Route:
- Ponta Delgada
- Vila Franca do Campo
- Miradouro Da Senhora da Paz
- Castelo Branco
- Vale das Furnas
- Miradouro do Pico do Ferro
- Fábrica de Chá
- Miradouro de Santa Iria
- Ponta Delgada
Furnas is one of the most popular places on the island of S. Miguel. This tour will offer you what the island has most impressive when it comes to geological diversity, from its fumaroles to the volcanic calderas that offer landscapes never seen before!
We will start our tour contemplating the beaches of volcanic origin and the incredible Azorean sea with its blue and crystalline waters until we reach the oldest capital of the island, Vila Franca do Campo. Here, you can observe its famous islet, a volcano that is off the south coast classified as a Protected Area for Habitat and Species Management of the Vila Franca Islet. The walls of its crater are covered with endemic vegetation, while inside there is a natural pool with an almost perfectly circular shape, which communicates with the sea through a narrow passage, and is still the privileged stage of the Red Bull Cliff Diving. Before leaving in the direction of Furnas we still have a stop at the most famous viewpoint in this location, the viewpoint of Nossa Senhora da Paz, from where you can glimpse the whole village as well as its majestic islet. On the way to Furnas, taking a detour from the main road, we will discover Castelo Branco, an extraordinary place where you will be able to appreciate most of the south coast and the interior of the volcano that forms the Furnas Valley. Continuing our tour we will reach the interior of the volcano and we will discover the famous Lagoa das Furnas, where around one of the most typical dishes of São Miguel, the tasty Furnas stew is made. The stew is composed of several ingredients such as: Beef, Pork; Chicken; Chorizo; Black pudding; Potato; Sweet potato; Carrot; Cabbage; Kale and Yam. This dish is cooked inside the active volcano of Furnas and takes about 6 hours to cook. Right after we understand the whole process, we have the opportunity to try the tasty stew.
After lunch, we will be able to visit one of the most beautiful and famous botanical parks in Europe: Parque Terra Nostra or visit other places in Furnas, such as Caldeiras das Furnas (fumarole and mineral waters area) or the Ribeira Quente waterfall .
Leaving Furnas, we make a short stop at the Pico do Ferro viewpoint to enjoy the Caldeira das Furnas.
On this tour we will also have the opportunity to visit the only tea plantation in Europe, enjoying a cup of tea with a view over the north coast of the island. In the direction of Ponta Delgada we make our last stop at the Miradouro de Santa Iria with a magnificent view over the sea and much of the north coast.
On this tour of Furnas you will be able to see a large part of the central area of São Miguel Island where our guides will provide you with many useful information about our Island. We are sure that this will be a memorable day for you.
Route: