São Miguel West Highlights: Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo tour

Sete Cidades and five viewpoints in one morning, ending at Lagoa do Fogo.

A guided tour of western São Miguel in a small group of up to eight travelers, visiting Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo, and lesser-known volcanic viewpoints across eight hours. Hotel pickup from Ponta Delgada or Lagoa Town is included, as is a traditional Azorean lunch with coffee and dessert. The tour travels by electric van with a local guide speaking English or Portuguese, and involves a moderate 20-minute walk each way to reach Boca do Inferno viewpoint.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore western São Miguel highlights

• Stop at Pico do Carvão viewpoint
• Visit Lagoa do Canário crater lake
• Walk to Boca do Inferno viewpoint
• Stop at Vista do Rei viewpoint
• View Sete Cidades volcano caldera
• Admire cliffs at Miradouro do Escalvado
• Visit Mosteiros lava rock pools
• Stop at Miradouro das Pedras Negras viewpoint
• Pass through Ribeira Grande town center
• See cliffs at a little-known coastal view
• End tour at Lagoa do Fogo crater lake

The Experience

Sete Cidades opens the tour at Vista do Rei, the viewpoint where the crater's twin lakes — one blue, one green — sit side by side. From there, the route moves to Boca do Inferno, a more dramatic vantage point over the same caldera that requires a 20-minute walk each way through forest. The guide stops at Pico do Carvão next, a volcanic ridge where you can see both the north and south coasts of São Miguel at once, and at Lagoa do Canário, a smaller crater lake ringed by dense vegetation that few visitors find on their own.

The afternoon shifts to the coast and the highlands. Miradouro do Escalvado frames the Atlantic cliffs of the west side; Mosteiros offers lava rock pools and a short walk along the shoreline. Ribeira Grande, the island's second town, appears in the itinerary as a stop to walk through its center. The tour ends at Lagoa do Fogo, a crater lake in the central highlands surrounded by protected landscape — the final major stop before the return to Ponta Delgada or Lagoa Town.

Lunch arrives partway through the day and includes food, drink, dessert, and coffee. The van is electric, and the group stays under nine people, which means more time at each stop than a larger bus tour allows and a quieter ride between them. The guide speaks English or Portuguese depending on the group, and the pace is described as relaxed — the itinerary is built to let the scenery carry the day rather than rush through it.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Ponta Delgada or Lagoa Town and drop-off at the end of the day.
• a traditional Azorean lunch with food, drink, dessert, and coffee.
• transport in a modern electric van.
• and a local guide speaking English or Portuguese throughout the eight-hour tour.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Pure Azores

Is this one for you?Eight hours is long enough to visit Sete Cidades from two angles, walk to Boca do Inferno, and reach Lagoa do Fogo in the highlands — the full western circuit — but short enough to leave the afternoon free if you want to explore Ponta Delgada or rest before dinner. The small-group format and electric van mean you travel quietly and stop longer at each viewpoint than a larger bus tour allows.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★

1,784 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,725

4 ★45

3 ★8

2 ★4

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is Sete Cidades and why do people visit it?

Sete Cidades is a volcanic crater on western São Miguel containing two crater lakes — one blue, one green — surrounded by steep caldera walls. The tour visits it from two viewpoints, Vista do Rei and Boca do Inferno, so you see the lakes from different angles and understand the scale of the volcanic formation.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

The tour includes a moderate walk of approximately 20 minutes each way to reach Boca do Inferno viewpoint, plus a short walk along the coastline at Mosteiros. The rest of the day is spent at viewpoints accessible from the van or with minimal walking, so the physical demand is light to moderate.

Does the tour pick me up from my hotel?

Hotel pickup is included, but only from accommodations in Ponta Delgada or Lagoa Town. If you're staying elsewhere on the island, you'll need to arrange your own transport to the meeting point.

What is Lagoa do Fogo?

Lagoa do Fogo is one of São Miguel's most iconic crater lakes, located in the island's central highlands and surrounded by protected natural landscape. It is the final major stop on the tour and sits at a higher elevation than Sete Cidades, offering a different perspective on the island's volcanic geology.

Is lunch included, and what does it consist of?

Yes, a traditional Azorean lunch is included in the tour price. It includes food, a drink, dessert, and coffee.

Can I bring young children on this tour?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available in the van. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though the 20-minute walk to Boca do Inferno may not suit guests with limited mobility.