5 Days on Sao Miguel Island: Azores, Portugal Travel Guide
If you get a chance to go to the Azores, do it. Just book the flight. I went to Sao Miguel, and not only is it an amazing island with natural beauty and vast landscapes, but it also has delicious food and great people. While Sao Miguel is the largest of the islands, it is still relatively small.
If you are fast-paced or an adventurer, 5 days is plenty of time to see and do everything you want to do on the island. If you prefer to take your time and travel slow, there are plenty of spots to relax and spends hours seeing – if that’s your thing.
I drove from Nashville, to Buffalo (ate at Anchor Bar – home of the original buffalo wings!), and to Toronto to fly there. Here are some tips on things to think about while planning.
PRE-TRIP TIPS:
- Exchange money – it will just make your life easier, especially since most checks come with all meals on one check and there are a lot of cute local shops.
- Rent a car – this way you can see and do everything you want! Plus, there is no local transportation that will be easily accessible to get most places.
- Download Google Maps – just trust me. It drains less battery, and it is great if no one has international data. Also, you can save all the places you want to go which makes it easy to get directions between places.
- Check opening and closing times – some places either open really early or not until later than you think. This helps you get to places right as they open, and even though there aren’t so many tourists, this helps make sure you are one of the only groups there.
- Be flexible – because there is no point planning out each thing to do since the weather is rapidly changing. Just map out what kinds of things you want to do generally on the same day, and you will be good! This way you can make sure you are getting the best weather each day.
Now, on to the good stuff. This is a list of how we grouped together certain activities. Keep in mind we did this based on the weather in the area that day, and we made sure to put the most popular spots at the beginning of the day so that we could get those spots mostly to ourselves.
DAY 1: Sete Cidades, Ponta Ferraria & Pineapple Plantation
From Ponta Delgada, you should start at the Miradouro do Boca Inferno, but stop at the Abandoned Hotel on the way up.
Sete Cidades
Hike to this amazing viewpoint to get a great view over the lakes and to see the city of Sete Cidades.
After that, head down the mountain into the city-center, stopping at any viewpoint that intrigues you! For instance, you should stop at the viewpoint that overlooks the bridge between the famous two lakes. In the right light, these lakes are two different colors, but unfortunately we didn’t see that.
Then, go into the city to see this cute town. Stop at Igreja de Sao Nicolau. It is a picturesque church that has a walkway lined by trees and is a bright white amidst all the green. Take a little break and grab some food after that at the Restaurante Sao Nicolau!
Ponta Ferraria
When you’re done eating or grabbing a quick coffee, drive over to Ponta Ferraria. You will drive down a winding hill to this coast lined by black rocks, which on a day like we had, had crashing waves shooting up over the rocks.
You can even walk down the side to the natural hot pool that is available to swim in if the water is right. For us, it wasn’t.
Pineapple Plantation
We were a little jet-lagged after all this, so we ended up taking a break for a couple hours. We changed into cuter clothes, and we went to Pineapples a Arruda to see the little baby pineapples growing.
You can walk inside the greenhouses and see the pineapples at different stages of their growth, and they even have a gift shop where you can taste samples of their own pineapple liqueur – very sweet and delicious.
This day was highly windy, but we decided to see if the Gorreana Tea Plantation had any better weather since it was on the North coast. It wasn’t, but we got to walk around and tour the inside of the factory and see how the tea was made, as well as pick up some gifts from their little cafe and gift shop.
DAY 2: Lagoa do Fogo, Vila Franco do Campo, & Ponta Delgada
Lagoa do Fogo
The next day, get a good start and head up the giant mountain to Lagoa do Fogo. It might be cloudy at the beginning, and it is a steep drive, but the views at the top are worth it. At the third viewpoint for this lake within a volcano, there is a parking lot and a set of stairs. These stairs will lead you on a hike straight down giant natural stairs (plus some wooden stairs and even a ladder), but the view and the sore muscles are all worth this steep hike.
After that, if you have time and there isn’t a crowd, try to go to Caldeira Velha, which is a natural hot spring by a waterfall. You can also just go straight to Salto do Cabrito, which is a very short hike to a waterfall in a small cove. Walk around on the rocks if you’re feeling adventurous.
Vila Franco do Campo
Next up, drive to see the Islet of Vila Franco do Campo. It is a small islet a short distance from the city of Franco do Campo, and if it’s the right season you can even take a ferry and go swim out there!
Relax and soak up the views of the coast.
Then, drive up to see Our Lady of Peace Chapel, which is an iconic church at the very top of a mountain. While driving through the streets, make sure not to scrape your mirror (my bad).
Ponta Delgada
Then, go home and take a break, because then you should go see the city of Ponta Delgada! We were able to just walk and see all the iconic sights in the city since our Airbnb was there. This was really helpful, and it was beautiful to see the cobblestone designs and the rich history of this port city!
First, go to Park Jardim Antonio Borges and walk around the interesting stairs and caves around the park. You will not believe that park is just right in the middle of this capital.
Then, go to Forte de S. Bras de Ponta Delgada, Portas da Cidaded, Igreja Matriz de Sao Sebastio, Marina Ponta Delgada, and then the Hermitage of the Mother of God to see the city from above.
After that, you can shop for souvenirs near the harbor and grab some food from any of the restaurants. All the restaurants have these delicious “meat plates” that come with any meat of your choice cooked in a delicious sauce with a fried egg on top, as well as rice and french fries.
You also have to try a slice of fresh pineapple. It’s unlike any other pineapple I have had, because it is so fresh.
Then, go home and relax and drink some pineapple liqueur from your terrace in the city and watch a romantic comedy or true crime documentary!
