AN ISLAND OF NATURAL BEAUTY + BOUNDLESS ADVENTURE
Discover an accessible, affordable, island getaway!
São Miguel is the largest island in the Azorean archipelago, an autonomous region of Portugal. Located just 5 hours from the coast of the US, it is an incredible, accessible, and affordable island getaway that is often referred to as the Hawaii of Europe.
It's mild year round weather is a result of the warm Atlantic currents that surround the island. The summer dry months make it a great destination to make the most of vacation time as it means that you'll be able to plan reliably (most of the time!).
The island is blessed with some amazing hiking due to its nature as a volcanic island. Hike along the ridges of calderas, deep into valleys filled with fragrant flowers, and through picturesque villages. Like Terceira, the trails here are well maintained and well marked, making it very easy for visitors to get the most out of their trips.
If you seek adventure, there's also plenty of that! From whale watching to snorkeling to daring jumps into the ocean, São Miguel has adventure in spades for those that want to mix it up!
Come join us for 8 days exploring this amazing island!
Days
Day 1: Arrive at Sao Miguel
<p>PDL is a small airport and easy to move through. While we arrived towards the end of peak tourist season, it was still very manageable! Our plane arrived early and we decided to head out for a hike (maybe a mistake in hindsight given the 4 hours of sleep! 🤣).</p><p>Rocha da Relva is nearby and looks "easy" on the map, but it is actually quite challenging because it descends steeply along the cliff down into a small, remote village. It is definitely worth it if you have the energy! it can be quite tricking going if it's wet because the road can be quite steep in sections.</p>
Visit
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Walking Trail - Rocha da Relva
Walking trail near airport; 3 hours @ 5.5KM. Head to the left and down to the beach: https://trails.visitazores.com/en/trails-azores/sao-miguel/rocha-da-relva
Eat
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King's Bread - Paim
We stopped here for a quick breakfast before heading out due to our early morning flight. -
Quinta dos Açores
An excellent place to stop to grab lunch with plenty of options for everyone and amazing ice cream! -
Continente Modelo Capelas
Supermarket to pick up snacks and dried fruit -
Continente Modelo Ponta Delgada
A good place to pick up essentials after landing (sunscreen, water, snacks). Located attached to a mall so you can pick up anything you need.
Stay
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João de Oliveira - casas de campo
Fantastic B&B type accommodations at the edge of the island overlooking the ocean. A bit out of the way, but not too far from supermarkets and many of the west coast attractions. https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/joao-de-oliveira-casas-de-campo.html
Transit
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Arrive PDL @ 8:40 AM
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Go Rent-a-car
Go provides good options and they are easy to work with. You'll pay half at booking and half when you pick up. The added insurance option is very affordable. The location is at the P6 parking lot out towards the right after exiting the airport so it's a bit of a walk.
Photos
Day 2: Grota do Inferno + Ponta da Ferraria
<p>Challenging hike in the morning at Sendero Serra Devassa; spectacular hike. Parking can be difficult, but there are parking spots further up from the main lot. Miradouro da Boca do Inferno starts across the street and can get busy by the middle of the morning.</p><p>From there, we headed to Terms da Ferraria where natural hot springs meet the cold water of the ocean. Amazing time, but definitely gets very crowded. There are bathrooms up near the bend before coming down and I recommend changing up there instead because the lines down at the piscina can be long! </p><p>For dinner, we ended up waiting 2 hours to get seated at Solar Dos Frangos, but the chicken was delicious! Tip: make a reservation.</p>
Visit
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PRC05-SMI / Sendero Serra Devassa
Gorgeous mountain trail opposite Boca do Inferno. Parking mid-day can be challenging so it's best to come before 10AM. 4.9km, 2h, medium difficulty, circular trail; https://trails.visitazores.com/en/trails-azores/sao-miguel/serra-devassa -
Miradouro da Boca do Inferno
Gorgeous viewpoint overlooking Lagoa Azul. It is opposite Sendero Serra Devassa and it makes for a nice hike to do the two together. -
Ponta da Ferraria
This natural pool at the far west coast is an amazing experience! You can feel a gradient in the water temperate between the island and the opening of the small bay.
