São Miguel Island (Azores)
São Miguel Island is located in the Azores Archipelago
São Miguel, the largest and most populous island in the Azores, is celebrated for its volcanic landscapes, thermal springs, and serene lakes.
Often referred to as the “Green Island,” it captivates visitors with its unspoiled nature and welcoming communities.
First settled in the mid-15th century, São Miguel developed as an agricultural and trading hub within the Azorean archipelago.
Getting there
There is no other choice than fly from Lisbon, we used the air Portugal.
To buy my different tickets, Lisbon to São Miguel, São Miguel to Madeira and Madeira to Lisbon, I used Go To Gate company, at that time they had very good prices.
Website: https://ca.gotogate.com/rf/destination
From Lisbon to Ponta Delgada, the trip last 1h30 min, the cost 109 Euros, 125US dollars.
Getting to the city of Ponta Delgada
The city center is little bit off the airport, the best way is to take a taxi or the hotel shuttle if you hotel provide one.
Where to stay.
We stay at Ponta Delgada at the hotel: AZORIS ROYAL GARDEN PONTA DELGADA.
This hotel is a 4 stars hotel, very nice hotel, very good service, everything you need is there, nice room with a ocean view, balcony very comfortable.
There is a restaurant in the hotel.
The food at the restaurant is just average, we have one dinner and the Limpets was too salty, the veal not very tender and the fish was ok, the breakfast food choice and quality was just average.
Website: Azoris Hotels & Leisure | Official Web
I always use the Hotels.com website to reserve my hotels.
Attractions:
Sete Cidades Crater Lakes: Twin lakes—one blue, one green—set within a massive volcanic crater.
Terra Nostra Park: A geothermal park with hot springs and rare plant species.
Furnas Valley: Home to bubbling hot springs, steaming vents, and traditional cozido meals cooked underground using geothermal heat.
Getting around.
The best way is to rent a car, make sure you do few rental company, the price can be almost double in price with certain car rental company, especially if you are here the same day than cruises.
We use MICAUTO at PONTA DELGADA, we paid 55 Euros, 63 US dollars for 1 day (24 hours) for a Citroen C3, unlimited mileage.
Website: Micauto & Angrauto Rent-a-Car – Car Rental in Azores
We started driving to the east, our first goal was Furnas, we never found the hot springs, then go to Ribeira Quente, very small place with a nice view, we were looking for the Cascada do Ribeira Quente, you see the cascade only on the way back on the left side of the road, very easy to miss it because very small cascade, very disappointed, we expected a bigger cascade.
Then we head up to the north part of the island to Gorreana tea plantation, very interesting, very busy place, not easy for parking, there is a shop and a little snack serving drinks and light meals, nice view on the plantation and there is also, starting from the plantation a 2 hours hike through the plantation,
Then we keep driving to the west part of the island to Sete Citades in direction of the Lagoa Azul and the Lagoa Verde.
Very nice , but the better view is after passing the both lake and going up in the mountain on the way back to Ponta Delgada.
Sete Citades
South Coast
Tea Factory in Maia
What to do in Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada is a very touristic place especially with the cruises, and there is not much to see and to do in downtown, except the main plaza with the church and the arch,
There is a nice promenade along the harbor, on the evening everything close early and open relatively late in the morning around 10am.
São Miguel Island, is more for nature oriented like hiking.
Where to eat in Ponta Delgada
RESTAURANT MERCADO DO PEIXE: Address: Av. Infante Dom Henrique 25, 9500-092 Ponta Delgada, Phone: +351 296 708 839
One Response