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The Best of Sao Miguel
If you're planning a first visit to the Azores, let us show you the very best of Sao Miguel...
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If you’re planning a first visit to the Azores, let us show you the very best of Sao Miguel.
Your week begins in the Azorean capital Ponta Delgada – one of Europe’s most welcoming cities where you can immerse yourself in island culture and cuisine.
The family-run Hotel do Colegio has been our go-to city centre hotel for over twenty years. If you prefer a touch of modern luxury, the Grand Hotel Azores Atlantico is also an excellent choice, with its sea views over Ponta Delgada’s bustling Portas do Mar marina – and our handy online restaurant guides will help you to sample the best seasonal, locally-sourced cuisine the capital has to offer.
From your base in the city, you’ll head west to explore the great crater at Sete Cidades – arguably the most beautiful of the Azores’ volcanoes, where you can hike, bike or kayak on the crystal-clear waters of Lagoa Azul. You’ll also explore the high central mountains of Pico da Barrosa, the secluded Lagoa do Fogo crater lake and the volcanically-heated waterfalls at Caldera Velha.
Leaving Ponta Delgada, you’ll head east for a stay in the enchanting Furnas valley. Furnas is home to the Azores’ most famous hotel, the art deco Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, where you’ll relax and unwind in the hot springs and geothermal swimming pools at the Parque Terra Nostra. For the ultimate spa experience, you might prefer a stay at the Furnas Boutique Hotel – its celebrated A Terra Fornaria restaurant has helped to reinvent Azorean cuisine for the 21st century.
You’ll also spend time at sea with the islands’ whales and dolphins. Sperm whales, bottlenose and North-Atlantic spotted dolphins are resident in the waters around Sao Miguel, and we work with the best conservationists on the island to give you an unforgettable wildlife experience.
Day 1
You’ll begin your holiday with a flight to island of Sao Miguel. You’ll be collected on arrival by our driver for your transfer to the Hotel do Colegio in Ponta Delgada.
Day 2
You’ll spend today exploring Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores. With its mosaic pavements and traditional architecture, it’s an easy city to explore on foot.
Day 3
We’ll deliver a hire car and it’s a short drive west the great crater at Sete Cidades. Sete Cidades is the largest caldera on the island, famous for its magnificent Vista do Rei viewpoint, the twin lakes of Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul, and Ponta Ferraria where the sea is naturally heated by underwater volcanic vents.
Day 4
You’ll spend today in the mountains of the Agua de Pau volcano. Pico da Barrosa (947m), is one of the highest points on the island, popular for it’s birdseye view of Lagoa do Fogo – the ‘Lake of Fire’ which sits in the youngest of Sao Miguel’s calderas. The nearby geothermal pools at Caldera Velha are perfect for a relaxing dip, followed by lunch in the quiet north coast town of Ribeira Grande.
Day 5
You’ll leave Ponta Delgada today, driving east to your new accommodation at the Terra Nostra Hotel in Furnas. En-route, you’ll head to the marina in the south coast town of Vila Franca for a whale and dolphin watching trip. The seas around the Azores are one of the best places to observe cetaceans and ocean wildlife: bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic-spotted dolphins and sperm whales can be seen throughout the year.
Day 6
Furnas is perfect for exploring on foot – the geysers at Chã das Caldeiras, the Chalet da Tia Merces teahouse, and the pools at Poca Dona Beija are all within easy walking distance. In the evenings, your hotel’s 200 year-old Terra Nostra botanical gardens are home to the town’s most famous, floodlit geothermal swimming pool.
Day 7
For your final full-day, you’ll explore eastern Sao Miguel by car, home to many of the islands least visited, but most beautiful landmarks: Ponta do Sossego, the Serra da Tronqueira mountains, and the Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Natural Park.
Day 8
You’ll return your hire car to the airport before flying home.
Our holidays have a nice balance of activities and free time. Everything’s flexible and you can personalise your trip.
Whale watching
The Azores are one of the premier whale and dolphin watching destinations in the world, with a wide range of species including resident sperm and pilot whales, migratory blue and fin whales, and bottlenose and spotted dolphins.
Walking
Walking is one of the best ways to explore the Azores, and there are guided and self guided walks to suit everyone's level of fitness.
Canyoning
Canyoning is fast growing in popularity and the Azores have excellent routes on Sao Miguel, Sao Jorge and Flores.
