Furnas volcano tour: Geysers, lake, tea plantation & Terra Nostra

Walk through volcanic vents where food cooks underground, then taste tea grown on the slopes above

A guided tour of Furnas volcano and its geothermal features on São Miguel, including the tea plantation, Furnas Lake viewpoints, and the village's geysers and hot springs. The tour runs about five hours with private transportation. Entrance fees to Terra Nostra Park and the cooking pods are purchased separately at the sites. A guide speaks English or Portuguese and can arrange a lunch stop at a local restaurant if you book in advance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Furnas Lake30m
2. Furnas30m

Explore Furnas volcano and surroundings

• Visit Gorreana Tea Plantation and factory
• Walk along tea slopes and taste tea
• Stop at Santa Iria viewpoint
• Stop at Pico do Ferro viewpoint
• Enjoy views of Furnas Lake
• Walk through volcanic cooking pods
• Visit geysers and thermal springs in Furnas village
• Free time to buy local products in village
• Explore and bathe at Terra Nostra Park
• Dip feet in hot springs water pond

The experience

Furnas sits in a volcanic valley where the ground itself is part of the day. You walk through the caldeiras (volcanic cooking pods where locals have steamed the island's famous cozido stew underground for generations), and visit the geysers and thermal springs that dot the village. A hot springs pond surrounded by river vegetation sits open for a quick dip. The guide leads you through the geothermal sites and explains how they work, then moves on to the viewpoints: Pico do Ferro overlooks the entire Furnas valley, and Santa Iria frames Furnas Lake from the north coastline.

Gorreana Tea Plantation occupies the slopes above the valley. You walk through the tea fields, tour the factory to see how the leaves are processed, and taste the tea they grow there. The route also passes Terra Nostra Park, a botanical garden built around a river stream. If you choose to enter and bathe in its hot springs, you buy the ticket at the gate on the day. If the park doesn't appeal, the guide can give you more time in Furnas village to browse local products: Bolo Lêvedo (a sweet bread), steamed corn cob, queijadas (custard tarts), or to rest between stops.

The five-hour itinerary can shift if you stop for lunch. The cozido is the island's signature dish, cooked in those volcanic pods. If you want to eat it, let the operator know when you book so they can reserve a table at a local restaurant. The guide will work the meal into the day, though it means spending less time at one of the other sites. Private transportation is included. The guide speaks English or Portuguese.

What’s included

• Private transportation.
• a guide who speaks English or Portuguese.
• access to Furnas geysers, thermal springs, and the volcanic cooking pods (entrance fee to the pods is 3 euros, paid on site).
• a walk through Gorreana Tea Plantation with a tea tasting.
• viewpoints at Pico do Ferro and Santa Iria overlooking Furnas Lake and the north coastline.
• time to explore Furnas village and browse local products.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

GroupPrivate

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.

Paid on site€ 19

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Operated by Azores Like Locals

Is this one for you?This is a private guided tour, so the pace and stops are set by the guide and your group, not by a fixed schedule. It suits anyone who wants to understand how Furnas' geothermal features work and see the tea plantation, but prefers not to navigate the valley alone or arrange their own transport.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

What exactly are the caldeiras at Furnas where the cozido is cooked?

The caldeiras are volcanic cooking pods: natural vents in the ground where geothermal heat reaches high enough to steam food. Locals have used them for generations to cook the cozido, a stew of meat and vegetables that is a signature island dish. You walk among them on the tour and can see how they work, though entering the cooking area itself costs 3 euros per person, paid on site.

Can I swim or bathe in the hot springs at Furnas?

Furnas has a natural hot springs pond surrounded by river vegetation where you can dip your feet. Terra Nostra Park, a separate botanical garden also on the tour route, has bathing facilities in its hot springs. Entry to the park is not included in the tour price but can be purchased at the gate on the day, subject to availability.

What is the Gorreana Tea Plantation stop like?

Gorreana Tea Plantation grows tea on the slopes above the Furnas valley. The tour includes a walk through the tea fields, a visit to the factory to see how the leaves are processed, and a tasting of their tea. It is one of the stops built into the five-hour itinerary.

Is lunch included, and can I try the cozido?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. If you want to eat the cozido at a local restaurant, tell the operator when you book so they can reserve a table in advance. The guide will work the meal into the day, though it means less time at other stops.

What happens if I don't want to visit Terra Nostra Park?

If you skip Terra Nostra Park, the guide can spend the time exploring Furnas village instead, where you can browse and buy local products like Bolo Lêvedo, steamed corn cob, and queijadas, or simply rest between the other stops.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It involves walking through the Furnas sites and the tea plantation slopes, but there are no strenuous climbs or technical challenges.