São Miguel: 2-Day Tour of Essential Highlights

West Itinerary: (Day 1 or Day 2) Discover Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo's highlights

• Pineapples Santo António

The Azores is the only place in the world to use a glass greenhouse for pineapple production, in this visit we will learn a lot about the growing process that can take up to 24 months.

• Miradouro do Pico do Carvâo

A stop to dazzle travelers, a magnificent view over the south and north coast of the island of São Miguel, with the volcano of Lagoa do Fogo as a backdrop. 10 minutes •

• Vista do Rei Miradouro

The most famous viewpoint in the Azores from where you can admire the green & blue lagoon. The famous abandoned Monte Palace hotel is located here. 15 minutes •

• Miradouro do Cerrado das Freiras

Located on the descent to the interior of the volcano, this point offers a magnificent view from another angle over the lakes and the parish of Sete Cidades 15 minutes •

• Sete Cidades

Visit the quiet Sete Cidades parish with the São Nicolau church in the center. Walk to the edge of the blue lagoon, where you will find some species of flora endemic to the Azores and breathe the pure air scented by the many surrounding flowers.

• Miradouro da Ponta do Escalvado

Already outside the Sete Cidades volcano, this viewpoint on top of a coastal cliff, has a breathtaking view of Ponta da Ferraria and the Mosteiros islets. This is an old whale watching point and still in use by whale watching companies in São Miguel.

• Praia de Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara beach with its black sands is one of the most visited places in the summer. Famous for its swell, it is very popular with surfers from all over the world and international competitions organized here bring an added fame to this place. Throughout the year it is frequent to find practitioners of paragliding enjoying the winds from the ocean and conducive to its practice.

• Ribeira Grande

Ribeira Grande is the second largest city in São Miguel and has a very typical architectural style that we invite you to discover through a short walk. In the center, you will find the Jardim do Paraíso (Paradise Garden) crossed by the stream that gives its name to this place. In the same place, you can do a free tasting of the most varied traditional liqueurs or delight yourself with chocolates filled with the typical flavors of São Miguel.

• Salto do Cabrito

The Cabrito's waterfall is one of São Miguel's hidden gems. Its access is impressive, but once you arrive, no one is indifferent to this natural beauty. It is normal to find travelers taking a bath in the waterfall's pool or canyoning practitioners.

• Lagoa do Fogo

It is considered by many the most scenic lake in the Azores. From the viewpoint, you will marvel at the turquoise blue colors of its waters and all the lush green vegetation around it. This is a sanctuary for seabirds where many come to nest only here. Further up, Pico da Barrosa is located on top of this volcano and offers a magnificent 360º panorama over the entire island.

East Itinerary: (Day 1 or Day 2) Furnas and Nordeste, Ribeira dos Caldeirões and tea plantation included

• Vila Franca do Campo

Morning stop at the Vila Franca do Campo marina, the former capital of São Miguel. Opportunity to admire the Vila Franca islet or have your coffee, savoring the typical and traditional conventual sweet " Queijadas da Vila ".

• Lagoa das Furnas

Discover the beauty of the Furnas lake, walking along its edge passing by the magnificent chapel of Nossa Srª das Vitorias, unique in its gothic style and discovering the various statues made of old tree trunks that adorn the edge.

• Parque Terra Nostra - Optional - Considered one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Europe, you will find inside a huge thermal water tank, naturally heated by the Furnas volcano and two other thermal pools. You can include a stop here in your tour and enjoy a relaxing thermal moment in the outdoors. 1h30 • Admission Ticket Not Included

• Caldeira das Furnas

The Azores' natural "cuisine", here the locals cook the famous "cozido" (stew) in potholes made in the volcanic floor. Watch the removal of the cozidos before a tasting of this unique dish, cooked slowly for seven hours on the volcanic floor, in a traditional restaurant in the village of Furnas. (Optional, lunch paid on site)

• Enchanted valley of Furnas

After a optional lunch as a unique gastronomic experience, a visit to the enchanted valley or " volcano's mouth" takes you between water and muddy boilers where you can feel the strength of a volcano. Place of several mineral water springs, we can taste some of the best known, before a traditional liquor tasting in a local handicraft store.

• Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões

Magnificent watermill area, now transformed into a natural park where its waterfalls are the main attraction. Considered one of the most beautiful areas in Nordeste, you can also take the opportunity to find the typical and traditional "corn leaf dolls" made by hand, in the local handicraft store.

• Plantacoes de Chá Gorreana

On the way back, a stop at the Gorreana tea factory will give you some leisurely moments as you taste the last all-natural tea in the world. Its undulating plantations are a magnificent decoration for the surrounding valleys.

• Miradouro de Santa Iria

Observe from this viewpoint, the immense beauty of São Miguel's north coast, from Sete Cidades to the Northeast, a scenic coastline jutting out into the ocean. This is our last stop before returning to your accommodations.