Cycling and mountain biking
Cycle from village to village along the quiet roads or take an adrenaline fuelled guided mountain biking ride down from the crater lakes, the Azores have lots of exciting two wheel options.
Jeep tours
Get off-road with our friendly knowledgeable guides along the dirt tracks of the Azores.
Kayaking and Paddle boarding
Kayak and paddleboard on the breathtaking crater lakes or along the rugged coastline of Sao Miguel and Terceira.
Horse riding
From one hour lessons in an indoor arena to full day rides, riding is one of the best ways to explore the Azorean countryside. You'll be riding beautiful pure and cross bred Lusitano horses and be in the safe hands of our experienced guides.
Surfing
With its year round mild climate and sea temperatures, the Azores is starting to become more popular with surfers. Working with a school on the north coast of Sao Miguel, we can provide lessons with our friendly instructors or just hire the boards and wetsuits and ride the waves on your own.
Diving
As well as offering unique diving experiences for qualified divers, beginners can also learn at the excellent schools on the islands. Dive sites are varied from offshore reefs and volcanic caves to drop-offs, impressive arches and flat seabed. Most dives rarely go deeper than 15m and average sea temperatures are 17-22°C. Visibility is very good at 20-25m.
Birdwatching
With close to 400 species sighted in the archipelago, this is a rewarding yet quiet bird watching destination. For many the highlight is spotting the endemic Azores Bullfinch found only in a small part of the main island of Sao Miguel. There's also the large Cory Shearwater and Roseate Tern colonies, Atlantic canary, several subspecies of the Common Chaffinch, the São Miguel Goldcrest and the Azores Woodpigeon. In October, the Azores become the undisputed rarity hotspot of the Western Palearctic with a wealth of America vagrants on offer from shorebirds and wildfowl to wood-warblers and vireos.
Golf
Golfing in the Azores is a real pleasure. Courses are quiet and spectacular offering views over the ocean and volcanic craters. On São Miguel, Batalha overlooks the sea and is the newest and most challenging course while Furnas (located in the mountains at an altitude of 500m) is sprinkled with lakes and stands of Japanese Cryptomeria and then there's the heavily wooded course on Terceira close the beautiful town of Angra.
If you’re planning a first visit to the Azores, let us show you the very best of Sao Miguel.
Your week begins in the Azorean capital Ponta Delgada – one of Europe’s most welcoming cities where you can immerse yourself in island culture and cuisine.The family-run Hotel do Colegio has been our go-to city centre hotel for over twenty years. If you prefer a touch of modern luxury, the Grand Hotel Azores Atlantico is also an excellent choice, with its sea views over Ponta Delgada’s bustling Portas do Mar marina – and our handy online restaurant guides will help you to sample the best seasonal, locally-sourced cuisine the capital has to offer.From your base in the city, you’ll head west to explore the great crater at Sete Cidades – arguably the most beautiful of the Azores’ volcanoes, where you can hike, bike or kayak on the crystal-clear waters of Lagoa Azul. You’ll also explore the high central mountains of Pico da Barrosa, the secluded Lagoa do Fogo crater lake and the volcanically-heated waterfalls at Caldera Velha.Leaving Ponta Delgada, you’ll head east for a stay in the enchanting Furnas valley. Furnas is home to the Azores’ most famous hotel, the art deco Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, where you’ll relax and unwind in the hot springs and geothermal swimming pools at the Parque Terra Nostra. For the ultimate spa experience, you might prefer a stay at the Furnas Boutique Hotel – its celebrated A Terra Fornaria restaurant has helped to reinvent Azorean cuisine for the 21st century.You’ll also spend time at sea with the islands’ whales and dolphins. Sperm whales, bottlenose and North-Atlantic spotted dolphins are resident in the waters around Sao Miguel, and we work with the best conservationists on the island to give you an unforgettable wildlife experience.Day 1
You’ll begin your holiday with a flight to island of Sao Miguel. You’ll be collected on arrival by our driver for your transfer to the Hotel do Colegio in Ponta Delgada.
Day 2
You’ll spend today exploring Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores. With its mosaic pavements and traditional architecture, it’s an easy city to explore on foot.
