Ilha de São Miguel Things to Do Tips by Avieira67 Top 5 Page for this destination

Lagoa das Sete Cidades

These twin lakes [green and blue] are located on the West side of the Island, about 20 km from Ponta Delgada, and along with 12 others are inside a protected landscape.
The Sete Cidades volcano has on its top a caldera with an average diametre of 5 km and a maximum depth of 400 m, and this caldera was formed by a sucession of collapses of the top of the mountain, beginning 21000 years ago.
From the Vista do Rei view point, located one foot from the abandoned hotel, there is a panoramic view of the whole caldera of the Sete Cidades, including some of the volcano cones that were active after the formation of the caldera.
The flora along the shore includes many species such as: Potamogeton polygonifolius, Potamogeton lucens, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Egeria densa, Eleocharis palustris, Nymphaea alba and Chara fragilis.
Several species of fishes were introduced during the last hundred years, including: Rutilus rutilus, Esox lucius, Salmo fario (trout) Cyprius carpio (carp), Perca fluvialitis (perch) and Micropterus salmoides (black bass).
In Septembre 2010, these lakes were declared as one of the seven natural wonders of Portugal.
A regular bus service connects this village to Ponta Delgada.

Address: Sete Cidades Village

Furnas village

Furnas Village belongs to the municipality of Povoação. The population in 2001 was 1,541, its density is 45.5/km² and the area is 33.88 km². The parish is one of the largest in the island and in the Azores, and is located 45 km east of Ponta Delgada, west of Povoação village and southeast of Ribeira Grande.

Places must see:
Furnas Lake
Botanic Garden
Geysers
Dona Beija Spot

Lagoa das Empadadas

These twin two lagoons are found in the protected landscape of Sete Cidades, inside a park.
If you go up to the top of the mountain you have a good view of the Lagoas do Carvão e Rasa.

Weekdays
08:30 - 16:00
Weekends and Holidays [May - Sep]
10:00 - 19:00

Entrance: FREE

Address: Caminho da Serra

Directions: Take the way from Covoada village to Sete Cidades village (caminho da Serra) and you will find a tourist point view. Afterwards, you will reach an aquaduct on your right side.
The entrance is the gate on your left side just after the Lagoa do Carvão.

Lagoa e Parque do Canário

Canário lagoon, surronded by criptomeria trees, is inside a this florestal park.
Sete Cidades (blue lake), Santiago and Rasa Lakes can be seen from a viewing point located in this park.
In summer, locals are used to visit this park for pic-nic.

Weekdays
08:30 - 16:00
Weekends and Holidays [May - Sep]
10:00 - 19:00

Entrance: FREE

Address: Caminho da Serra

Directions: Take the route from Covoada village to Sete Cidades village.
A gate on your right side.

Arruda Pineapple Plantation

Pineapple is our favourite fruit and is produced inside green houses.
In Fajã de Baixo, a village situated only 5km from Ponta Delgada, you can visit some of these green houses.
Visitors can find here information about the plantation of pineapple and are invited to drink a liquor of the fruit.
Some handicraft is also available.

Address: Fajã de Baixo

Plantação de Chá

This is the only place in Europe where tea is cultivated.
Nowadays we have two factories: Porto Formoso and Gorreana.
You will have the opportunity to follow all the process of manufacture with a 30 minutes video (Porto Formoso Factory) or with explanations given by the owner (Gorreana Factory).
In a tea room, where you can buy the products of the factory, a cup of tea is offered as a gift.

Porto Formoso
Monday - Saturday
10:00 - 18:00

Gorreana
Everyday
08:00 - 18:00

Address: The route from Ribeirinha to Furnas / Nordeste

Directions: The first factory you will find is that of Porto Formoso (big stone house); Gorreana factory is a little far from here. Both are on your left side.
You should enter and taste these artisanal teas.

Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande

This is an area where one can find bubbling hot springs encompassed by a lush grove of trees.
The Thermal Centre is nowadays closed for modernization.
The Caldeiras Snack-Bar Restaurant offers you a variety of local food and, if you book in advance, you can enjoy the "Cozido à Portuguesa" cooked in the spots around the hotspring.

Address: Caldeiras - Ribeira Grande

Directions: When you are leaving from Ribeira Grande to Ribeirinha. After passing the cemetery, take a route on your right side (Caldeiras).

Lagoa do Fogo

This lake, included in a nature reserve, forming the volcanic complex called Fogo, is the most recent crater on the island with the last eruption in June 1563.
There is a narrow path leading down to the lake and many protected plant species can be seen on the way down.
From the viewing point you have a good perspective of the lake, but it's better from the top of the mountain - Pico da Barrosa.

Lagoa de Santiago

This crater has a maximum lengh of 1150 metres and a maximum width of 850 metres.
Formely this crater was surrounded by native vegetation, but nowadays inside the crater the exotic species prevail, particularly the incense Pittosporum undulatum, the cryptomeria Cryptomeria japonica and the yellow ginger lilly Hedychium gardneranum. However, some natural vegetation can still be found, such as the laurel Laurus azorica, the tamujo Myrsine africana, the mountain grape Vaccinium cylindraceum, the holly Ilex perado ssp.azorica, the cedar Juniperus brevifolia, the heather Erica scoparia spp.azorica and the saguinho Frangula azorica.
At least two species of fishes are present in this lake: the carp Cyprinorum rex and the black bass Micropterus salmoides.