2-Day São Miguel Tour: Sete Cidades, Furnas & Tea Plantation

Two days, two coasts: volcanic lakes, steaming calderas and a working tea plantation

A 2-day guided tour of São Miguel with an experienced local guide, covering the island's main landscapes—Sete Cidades, Furnas, Lagoa do Fogo, Ribeira dos Caldeirões and the Gorreana tea plantation. Hotel pickup is included; you choose whether to add lunch on both days or explore on your own. The itinerary adjusts for weather to protect the best viewpoints.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — São Miguel West: Lakes and Pineapples

• Visit Pico da Barrosa viewpoint
• See Lagoa do Fogo viewpoint
• Tour pineapple glass greenhouses
• View Blue and Green Lakes at Vista do Rei
• Stop at Cerrado das Freiras viewpoint
• Lunch in Sete Cidades village
• Explore Blue Lake shores
• Visit Mosteiros cliff viewpoint
• Relax at Mosteiros tidal pools

Day 2 — São Miguel East: Furnas and Tea Plantation

• Stop at Vila Franca do Campo marina
• Walk around Furnas Lake
• Lunch or free time in Furnas village
• Explore Furnas volcanic calderas
• Visit Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park
• Taste tea at Gorreana Tea Factory
• View northern coastline from viewpoint
• Optional visit to Terra Nostra Botanical Garden

The Experience

How much of São Miguel can you actually see in two days without renting a car or piecing together separate excursions? This tour answers that by moving through the island's signature stops in sequence: the first day covers the west side—the Blue and Green Lakes at Sete Cidades, the pineapple greenhouses where fruit takes 24 to 30 months to mature, and Lagoa do Fogo, a nature reserve sitting at the highest altitude of any lagoon in the Azores. The second day swings east to Furnas, where you walk the shoreline of Furnas Lake past a neo-Gothic chapel and tree-trunk sculptures, then descend into the volcanic valley itself to stand among boiling calderas and steaming fumaroles—the landscape of the volcano laid bare. A local guide travels with you both days, sharing stories as someone who knows the island, and the van is air-conditioned and modern.

The second day also includes Ribeira dos Caldeirões, a natural park built around cascading waterfalls and old watermills, and a stop at the Gorreana Tea Factory on the return, where you taste one of the world's last fully natural teas still in production. If you choose the lunch option, meals are served at traditional spots—a buffet of local dishes in Sete Cidades village and the signature "Cozido das Furnas," a stew cooked using volcanic heat, in Furnas itself (vegetarian versions available). Without lunch, you have free time to explore at your own pace; the guide will point you toward local cafés and the best spots to sit. The itinerary shifts according to weather so the clearest hours land on the best viewpoints.

An optional visit to Terra Nostra Botanical Garden and its thermal pool—filled with naturally heated iron-rich volcanic water—can be added on day two after lunch; entrance is €17 per person, paid on site. Children from age one are welcome, and infant seats are available if you need them.

What’s included

• An experienced local guide who travels with you both days.
• guided visits to the pineapple plantation and Gorreana tea plantation with tastings.
• comfortable air-conditioned transport.
• scenic stops at Sete Cidades, Furnas Valley, Lagoa do Fogo and Ribeira dos Caldeirões.
• hotel pickup both mornings.
• lunch on both days if you choose the lunch option (traditional buffet in Sete Cidades and volcanic-cooked stew in Furnas, with vegetarian versions available).

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for heart conditions

Operated by iGoAzores

Is this one for you?Choose the lunch option if you want meals arranged at local spots and more time to absorb each stop without hunting for restaurants; choose without lunch if you prefer flexibility to eat where and when you want, or to linger longer at a single viewpoint. Either way, the two-day format gives you a broad introduction to both coasts of São Miguel without the stress of driving unfamiliar roads or booking separate excursions.

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Top questions

What exactly is the pineapple plantation stop like?

The pineapple plantation is a guided walk through the distinctive glass greenhouses where Azorean pineapples grow—the only place in the world where they are cultivated this way. Each fruit takes 24 to 30 months to mature, and the guide explains the process from planting to harvest. You see the plants and learn why the island's pineapples have a flavor and texture different from tropical varieties.

Can I skip lunch and explore Sete Cidades and Furnas on my own instead?

Yes. The tour without lunch gives you free time at both stops. In Sete Cidades, you can walk the shores of the Blue Lake or sit in the village centre; in Furnas, you have time to wander the streets, visit local shops and cafés, or explore the thermal springs at your own pace. The guide will recommend spots and be available if you have questions.

What is Furnas actually like—is it just a viewpoint or do you walk around?

Furnas is a volcanic valley you walk through. You stand among boiling water calderas and steaming fumaroles where the raw power of the volcano is felt underfoot. The area holds 22 classified types of mineral and therapeutic waters; you can sample some of the well-known springs or taste traditional liqueurs at a local handicraft shop. It is considered the largest hydropolis in the world by specialists.

Does the tour include the Terra Nostra thermal pool?

Terra Nostra is optional and happens on day two after lunch. The botanical garden spans 12.5 hectares with century-old trees, camellias, ferns and shaded pathways; the thermal pool at its centre is filled with naturally heated volcanic water between 35°C and 40°C. Entrance costs €17 per person, paid on site, and you can choose to skip it and spend extra time elsewhere instead.

What if the weather is bad on one of the days?

The guide adjusts the itinerary according to local weather conditions to make the most of the best viewpoints and experiences. This means if clouds are heavy on one coast, the route may shift to protect the clearest hours for the most striking views—you still see the same attractions, but the timing may change.

Is hotel pickup really included, or does it depend on where I'm staying?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour. The guide will collect you from your accommodation both mornings; let the operator know your hotel address when you book.