Ribeira Grande

Culture & history

Explore the highlights of the western half of São Miguel island on this guided tour by van. Discover the famous crater lakes of Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo, picturesque waterfalls, amazing cliffs, and stunning rock formations around the coast of the island. Start with a visit to Ribeira Grande, one of the most picturesque towns of the Azores, followed by a surprising view of some amazingly beautiful cliffs on the North coast. Then travel to the inner areas of the island to see the gorgeous waterfall of Salto do Cabrito, surrounded by wild vegetation. Drive to the top of Fogo Volcano to enjoy views of the most pristine and magical of the crater lakes of São Miguel. From the top of the mountain, enjoy the stunning views over a large portion of the island. After a tasty meal to restore your energy levels, head to Sete Cidades, to understand why this is considered by the postcard of the Azores. Enjoy views from two completely different perspectives over the famous twin lakes.  End the day in Mosteiros, on the western coast of the island, where the lava rocks have formed enchanting small islets and natural pools.

2x Full-days Package excursions Furnas + Nordeste + Sete Cidades + Fogo Lake (4 Tours in 2 days) 1st Full Day tour to Furnas & Nordeste. (8 hours tour)) 2nd Full Day tour to Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo. (8 hours tour) As the reservation calendar only allows you to mark 1 day at a time, the 2nd day of the tour will be automatically reserved for the following day Ex; if you book for the 8th of May, automatically the 2nd day of the tour will be the 9th. What will make your reservations on the 8th and 9th of May. *The order of days tours may be changed. Our local gastronomy will be represented on both days. On the day of Furnas & Nordeste tour, we will have the opportunity to lunch the famous “Furnas Stew”, cooked in volcanic soil for 6 hours, and also have the opportunity to see taking out our pot from the interior of the volcanic soil, and all the volcanic manifestations existing there. On the day of Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo tour, lunch will be served as a “Buffet” with different meat and fish dishes. (Full lunch on both of 2 days of activities with starters, drinks, dessert and coffee included) In these 2 days of activitiest, you will have the privilege of having a general view of the most iconic places of the entire “green” island, from which stand out the emblematic viewpoints such as Vista do Rei in Sete Cidades, (winner of the 7 Wonders of Portugal ) or Pico do Ferro, where you can see from the top of the crater one of the most active volcanoes in the Azores archipelago and learn all about its eruptive history with more than 100,000 years. You will also have the opportunity to relax in hot thermal pools, heated by Furnas volcano, at one of the biggest and best Botanical Parks in Europe, Terra Nostra Park. Also the visit to Pineapple and Tea Plantations will be a “must”. In the Northeast area, we will visit the Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park with its 5 water mills and its imposing and majestic waterfall, entitled “Véu da Noiva”. We have selected the best TOP places to visit throughout São Miguel island in Sete Cidades, Furnas, Lagoa do Fogo and Nordeste areas, making in a 2 full days activities the most complete experience as possible at São Miguel Island in Azores

Start by visiting a traditional pineapple plantation, which is a biological culture developed on greenhouses where it’s possible to taste the pineapple´s liquor. Continue along the west coast of the island where it´s possible to enjoy the view of both São Miguel’s coasts from the Pico de Carvão‘s viewpoint. Surrounded by the greenest vegetation, visit the Vista do Rei‘s viewpoint at Sete Cidades. From this point, see the twin lakes with their varying colours. Then, inside the crater, admire the stunning Santiago lake. Head next to the stop will be made in the picturesque town of Sete Cidades where lunch will be served in a regional restaurant. After lunch, admire the beauty of São Nicolau church. In the afternoon, continue along to the Escalvado Viewpoint. Along the north coast, stop to visit the town of Ribeira Grande where you can explore its historic center. Visit the Regional Liquors' Factory to taste a variety of its products. The last stop will be at the fantastic Lagoa do Fogo for fantastic views of the island. Finally, return to Ponta Delgada, through Pico da Barrosa.

Enjoy a half-day quad tour around Sete Cidades, the largest freshwater lake in the Azores, situated in the western part of the island of São Miguel. Starting from Ponta Delgada, discover the stunning landscapes of the island.   Experience the amazing view over the island at the Pico do Carvão viewpoint, with Ponta Delgada on one side, and Ribeira Grande on the other. Climb up into the mountains to see the Lagoas Empadadas, and the Serra Devassa. The mountains and lakes in this region play a very important role supplying water to the villages. Stop at Canário Lake for one of the best views of the Boca do Inferno trail.   On the way back to the city, you will see the majestic view at Vista do Rei, providing you with spectacular views of the magical blue and green colors that characterize the waters of these lakes.

