Time for the final part my blog series about the Azores. Earlier, I told you in this blog about travelling to the Azores, about the islands Terceira, Corvo and Flores.
And now it’s time for the last island we visited: São Miguel.
Culture shock in São Miguel
It was a culture shock when arriving on São Miguel, coming from the other islands. After leaving the airplane and getting into our rental car we were driving on a six lane road in no time. We drove across several well-known retail stores. But luckily, there are a lot of beautiful spots on this island as well. So also São Miguel is really worth your visit!
Sete Cidades
Thé hotspot of São Miguel is Sete Cidades. You can see these lakes from different view points on different sides.
We started our trip at view point “Miradouro da Boca do Inferno”. This was IMO also the most beautiful. If you go left before the official viewpoint the view is even better and it is more quiet there. Take a little break there and take some beautiful spots. Make your instagram followers jeaulous.
Next, we drove to hotel Vista do Rei. Maybe you heard or saw this abandoned hotel in other blogs. People go inside en take nice shots of the lake from this hotel. And they also like to wander around there. But this hotel is bought up and is now being renovated. You can’t excess it anymore, because it is a construction site now.
But also without going inside the abandoned hotel, the view on the lake from here is really worth it. It has two different colors. It seems, this has to do with shadows and plakton.
We finished our Sete Cidades trip downhill at the biggest lake. You can canoe or paddle board here.
Feeling like more action and not going around the lake by car? Then you can hike around the Sete Cidades. There are several on the internet. For example this one of 16km.
Ponta da Ferraria
A fresh dip into this natural swimming pool for is. I read myzelf about Ponta da Ferraria earlier. And was warned about the sometimes hot water. Maybe it was the tide, but it was not even near warm water. So if you visit this natural swimming pool, please let me know if the water was warm.
But even with cold water, Ponta da Ferraria is worth a visit. It has changing rooms, beach bars and even a welness and massage salon at the parking lots. And the waves in the water are also quite fun!
Salto do Cabrito
In the middle of São Miguel, you’ll find a energy generating waterfall: Salto do Cabrito.
We walked this trail, where this waterfall is part off. But it is also possible to only visit this waterfall.
The trail will go through a village, meadows and next to and over pipelines. But you also walk a lot on asphalt road, with is a shame in my opinion. You can eat and drink something in a restaurant at the village.
Don’t feel like hiking and still wanna see the pipelines? Walk up and down the steap stair next to the waterfall.
Also, don’t forget to bring your swim gear if you feel like taking a very cold dip!
Caldeira Velha
You will start and end the trail of Salto do Cabrito at Caldeira Velha; a parc with thermal baths. Treath yourself and your muscles with a visit after doing the trail. The baths are nice and warm, some even about 40 degrees celsius.
For this tropical experience, you will pay 8 euros and you get changing rooms and 3 swimmingpools, one with a waterfall.
Parque Ribeira Dos Caldeirões
This landscaped park around waterfalls in the North-East of São Miguel is nice to bring a smart visit. But I wouldn’t travel to it specifically. Unless you want some extra excitement during your trip. Then book an awesome canyoning trip, which starts and finishes in this park.
Salto do Prego
From the town of Faial de Terra we hiked to Salto do Prego. A medium hike that I would rather place in the easy category. Not much ascents, the hardest part is the path up/down to the waterfall.
The trail goes through wooded area to a very beautiful waterfall. Here you can take a refreshing dip or plan a (lunch) break.
After the waterfall, the hike continues through Aldeia do Sanguinho. This is a ghost town, but one where some people still live. More and more houses are also being renovated. Strange to see the decayed houses and a nice renovated or at least livable house in the same row of houses. The trail ends with a winding road. This can be a bit slippery and painful for your knees.
Furnas
Furnas is a place on São Miguel with several tourist attractions. For example Lagoa das Furnas. A park where you can see the steam coming out of the ground due to the volcanic activity. Food is prepared there in the ground.
The food, called Cozido, can be ordered at various restaurants in town. Quite unique kind of preparation of food and you may think, just like us: We must try this! Because it is not possible everywhere in the world …. Great thoughts, but we recommend sharing a portion, because most of this stew is not very tasty….
Another attraction we visited in Furnas is Parque Terra Nostra. Especially on a rainy day (as during our visit) an excellent choice. Done with wandering around this park? Take a dip in the mineral bath or the other baths around it. To enter this park you need to buy a ticket, which is priced 8 euros.
The biggest bath, a warm mineral bath with a very special color, is said to be very healthy. But don’t forget to take off your jewelry and wear old swimwear, because everything will discolour in this water. There are changing rooms and even showers here.
To take into account further on São Miguel
Three seasons in a day, it is no joke! Sometimes even in an hour. But after a heavy rain shower you can walk in the hot sun again 10 minutes later. So you don’t have to bring thick clothing, but make sure you bring a raincoat. Preferably breathable, because of the warmer temperature.
São Miguel is a pretty big island, and although it has the best public transport of all the island we visited, I do recommend renting a rental car. This will get you closer to all the attractions.
If you have a rental car and some time left to spend, bring a lunch and drive the road at the South coast. You’ll probably find a lovely secluded beach.
Of bring a visit to this beautiful waterfall not far from Furnas.
Due to a hurricane near the island of São Miguel during our visit, we had a lot of rain and strong winds. As a result, we have not been able to see and do everything we would have. This blog therefore is not as complete as I like.
One of the highlights of the island (from hearsay), which you should not miss when the weather is good, is a hike around Lagao de Fogo.
We also saw just a little of the capital, Ponta Delgada. This is because almost everything was closed on Sunday, and besides that, it rained too hard to do and see stuff there.
Wanna know more about the Azores?
Please read my other blogs:
General information for planning a trip to the Azores
The island Terceira
The island Corvo
The island Flores