Furnas full-day tour with hot springs and tea plantation

Geothermal caldeiras, a volcanic stew lunch, and thermal baths in one day

An 8-hour guided tour of Furnas on São Miguel's east side, with hotel pickup, lunch cooked in volcanic soil, and entry to the hot springs. The route covers two viewpoints, the geothermal lake and caldeiras, an optional botanical garden with thermal baths, a tea plantation, and a coastal viewpoint. A local guide in English or Portuguese leads the group. Children from age 1 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Furnas and São Miguel highlights

• Begin at Pisão Viewpoint
• Visit Nossa Senhora da Paz Viewpoint
• Explore Furnas caldeiras and lake
• Optionally visit Terra Nostra Park
• Enjoy lunch with volcanic stew
• View from Pico do Ferro Viewpoint
• Visit Gorreana Tea Factory
• Conclude at Santa Iria Viewpoint

The experience

The day starts at Pisão Viewpoint, where green valleys open up for photos, then moves to Nossa Senhora da Paz Viewpoint overlooking Vila Franca do Campo. Once in Furnas, you walk among the caldeiras (boiling water vents rising from the ground), and see Furnas Lake, where the geothermal heat that cooks the traditional Azorean stew is explained. If you choose to add it, Terra Nostra Park is a botanical garden with thermal pools you can enter. This stop is optional and happens before lunch.

Lunch is the centerpiece: a stew cooked underground using the volcanic heat, a dish you can't get anywhere else. After eating, the tour climbs to Pico do Ferro Viewpoint for views across the island, then stops at Gorreana Tea Factory to learn how tea is grown and processed here, Europe's oldest plantation still operating, and to taste the varieties they make. The route finishes at Santa Iria Viewpoint on the south coast, where the land drops steeply to the sea. The full day runs 8 hours from pickup at your hotel to drop-off.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as are bottled water, coffee or tea, and alcoholic beverages during the tour. The guide speaks English or Portuguese depending on the group. Children from age 1 can join. Vegetarian lunch is available if you request it when booking. Entrance fees to attractions are not included in the price.

What’s included

• Local guide in English or Portuguese.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• lunch cooked in volcanic soil.
• bottled water, coffee and tea.
• alcoholic beverages during the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (1 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by INTO THE WILD AZORES TOURS

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Portuguese, so you'll follow the commentary in whichever language fits your group. Children from age 1 can join, though the 8-hour day and walking around geothermal sites work best for families with kids old enough to move at a steady pace.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

24 verified traveler reviews

5 ★24

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 11 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the geothermal stew, and where is it cooked?

The traditional Azorean stew is a slow-cooked dish prepared using the natural heat from Furnas' volcanic soil: the caldeiras heat it underground while you explore the area, and it's ready by lunchtime. This cooking method is unique to Furnas and part of what makes the meal distinctive.

Can I swim or bathe in the hot springs during this tour?

Terra Nostra Park, which has thermal baths you can enter, is an optional stop on the itinerary. If you choose to add it, you'll have time to use the pools. Otherwise, you'll see the hot springs and caldeiras but won't bathe in them.

How much walking is involved over the 8 hours?

The tour includes stops at multiple viewpoints and walks through the caldeiras area and around Furnas Lake, plus time at the tea factory and optional botanical garden. It's suitable for all fitness levels, though the terrain includes some uneven ground around the geothermal sites.

Is the tea tasting at Gorreana included, or do I pay extra?

The stop at Gorreana Tea Factory includes learning about tea production and tasting local varieties. This is part of the tour. Any tea you choose to purchase is separate.

What's the difference between this tour and visiting Furnas on my own?

A local guide explains the geothermal features, the history of the area, and the cooking method as you move through the sites. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't arrange transport. Lunch, the geothermal stew, is cooked and ready during the tour, and the guide coordinates the stops to fit everything into one day.