Eat
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Roulote Insular
Delicious burgers; lit a very tender meatball. Very generous portions! -
Solar O Rei dos Frangos
Dinner here; make a reservation! Roasted chicken is delicious. We waited 2 hours
Transit
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João de Oliveira - casas de campo → PRC05-SMI / Sendero Serra Devassa
Estimated 29 minutes by driving
Photos
Day 3: Whale Watching + Mosteiros
<p>Whale watching in the morning and saw 3 Sei whales, a possible sperm whale carcass, dozens of Atlantic spotted dolphins, and a flying fish! First went to Ponta do Castelo but decided to head to Piscinas Naturais Caneiros where everyone enjoyed jumping off of the cliffs into the natural pools!</p><p>Grab lunch and a drink at Seaside Vibez.</p><p>I recommend bringing a nice, long selfie stick (which I did not bring) if you want to get amazing shots of whales and dolphins in the water. </p><p>In the afternoon, we headed to downtown Ponta Delgada to stroll and grab some food. We happened upon a small festival and enjoyed some amazing sausages here!</p>
Visit
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Terra do Pico, Whale Watching in Azores
West coast port to set off for whale watching. The other is on the south side at Vila Campo do Franco. Price is reasonable and quite intimate because the groups are small. Be sure to bring Dramamine! -
Piscinas Naturais "Caneiros"
A natural swimming pool deep enough to jump into off of the rocks. There are multiple here to explore. -
Portas da Cidade
The downtown area is bustling and good to check for events. On this day, there was unfortunately a bit of a drizzle in the afternoon, but we got some AMAZING sausages and beer :)
Eat
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Seaside Vibez (The best sunset view)
Food option nearby the natural pools. VERY generous servings! -
Gelataria Abracadabra
Delicious gelato options! Try the more unique flavors like peanut. -
Continente Modelo Capelas
Supermarket to pick up snacks and dried fruit
Stay
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João de Oliveira - casas de campo
Fantastic B&B type accommodations at the edge of the island overlooking the ocean. A bit out of the way, but not too far from supermarkets and many of the west coast attractions. https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/joao-de-oliveira-casas-de-campo.html
Photos
Day 4: Quatro Fabricas da Luz + Praia Ribeira das Tainhas
<p>We started our day with a hike down into a valley at Quatro Fabricas da Luz. Here, we learned an important lesson: if you're looking for hikes with "cascatas" or waterfalls, you likely will only find a trickle in the dry summer months! </p><p>It was still a good hike and quite challenging due to the steep elevation change as well as the slightly overgrown trail. Still a good hike, but very challenging and you'll definitely be walking through some dense vegetation.</p><p>In the afternoon, we went to the nearby Praia Ribeira das Tainhas which is a fantastic little each that's a bit hard to find. The streets here are extremely narrow so drive slowly! Parking is quite sparse so if you need to, back track and you'll see a "P" sign pointing you up to a parking lot by a futbol pitch. Definitely one of the more unique beaches!</p>
Visit
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Quatro Fabricas da Luz
A very rugged trail that is a bit overgrown compared to many other trails on Sao Miguel and also quite challenging due to the elevation change. In summer months, don't expect any waterfalls. I would recommend skipping! PR39 https://trails.visitazores.com/en/trails-azores/sao-miguel/quatro-fabricas-da-luz, 2.1km, 1.5h hike. -
Praia Ribeira das Tainhas
Amazing swimming spot! The water drops off quickly and there are no life guards at this beach so it may not be suitable for young kids. Parking can be hectic, but there is a parking lot up on a hill near a futbol pitch with plenty of spots. Streets here are very, very narrow!
Eat
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Cervejaria Moby Dick
A low-fuss place to grab dinner with good hospitality. Lots of options from pizza to burgers to chicken steak. -
Continente Modelo Capelas
Supermarket to pick up snacks and dried fruit
Stay
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João de Oliveira - casas de campo
Fantastic B&B type accommodations at the edge of the island overlooking the ocean. A bit out of the way, but not too far from supermarkets and many of the west coast attractions. https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/joao-de-oliveira-casas-de-campo.html
Transit
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João de Oliveira - casas de campo → PRC02 SMI Lagoa do Fogo
Estimated 40 minutes by driving
Photos
Day 5: Boat Tour and Snorkeling (Mid Island)
<p>After Charlotte rolled her ankle the day before, we had to change our plans to reduce the amount of hiking. This day was supposed to initially start with a hike, but we decided to visit one of the pineapple plantations and enjoy some of the local snacks. Be sure to try the local pineapple; the sweetness is amazing!</p><p>After that, we headed to Vial Franco do Campo for snorkeling. This area is quite busy and is the main launch point for many activities like ocean kayaking, whale watching, and more. </p><p>We ended our day with a hike towards Lagoa Rasa starting from Aqueduto du Carvão. This is a trail that branches from the trail at Sendero Serra Devassa. This hike felt special because of the fact that it seemed as if the entire island belonged only to us. At one point along the trail, it was almost completely silent except for our steps!</p>
Visit
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Plantação Ananases A Arruda
Actually not far from downtown PDL and quite small. But a good stop to appreciate the locally grown pineapples and savor some of the amazing desserts! https://www.ananasesarruda.com/ -
Vila Watersports Center
We took a snorkeling trip out of this port to Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo. Reasonable price with all gear provided. Lots of snacks and shops nearby as this is the main port for many of the water activities like whale watching from the more heavily trafficked south coast. https://vilawatersportscenter.com/en/ -
Aqueduto do Carvão
There is a hiking trail here opposite of the Aqueduto that loops up to Sendero Serra Devassa and Lagoa Rasa. Fantastic afternoon hike was it as completely deserted; we were some of the only people around. What was striking is how silent it was. The views are gorgeous!
