a kayak trip and let yourself be fascinated by the fauna and flora of this volcanic complex. Savor breathtaking natural scenery aboard your canoe on a lake located in a crater of an amazing volcano. Admire the mystical colors of the 2 lakes located on the western part of São Miguel Island, and paddle your canoe out on the Blue Lake. Have fun canoeing for 1 hour or more.

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.