Day 3
We’ll deliver a hire car and it’s a short drive west the great crater at Sete Cidades. Sete Cidades is the largest caldera on the island, famous for its magnificent Vista do Rei viewpoint, the twin lakes of Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul, and Ponta Ferraria where the sea is naturally heated by underwater volcanic vents.
Day 4
You’ll spend today in the mountains of the Agua de Pau volcano. Pico da Barrosa (947m), is one of the highest points on the island, popular for it’s birdseye view of Lagoa do Fogo – the ‘Lake of Fire’ which sits in the youngest of Sao Miguel’s calderas. The nearby geothermal pools at Caldera Velha are perfect for a relaxing dip, followed by lunch in the quiet north coast town of Ribeira Grande.
Day 5
You’ll leave Ponta Delgada today, driving east to your new accommodation at the Terra Nostra Hotel in Furnas. En-route, you’ll head to the marina in the south coast town of Vila Franca for a whale and dolphin watching trip. The seas around the Azores are one of the best places to observe cetaceans and ocean wildlife: bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic-spotted dolphins and sperm whales can be seen throughout the year.
Day 6
Furnas is perfect for exploring on foot – the geysers at Chã das Caldeiras, the Chalet da Tia Merces teahouse, and the pools at Poca Dona Beija are all within easy walking distance. In the evenings, your hotel’s 200 year-old Terra Nostra botanical gardens are home to the town’s most famous, floodlit geothermal swimming pool.
Day 7
For your final full-day, you’ll explore eastern Sao Miguel by car, home to many of the islands least visited, but most beautiful landmarks: Ponta do Sossego, the Serra da Tronqueira mountains, and the Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Natural Park.
Day 8
You’ll return your hire car to the airport before flying home.
Our holidays have a nice balance of activities and free time. Everything’s flexible and you can personalise your trip.
Whale watching
The Azores are one of the premier whale and dolphin watching destinations in the world, with a wide range of species including resident sperm and pilot whales, migratory blue and fin whales, and bottlenose and spotted dolphins.
Walking
Walking is one of the best ways to explore the Azores, and there are guided and self guided walks to suit everyone's level of fitness.
Canyoning
Canyoning is fast growing in popularity and the Azores have excellent routes on Sao Miguel, Sao Jorge and Flores.
Cycling and mountain biking
Cycle from village to village along the quiet roads or take an adrenaline fuelled guided mountain biking ride down from the crater lakes, the Azores have lots of exciting two wheel options.
Jeep tours
Get off-road with our friendly knowledgeable guides along the dirt tracks of the Azores.
Kayaking and Paddle boarding
Kayak and paddleboard on the breathtaking crater lakes or along the rugged coastline of Sao Miguel and Terceira.
Horse riding
From one hour lessons in an indoor arena to full day rides, riding is one of the best ways to explore the Azorean countryside. You'll be riding beautiful pure and cross bred Lusitano horses and be in the safe hands of our experienced guides.
Surfing
With its year round mild climate and sea temperatures, the Azores is starting to become more popular with surfers. Working with a school on the north coast of Sao Miguel, we can provide lessons with our friendly instructors or just hire the boards and wetsuits and ride the waves on your own.
Diving
As well as offering unique diving experiences for qualified divers, beginners can also learn at the excellent schools on the islands. Dive sites are varied from offshore reefs and volcanic caves to drop-offs, impressive arches and flat seabed. Most dives rarely go deeper than 15m and average sea temperatures are 17-22°C. Visibility is very good at 20-25m.
Birdwatching
With close to 400 species sighted in the archipelago, this is a rewarding yet quiet bird watching destination. For many the highlight is spotting the endemic Azores Bullfinch found only in a small part of the main island of Sao Miguel. There's also the large Cory Shearwater and Roseate Tern colonies, Atlantic canary, several subspecies of the Common Chaffinch, the São Miguel Goldcrest and the Azores Woodpigeon. In October, the Azores become the undisputed rarity hotspot of the Western Palearctic with a wealth of America vagrants on offer from shorebirds and wildfowl to wood-warblers and vireos.
Golf
Golfing in the Azores is a real pleasure. Courses are quiet and spectacular offering views over the ocean and volcanic craters. On São Miguel, Batalha overlooks the sea and is the newest and most challenging course while Furnas (located in the mountains at an altitude of 500m) is sprinkled with lakes and stands of Japanese Cryptomeria and then there's the heavily wooded course on Terceira close the beautiful town of Angra.