DAY 3: FURNAS, BEACH, & GORREANA TEA PLANTATION
Furnas
Get an early start on this day! Poca da Dona Beija opens at 7:00am, and we got there at 7:45am and were the only people there for an hour! Definitely go early, because this is the most calming place to relax with just you and your group.
After that, because Terra Nostra does not open until 10:00am, head up to see the Caldeiras Vulcanicas. These are bubbling thermal springs right next to a garden. It is definitely worth walking through if you can stand the smell.
Next up, get to Terra Nostra Park right as it opens! There is a large thermal pool right in the middle of the park as you walk in. Don’t be alarmed by the muddy-looking water. It’s basically just a giant swimming pool (kids literally do cannon balls into the water) and there are even changing rooms and bathrooms near it.
It isn’t known for only swimming, though. This park is a giant botanical garden. It could take hours to walk through the entire park, at times looking like a fairy garden and with completely changing landscapes as you get further in.
There are ponds, palm trees, statues, flower gardens, etc. There is even a pond where you can walk on stones to the middle of the pond.
After this, definitely go eat in Furnas. If you want to go to Restaurante Tony’s, it doesn’t open until 12 and you need a reservation. We ended up going to another restaurant just down the street called Restaurante Banhos Ferreos.
It was delicious, and the staff are really friendly. If you want the cozido (their famous dish in Furnas for being cooked by the heat of the volcano), you can’t get it until 12 or 12:30pm, but they also have the “meat plates” and lots of other delicious meals!
Gorreana Tea Plantation
After this, we went to our new guesthouse about 10 minutes from Ponta Delgada and across the street from a small beach. We relaxed in the warm sun, took showers, and got ready for our last adventure of the night – Gorreana Tea Plantation.
This tea plantation was much more enjoyable without the extreme winds. We were able to walk across the street and explore the tea terraces and the rest of the grounds. It was a beautiful sunset, and we ended that trip there by getting gelato and looking at the plantation through the giant windows.
DAY 4: NORDESTE, EAST COAST & QUINTA DA JARDINETE
This day was the most surprising day we had. The first 3 days included the more popular tourist areas. This day was just a road trip around the northeast, east, and southeast coasts.
This included a lot of viewpoints and random stops, but it was a realization that every garden and every natural area is always thoughtfully planned out and made to show off the beauty of the island.
Nordeste and East Coast
First stop, we went to Miradoura de Santa Iria to see the view. It wasn’t open when we were there, but if Poco Azul is open, try to go see the blue water hole! Next, go to the Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeiras. This place has a magnificent waterfall and lush green landscapes surrounding it.
On the other side of the street is a nice walkway that has different areas for viewing another waterfall, gardens, and sitting areas. It also has a cafe that can be a nice little morning coffee or caffeine stop to fuel you for the journey around the coast.
Then, there will be many other stops, but the ones worth noting are Miradouro da Despe-te que Suas, Miradouro da Boca da Ribeira, and in Nordeste – Miradouro da Ponta do Arnel (lighthouse). You can park and walk to the lighthouse, but it is a far and steep walk, and it is a pretty view from the viewpoint.
You must stop at the Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego and the garden up there. It has rustic wooden railings on the pathways around the coastal viewpoint, and there are many cats just wondering around!
After this, drive to see the Faial da Terra and hike to Salto do Prego. It is a moderate hike, and the waterfall isn’t giant, but the hike was nice and runs along the stream the whole way.
Then, we went to go eat at the same restaurant in Furnas (Restaurante Banhos Ferreos), and tried the cozido. It contains many different types of meats, many types of vegetables, and potatoes and has a delicious flavor. While we were in Furnas, we went to see the Caldeiras da Lagoa das Furnas to see the cozido coming from the volcanic heat.
Quinta da Jardinete
After this, make sure it is a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday between the hours of 5:30 and 7:00pm to go to Quinta da Jardinete. This was an activity we almost forgot as the only place I found it was on Google Things to Do, but it was one of our most memorable experiences.
This vineyard is in the back of a local’s house, and there are no obvious signs – only an open door on the street. Just walk in, and if he isn’t on a tour, join in! If he is, you might have to wait, but it is worth it.
He will show you around his vineyard and show you where he grows a fruit called loquats. Then he shows you the room where he ages and bottles the wines. It is a family business, and he will explain to you how they run their vineyard.
You will also get the chance to buy their homemade wines, loquat schnapps, or loquat jam made by his wife. Definitely support him and buy something! (The wine was good, but the jam was exquisite.) He is also great to talk to, and he will answer any questions you have about Portugal, the Azores, or the vineyard.
DAY 5: BREAKFAST, RELAX, & GO HOME
At this point, you have seen so much on the island! Unless there is something you really wanted to do that you didn’t get to, take the time to just enjoy the relaxing vibes of the island and the culture.
Eat a delicious breakfast and talk about your highs and lows of the trip. Take some time to reflect while you are still there. It does so much good. We ate at the Sunset Beach Restaurante and Bar. It sits right on the beach, so you can just look out at the ocean and enjoy the freshest orange juice you will ever taste.
After this, we drove around to find the sun. We ended up playing the game “Heads Up!” by the lighthouse in Ponta Garca, and we laughed until we had to head to the airport that afternoon.
Just be warned, there is no good gift shop past security at the airport, so make sure you get something before going through security! We then flew back to Toronto, drove to New York, spent the night, and I drove back to Nashville. I reflected on our trip and dreamt of the next.
This was my country #10, and it did not disappoint. The Azores are incredible, and they are unlike anything I have seen in any other country. The best part about this island was the sheer lack of tourists and the undisturbed natural beauty. Please go there, but not all at once.
For more on Europe, read:
Barcelona, Spain Travel Guide: Top 5 Sights in 1 Day
