Furnas

After being collected from your accommodation, begin your tour of the beautiful natural landmarks of São Miguel. Discover a region abundant with beautiful scenery, lush landscapes, and fantastic viewpoints. Take a tour of Plantações de Chá Gorreana, the oldest tea plantations in Europe. See the only fields of tea in Europe, and whilst at the plantation, you can sample the tea for free and roam around the fields. After that, head to Furnas to explore the valley and take a dip in the hot springs to relax a bit and connect with nature. After the visit to the hot springs, you can purchase some lunch in Furnas. After lunch, visit the lagoon and roam around a bit to enjoy the surroundings. When the visit to the lagoon is finished it's time to head to Vila Franca to have a look at the world-famous islet. Finish the tour in Ponta Delgada with a visit to the pineapple plantations.

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.

For many years now, people have come from near and far to soak in the therapeutic hot springs of Furnas, a must do on many people's bucket list - this tour is designed to make sure you get that and so much more. This tour takes place at night when it is peaceful, and the air temperature is adequate for this kind of magical experience. After a pick up from your accommodation in Ponta del Gada, you will be taken to the iconic thermal pools, Poça da Beija. This experience will start at the end of the day until around midnight, be prepared for the best evening of your trip. Before visiting the thermal pools, you will visit a place where local cooks prepare the famous 'cozido' (stew). Your dinner will be truly memorable as you feast on a Portuguese stew cooked in pots, dipped into the floor as they cook for several hours in volcanic heat. In addition to this, you can admire the Caldeiras das Furnas, multiple boiling water and mud springs and mini-geysers. You can even try the mineral water or have a cup of local tea using the natural hot water.

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.

Unwind at the hot thermal springs of an active volcano on an evening tour from Ponta Delgada. Head to the volcanic complex of Furnas in Povoação and bathe in the warm waters of Poça da Dona Beija.  Go for a guided nature walk to discover the beautiful surroundings and get plenty of opportunities to take souvenir photos of the dramatic landscapes. End the evening with a traditional stew from the region, cooked beneath the ground using the heat from the surrounding thermal springs.

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.

Depart Ponta Delgada and journey along the south coast of São Miguel before heading towards the Furnas Valley to experience its dramatic volcanic landscape. Stop at the village of Lagoa en route and visit a traditional pottery. Marvel at the former capital of the island at Vila Franca do Campo. Upon arrival in the Furnas Valley, go to the lake to enjoy a lunch of authentic cozido na caldeira (traditional Portuguese stew) cooked using the heat of the volcanic soil. Savor the ingredients characteristic of this typical dish. Next, go to the belvedere of the Pico do Ferro for a panoramic view of the valley. Return to Ponta Delgada via the island's north road, and stop at the site of Europe's only tea plantations and tea factory.

Taking the road that travels along the North coast reach Nordeste, usually referred as the 10th island for its remoteness, and the oldest geological part of São Miguel. Mountains, woods, waterfalls, belvederes that rise over the sea, beautiful villages, and a multitude of flowers mark this area. It is possible to find genuine handicrafts and delicious gastronomy here which you can see and taste at your stop in Nordeste village. After lunch continue the tour around the east part of the island until you reach the village of Povoação, the place where the first settlers set foot on the island. Finish the day with a stop at Salto do Cavalo belvedere.

Benefit from pickup at your accommodation or other location tailored to your needs, and then make your way to the Furnas region of São Miguel Island. Take a thermal bath in the hot springs of the Azores, and enjoy a traditional dinner at a unique location. After pickup from Ponta Delgada, marvel at gorgeous landscapes as you drive into Furnas via its valley. Then, tuck into a delicious dinner at a restaurant. Try the region's most traditional dish: a stew made using the boiling hot steam created by the volcano, which takes several hours to prepare. Next, drive to the hot springs of Poça da Dona Beija and relax in the healing waters, surrounded by a landscape of sub-tropical palm trees and conifers that boost well-being. Experience the thermal waters in the calm of the evening, when the air temperature is mild, and there is magic in the air. Finally, get dropped off at your accommodation at the end of the night for your comfort and convenience.

Travel from Ponta Delgada to Furnas Azores on a full-day 4x4 tour on the island of São Miguel. Furnas Azores has a history of volcanic activity that has left behind a legacy of particularly impressive natural geysers, hot springs, calderas, and fumaroles. Along the way, you will visit a number of locations with stunning landscapes and unique and intriguing features, such as Vila Franca do Campo, where you can see the famous islet, a tea factory, and views from various spots. Upon arriving at Furnas Azores, admire the lake and its geysers, which are surrounded by lush nature.