Marvel at the volcanic landscape of the Azores with a tour of the Lagoa do Fogo (Lake of Fire) on this guided tour in São Miguel, with optional hotel pickup. Stop at multiple viewpoints on the drive up to the crater. Take a dip in the Caldeira Velha thermal pools or the Salto do Cabrito waterfall. Start from the Marina of Vila Franca do Campo for check-in and a short briefing. Then, hop into a van to drive up to the protected Nature Reserve of Lagoa do Fogo. On the way, stop at the scenic viewpoints of Pico da Barrosa and Bela Vista to soak in some of São Miguel’s best island views. Finally, arrive at the 15 thousand-year-old crater that sits in the deep caldera of the Fogo Volcano. Admire the stunning lake and learn about its endemic flora and surrounding woodlands from your guide. Next, head down the mountain, passing by the Caldeira Velha Environmental Interpretation Centre for information on the island's volcanic origin, biodiversity, and geothermal resources. Here, you can opt for a bath in Caldeira Velha’s manmade thermals pools and a natural waterfall pool – all heated by the nearby Fogo Volcano. Alternatively, go further ahead to the Salto do Cabrito waterfall, tucked away in a lush forest. With any time left, you visit the Historic Center of Ribeira Grande, the 16th-century fountain of Largo de São Pedro, or the sandy beach of Santa Barbara. Finally, head back to the marina to end the tour.

This excursion starts and finishes at the Salto do Cabrito Waterfall, an amazing place located near to the city of Ribeira Grande and Caldeira Velha in São Miguel Island (+/- 20 minute drive away from the city of Ponta Delgada). When we get there, we will proceed with the equipment distribution and a safety briefing, followed by a walk of around 30 minutes on average until we reach the canyoning site where the fun will begin! After a new briefing with a few more instructions, we begin the descent of this canyon, passing through several waterfalls and surrounded by the exuberant nature of this volcanic area. The descent is made through several rappels (between 4 and 16 meters) and for unforgettable moments of fun, there is also the option of a zip-line. The highest rappel is approximately 16 meters and you can optionally make a jump of approximately 3 meters. Note: – The exact itinerary including jumps, rappels and other techniques will depend on local conditions and seasons. The terrain, landscape and flow of the stream normally change throughout the year.

Explore one of the largest lakes in the Azores on a 3-hour tour of the Lagoa do Fogo by 4WD vehicle. After hotel pickup, first, stop at Pico da Barrosa viewpoint and enjoy panoramic views of Lagoa do Fogo. Surrounded by native trees and beautiful flowers, the lake is best accessed and appreciated by off-road vehicles, getting you to more remote and picturesque areas. During the tour, you will stop at a variety of interesting locations en route, with highlights including the Calderas of Ribeira Grande. See the fumaroles, geysers and a wonderful waterfall of the warm, iron water. Finally, visit the city of Ribeira Grande and taste local liqueurs.

Join this tour to visit the most iconic and historical areas of São Miguel Island. See views of the lakes from Vista do Rei, stop at the Santa Iria Viewpoint, try tea at a tea planation, try Furnas stew in Furnas Valley, and more. Start your journey to the Vista do Rei viewpoint and admire the landscape of the Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde lakes, located in Sete Cidades. Then, head to the mountains to enjoy the scenic view over Lagoa do Fogo and visit the Santa Iria Viewpoint. Stop at the Gorreana tea plantation and its factory. Taste black and green tea and then continue to Furnas Valley to admire the Pico do Ferro’s viewpoint. Watch powerful volcanic phenomena, known as fumaroles, in Furnas village.  Enjoy Furnas stew for lunch, a traditional dish cooked underground. Take a walk at Furnas Lake and learn about the Furnas stew cooking process. On your way back, drive along the south coast and stop at Vila Franca do Campo, the first capital of São Miguel.

Benefit from mini van pick-up at your accommodation in Ponta Delgada and the area around and then explore the coastline of São Miguel island by boat. Spend 3 hours looking for majestic whales and playful dolphins in their natural environment.  Reconnect with the natural world as you go in search of the sperm whales, blue whales, humpback whales, fin whales and sei whales that make the archipelago one of the best places in the world to see different marine mammals. Keep a look out for turtles, flying fish, sea birds and jumping dolphins along the way.  Disembark at the marina and enjoy a tasty lunch at local restaurant. Afetr lunch make your way to the volcanic landscapes of Lagoa do Fogo crater lake. See one of the most beautiful lakes in São Miguel and experience the amazing interior of the island up close. Learn about how is used the volcanic heat to produce renewable energy to the island.

Explore the volcanic landscape of the Sete Cidades, and the mountain scenery of the Lagoa do Fogo on a full-day sightseeing tour from Punta Delgada. Following a pick-up from your hotel, drive along a scenic road to the Vista do Rei viewpoint. Enjoy panoramic views of the blue and green waters of the two lakes in the crater of the Sete Cidades. Then, continue to different viewpoints before getting close to the banks of the twin lakes. Go to the Mata do Canário, and marvel at the unique flora of the natural park. Drive along the Pico do Carvão road past numerous small lakes, including the “Empadas Lakes.” Get multiple perspectives of the north and south shores of the island of São Miguel. Break for a lunch of typical Azorean food in a local restaurant in the city of Lagoa. Next, explore the city of Ribeira Grande with its unique historic center that dates from the 17th to 19th centuries. Ascend the Pico da Barrosa mountain at the end of your tour and discover the protected natural landscape of the Lagoa do Fogo (Fire Lake). Marvel at the thermal pools, waterfalls, and different types of endangered plants of the area, before your return transfer to Ponta Delgada and a drop-off at your hotel.