Eat
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Continente Modelo Capelas
Supermarket to pick up snacks and dried fruit
Stay
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João de Oliveira - casas de campo
Fantastic B&B type accommodations at the edge of the island overlooking the ocean. A bit out of the way, but not too far from supermarkets and many of the west coast attractions. https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/joao-de-oliveira-casas-de-campo.html
Transit
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João de Oliveira - casas de campo → Plantação Ananases A Arruda → Vila Wat
João de Oliveira - casas de campo → Plantação Ananases A Arruda → Vila Watersports Center → Aqueduto do Carvão
Photos
Day 6: Sete Ciadades + Santa Barbara
<p>Because of the ankle injury suffered earlier and the fact that most waterfalls were likely to be dry, we switched our original hiking plans and instead went back to Lagoa Azul to kayak. It turned out to be a great choice as we were treated to some amazing scenery along the way!</p><p>The nearby Green Love restaurant is a great place to stop to grab lunch afterwards. Serving sizes were generous and we had some really, really good fish here. The burgers were also delicious and very generously sized so order to split if you have smaller appetites!</p><p>In the afternoon, we stopped at Praia do Areal de Santa Barbara where we had initially planned to rent surf boards. However, due to weather earlier this year, it turns out that where the waves were now cresting made this beach unsuitable for surfing :( Do email or call beforehand if you have similar plans. It was still an amazing beach with big waves close to the shore which made for incredible wave jumping!</p>
Visit
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Miradouro da Lomba do Vasco
Here, we were treated to an amazing sight of the clouds suspended over the caldera! -
Futurismo Azores Adventures (Kayak @ Lagoa Azul)
Rented kayaks here for Lagoa Azul. Be sure to make reservations here beforehand, especially for a larger party. -
Igreja de São Nicolau
A beautiful place, to stroll to along the main street of Sete Ciadade. This route has some small shops for snacks and souvenirs. -
Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara
We were hoping to rent surfboards here, but were informed that in January of this year, a storm had changed the shape of the beach a bit so that the waves were now cresting too close to the beach. Still a fun beach with big waves to jump!
Eat
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Green Love Restaurant
We grabbed lunch here and had some FANTASTIC fish. The hamburger orders were also delicious and HUGE so order to share if you aren't prepared for plate sized burgers. -
Modelo Continente Ribeira Grande
Supermarket along the northern main highway -
Cervejaria Moby Dick
By poplar demand, we returned here for dinner! -
Continente Modelo Capelas
Supermarket to pick up snacks and dried fruit
Stay
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Batalha Golf Villa
Our second accommodation as our first was not available for the duration of our trip. This moved us a bit closer to the center of the island for east coast outings. https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/batalha-golf-villa.html -
João de Oliveira - casas de campo
Fantastic B&B type accommodations at the edge of the island overlooking the ocean. A bit out of the way, but not too far from supermarkets and many of the west coast attractions. https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/joao-de-oliveira-casas-de-campo.html
Transit
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Futurismo Azores Adventures → Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara → Batalha Go
Estimated an hour by driving
Photos
Day 7: Furnas
<p>We started with an easy hike around Furnas where we had initially planned to stop at the thermal bathes in Parque Terra Nostra. However, we changed plans due to the high cost of entry (17 Euro each!). The trail itself is picturesque and parking in the lot by the southeast corner of the lake makes access to Capela de Nossa Senhora das Vitórias easy. Bonus: this lot is also less crowded!</p><p>For lunch, we drove into town and had a fantastic meal at Queijaria Furnense. Skip the crowded locations in the main strip and head here instead!</p><p>The afternoon was filled with jumps into the ocean at Caloura, a small fishing port along the south coast we had driven by a day earlier. This area is easy to swim in for younger kids as the waves are small and there is a surface level pool (filled with the clear sea water!). Highly recommended!</p>
Visit
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Miradouro do Salto do Cavalo
Overlook of the valley below, including Furnas -
Lagoa da Furnas Walking Trail - PRC 06 SMI
This is a 3hr @ 10km circular route around Furnas. We took this trail in-and-out from a parking lot at the lower south-east side of Furnas lake. This is a good spot to park because there's plenty of availability here and it places you closer to the church. https://trails.visitazores.com/en/trails-azores/sao-miguel/furnas -
Parque Terra Nostra
Famed thermal bathes with orange water, but we skipped this due to the costly entrance fee of 17 euro each! -
Caloura, Agua de Pau
This swim area is at a small fishing port with both a pool and plenty of areas to dive into the water. Parking can be a challenge!
