Furnas and Nordeste Day Tour with Lunch São Miguel Azores

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Certified by Haqqi Tours

Duration8 hours
Daily
Group
Pickup available

Furnas and Nordeste Day Tour with Lunch São Miguel Azores

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Overview

Our eastern day tour pairs two very different sides of São Miguel. In the morning you explore Furnas, the island's thermal valley, with its steaming ground and gardens, then enjoy a traditional Furnas lunch. In the afternoon the van heads to the green Nordeste coast for waterfalls, viewpoints and quiet villages. A modern electric van carries no more than 8 guests, with a local guide, and hotel pickup in Ponta Delgada and Lagoa is included.

Highlights

Furnas thermal valley with steaming fumaroles
Traditional Furnas lunch with main course, dessert and coffee
Waterfalls and green valleys of the east
Dramatic coastal viewpoints along the Nordeste coast
Modern 100% electric van, local guide, up to 8 guests
Pickup and drop-off in Ponta Delgada and Lagoa

Full Description

Furnas valley and its geothermal wonders

Furnas sits in a crater where the earth is still warm: fumaroles breathe out steam, springs bubble with mineral water and the air carries a faint smell of sulphur. Visitors who search for "Furnas tour from Ponta Delgada" or "things to do in Furnas" come for exactly this scene, and the guide explains how the volcano feeds the hot springs and the soil.

The valley is one of the most photographed places on the island, and the short walks between the springs are easy. A day trip to Furnas is the simplest way to see it, because the road from the capital is winding and parking in the village is limited.

Traditional Furnas lunch

Furnas is famous for cozido, a stew cooked slowly in the hot volcanic ground, and for a cuisine shaped by the island's farms and sea. Lunch on this tour is a traditional Furnas meal with a main course, dessert and coffee, eaten at a local restaurant.

If you are looking for "where to eat in Furnas", the guide knows the places that serve the real flavours and can explain what is on the menu. Please tell us about any allergy or dietary need when you book, and we will pass it on.

Terra Nostra Park and the thermal pools

Terra Nostra Park is a historic garden of giant trees, ferns and ponds, with a large thermal pool whose iron-rich water is a deep orange-brown. Entrance to the park and the thermal pools is optional and not included, so you can decide on the day how much time you want there.

Bring swimwear and a towel if you want to bathe, and dark swimwear is wise because the minerals can stain light colours. If you prefer to skip the pools, the gardens are lovely for a walk on their own.

Nordeste, waterfalls and coastal viewpoints

Nordeste is the remote, green northeast of São Miguel, where streams fall as waterfalls through forest and cliffs drop to the Atlantic. Viewpoints such as Ponta do Sossego frame small villages, terraced fields and the open sea, and the guide stops for photographs at the best of them.

The weather here is often cooler and more changeable than in Ponta Delgada, so bring a light jacket. People who ask whether Nordeste is worth visiting usually find it is the part of the island that feels most untouched. It is a gentle way to end a day that began among steaming vents.

Itinerary

Hotel pickupPickup in Ponta Delgada or Lagoa from about nine in the morning.
Drive eastA scenic drive across the island in the electric van with commentary.
Furnas valleyA guided walk among fumaroles, springs and the village centre.
Traditional Furnas lunchA relaxed meal with dessert and coffee.
Optional Terra Nostra ParkTime to walk in the gardens or visit the thermal pool; entrance is paid separately.
Nordeste coastWaterfalls, green valleys and coastal viewpoints with photo stops.
Return to Ponta DelgadaDrop-off at your hotel in the late afternoon.

What's included

Traditional Furnas lunch with main course, dessert and coffee
Pickup and drop-off in Ponta Delgada and Lagoa
Transport in a modern 100% electric van
Local guide
Small group of up to 8 guests

Not included

Terra Nostra Park entrance (optional, for the thermal pools)
Tips

Is this right for you?

Great for

Families with children — a child price for ages 0–10
Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
Food lovers
Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.9/5 by past travellers

Think twice if

You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers

Not suitable for

Wheelchair users, because of the walking at viewpoints and parks
Guests who get motion sickness easily, because of the winding roads
Travellers who cannot spend a full day in a vehicle

Meeting point

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in Ponta Delgada and Lagoa. The day starts at about nine in the morning, and your exact pickup time is confirmed after booking. Please be ready in the lobby a few minutes early.

Important information

Lunch is included; entrance to Terra Nostra Park for the thermal pools is optional and paid separately, and tips are not included.
Bring swimwear and a towel if you want to bathe, and dark swimwear is best.
Bring layers, a light rain jacket and comfortable shoes; the east of the island can be wet and cool.
The route and timing can change with the weather and road conditions.
Please tell us about any food allergy or dietary need when you book.
The group is limited to 8 guests in an electric van.

Good to know