Furnas Volcano 4x4 Tour: Thermal Springs & Tea Plantation

Thermal springs and volcanic fumaroles in a single day

A private full-day 4x4 tour through Furnas Volcano's geothermal landscape, visiting Vila Franca do Campo (the island's first capital), Lagoa das Furnas with its fumaroles and volcanic cooking pits, and a 19th-century tea plantation on the return. The tour includes hotel or port pickup from Ponta Delgada, a certified nature guide in English or Portuguese, and access to Furnas Natural Park. Thermal bath entry and lunch are optional at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Furnas Lake30m · entry included
2. Furnas3h
3. Vila Franca do Campo15m

Full-day tour of Furnas Volcano area

• Stop at Vila Franca do Campo viewpoint
• Visit Cartelo Branco Viewpoint
• Explore Furnas village and fumaroles
• Enjoy thermal bath at Terra Nostra Garden
• See where Cozido stew is cooked
• Visit Chá Gorreana tea plantation and taste tea

The experience

The route follows the southern coast before climbing into Furnas Valley, a natural amphitheater where mineral-rich thermal waters rise from volcanic vents and the landscape shifts between dense forest and open gardens. At Lagoa das Furnas, you'll see the fumaroles: steam vents where locals cook cozido, a traditional stew, buried in the earth's heat for 6 to 7 hours. The village of Furnas itself sits inside the caldera, wrapped in fog from the geothermal activity. A thermal bath in iron-rich waters at around 39°C (102°F) is available at Terra Nostra Botanical Garden if you choose it at booking. Stops at Cartelo Branco Viewpoint and the Vila Franca islet viewpoint frame the volcanic geology and the island's colonial history: Vila Franca do Campo was the first capital before the center of power moved elsewhere.

On the return through the north coast, the tour stops at Chá Gorreana, Europe's oldest remaining tea plantation, operating since the 19th century. You'll walk through the factory, see the stages of tea processing, and taste fresh tea grown in the island's emerald hills, far from industrial agriculture. The full day runs seven hours in an air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle with your driver and certified guide. The vehicle is built for the rough terrain and narrow roads that access the geothermal sites. Hotel or port pickup from Ponta Delgada is included, and the tour operates in all weather: dress for fog, wind and potential rain.

What’s included

• Hotel or port pickup and drop-off from Ponta Delgada.
• transport in an air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle.
• certified nature guide in English or Portuguese.
• access to Furnas Natural Park.
• personal accident insurance.
• local taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to10h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 38 pickup points.

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.

Paid on site€ 17

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Carpe Diem dream tours

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want to combine colonial history with geothermal sites in one day. The 4x4 handles steep terrain and narrow roads to reach the fumaroles and viewpoints that regular vehicles cannot access.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

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 are the fumaroles at Lagoa das Furnas?

Fumaroles are steam vents where volcanic heat rises through cracks in the earth. At Lagoa das Furnas, locals use them to cook cozido, a traditional stew, by burying it in pits heated by the geothermal energy below. The cooking takes 6 to 7 hours. You'll see the vents and the cooking process during the tour, though tasting the finished stew happens at a local restaurant and is not included in the price.

Is the thermal bath at Terra Nostra included, or do I pay extra?

The thermal bath entrance fee at Terra Nostra Botanical Garden is optional and not included in the tour price. You choose it at checkout if you want to add it. The bath sits inside the caldera and holds iron-rich mineral water at around 39°C (102°F).

What's included for lunch, and can I choose what I eat?

Lunch is not included in the base tour price. It's optional at checkout. When you add it, you'll eat at a local restaurant in the Furnas area, and the menu options depend on the restaurant's offerings that day.

How long is the drive, and will I be uncomfortable in the 4x4?

The full tour runs seven hours, including all stops and travel time. The 4x4 is air-conditioned and built for the steep, narrow roads that lead into the geothermal valley and up to the viewpoints. It's the right vehicle for the terrain, not a rough off-road experience.

Does the tour visit any other towns or just Furnas?

The tour also stops at Vila Franca do Campo, the island's first capital, where you'll see a viewpoint of the natural islet pool formed by a submarine eruption. On the return, you visit Chá Gorreana tea plantation on the north coast, so you see three distinct areas in one day.