Eat
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Queijaria Furnense - Angus Meat
Delicious cheeses, meets, breads, and desserts!
Stay
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João de Oliveira - casas de campo
Fantastic B&B type accommodations at the edge of the island overlooking the ocean. A bit out of the way, but not too far from supermarkets and many of the west coast attractions. https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/joao-de-oliveira-casas-de-campo.html
Transit
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Estacionamento
Parking lot for Furnas -
Batalha Golf Villa → Miradouro do Salto do Cavalo → Estacionamento → Calou
Estimated 2 hours by driving
Photos
Day 8: Gorreana Tea Plantation + Tainhas!
<p>On our final day, we started with a random stop at a miradouro along our way to the Gorreana Tea Plantation. Tip: you will almost never go wrong stopping at any of the miraduoros along your route! The sight here was amazing!</p><p>Gorreana Tea Plantation was definitely worth the visit as it is a live production facility where you can see (and smell) the production of fresh tea. The food here is not only delicious, but also very reasonably priced for both meals and snacks. And the tea flows freely!</p><p>There are also two hiking trails here. We took the municipal trail that starts on the side of the entry drive way to the parking lot. This is a FANTASTIC trail that's easy-moderate with some elevation change and takes you to a small cascata (waterfall). It was but a trickle in this dry August, but the hiking trail is flanked by flowers on both sides and the cavernous opening where the waterfall was located felt ethereal!</p><p>We ended our trip with a return to Tainhas. On this day, the waves made for a much more interesting visit as they were quite a bit rougher than our first day. But this made for some very dramatic shots as the girls would dive just as a massive wave would hit the outcropping.</p>
Visit
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Miradouro de Santa Iria
Beautiful viewpoint overlooking fields and dramatic cliffs! A great place to drop a drone down! -
Gorreana Tea Plantation
Great place to stop for a stroll and snacks! Lots of delicious food here (very affordable) and self guided walk through the tea production facilities as well as the tea fields. -
Cascata da Cidreira
There is a small trail that starts near the entry of Gorreana Tea Plantation that heads through the tea fields. This is a fantastic, easy hike and highly recommended! -
Praia Ribeira das Tainhas
We returned here for our last beach adventure as it was our favorite and of course the most unique place we found!
Eat
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SóGrelhados Take away/ pizzaria Ribeira Grande
Good value for grabbing a bite! The skewers were a bit dry, but the grilled chicken was AMAZING. Stick with the grilled chicken! If you get fries, they will give you a very generous portion and you pay by weight. -
Modelo Continente Ribeira Grande
Supermarket along the northern main highway
Stay
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Batalha Golf Villa
Via Booking.com https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/batalha-golf-villa.html
Transit
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Batalha Golf Villa → Cascata do Salto do Prego
Estimated an hour by driving
Photos
Checklists
Checklist: Packing List
- Clothing for 5 days (5 shirts, 2-3 shorts, 1x leggings, etc.)
- (Optional) 1 long sleeve coverup for boating days
- 1 nicer shirt and shorts for potential dinner
- 2 - 3 bathing suits (2 is probably OK; rinse off each night and dry/swap)
- Underwear/bras/socks for for 5-6 days (1 extra)
- Face sunblock, lip balm with SPF (we will pick up sunblock on the island)
- Toiletries (small; no need for shampoo or soap; we will pick up on island)
- Water shoes
- Flip flops optional
- 2 towels
- Pajamas
Checklist: Recommended Items
- Water shoes or neoprene socks - many beaches have volcanic rocks and can be quite sharp!
- Type F plug adapter for Europe
- Packable towels - not all accommodations will provide "activity" towels so plan to bring your own
FAQ
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Are there direct flights to Sao Miguel?
Yes! We flew United out of Newark, but there are also flights out of JFK direct to Sao Miguel. The flight is only 5.5 hours out and 5 hours back with prices in the range of $500-600 in August.
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How is the weather in Sao Miguel in the summer?
The majority of our trip was very mild and dry with only a brief, light drizzle on 2 days. The temperatures during the day is comfortable with generally low humidity (higher where there is no wind like in a valley). At night, you may actually want to pack a light fleece or jacket as it can be a bit chilly!
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How is the driving on Sao Miguel?
It can be a challenge and is not for the faint of heart! Roads can be narrow, especially in the more remote villages where it seems like the streets were built for carriages (which they probably were!). Here, you'll have to take your time and mind your surroundings. Drive slowly!
Summary: Sao Miguel Island
São Miguel is a place that will take your breath away with its natural beauty. From hikes along volcanic calderas to jumping into the ocean, São Miguel offers visitors adventures that are sure to make memories for a lifetime!
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