São Miguel East tour: Furnas, Nordeste & thermal lunch

Volcanic mud pools and geothermal fields you can taste and touch.

A small-group tour of eastern São Miguel visiting Furnas, Nordeste and Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park with a local guide, hotel pickup and a traditional cozido lunch included. The group stays under eight travelers and moves in a modern electric van, which means more time at each stop and a quieter ride than larger bus tours. You can choose to bathe in Terra Nostra Park's thermal pool instead of exploring the geothermal fields (entrance fee separate).

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Furnas1h 15m
2. Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park40m

Explore eastern São Miguel highlights

• Start at Nossa Senhora da Paz chapel
• Explore Furnas geothermal fields
• Optionally bathe in Terra Nostra Park pool
• View Furnas Volcano caldera from Pico do Ferro
• Visit Salto do Cavalo mountain viewpoint
• Explore Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park
• Stop at old whale lookout in Nordeste
• Finish at Miradouro de Santa Iria viewpoint

The experience

The tour starts at Nossa Senhora da Paz, a hilltop chapel overlooking Vila Franca do Campo and the Atlantic, then moves into Furnas: the island's geothermal heart. Here you walk through steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pools, taste naturally carbonated mineral waters straight from the ground, and stand in the visible heat of active volcanic energy. From Pico do Ferro, a panoramic viewpoint above the Furnas caldera, you look down over the crater lake and the village nested in the volcanic landscape below.

Lunch is a traditional cozido stew cooked using geothermal heat, served with a drink of your choice and dessert. The meal happens in Furnas itself, so the geothermal region is not just something you pass through. It shapes what you eat. After lunch, the tour moves north through Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park, where walking paths wind through waterfalls and lush vegetation, then continues to the Nordeste region. An old whale lookout offers views over the rugged coastline and green pastures, and the tour finishes at Miradouro de Santa Iria, one of São Miguel's most scenic coastal viewpoints facing the island's north coast.

The eight-person limit and electric van mean the pace stays relaxed and the ride stays quiet: no engine noise, no crowded seats. Your guide is local and speaks English or Portuguese, and hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located Ponta Delgada hotels or Lagoa Town are included. The whole day runs eight hours.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Ponta Delgada or Lagoa Town.
• a local guide speaking English or Portuguese.
• eight hours in a modern electric van with a maximum of eight guests.
• a traditional cozido lunch with a drink and dessert.
• stops at Nossa Senhora da Paz chapel, the geothermal fields of Furnas, Pico do Ferro viewpoint, Salto do Cavalo, Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park, a whale lookout in Nordeste, and Miradouro de Santa Iria coastal viewpoint.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (under 11)

GroupUp to 56

Live guideEnglish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 31 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Pure Azores

Is this one for you?A small group of up to eight suits this tour if you want to move at a relaxed pace and spend real time at each stop without the noise and crowds of a larger bus. The eight-hour day and electric van make it work for families with young children, and the traditional lunch cooked in geothermal heat is something you cannot arrange on your own.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 11).

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 cozido lunch cooked in Furnas?

The cozido is a traditional stew cooked using geothermal heat from the volcanic fields. It comes with a drink of your choice, dessert and coffee, all included in the tour price.

Can I swim or bathe in hot springs on this tour?

You can choose to visit Terra Nostra Park and bathe in its iron-rich thermal pool instead of exploring the geothermal fields of Furnas. The entrance fee to Terra Nostra is not included, so you pay it separately if you want to go in.

What is Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park like?

Ribeira dos Caldeirões is a natural park in the Nordeste region with walking paths, waterfalls and lush vegetation set in a peaceful environment. The paths are well-maintained and the setting is quiet, so it is suitable for all fitness levels.

How many people will be on the tour?

The group is limited to eight guests, which keeps the pace relaxed and gives you more time at each stop than you would get on a larger bus tour.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included from centrally located hotels in Ponta Delgada or from Lagoa Town. Your guide will arrange the exact time when you book.

What is Pico do Ferro viewpoint?

Pico do Ferro is a panoramic viewpoint above the Furnas volcano caldera, overlooking the crater lake, the village of Furnas and the surrounding volcanic landscape. It is one of the best viewpoints in the area.