Sete Cidades Green and Blue Lakes: Private Tour on Sao Miguel

See both crater lakes from the rim, then walk down to the village between them

A private tour of Sao Miguel explores the Sete Cidades volcanic crater, its twin Green and Blue Lakes, and the village nestled between them. The guide picks you up from your hotel or cruise ship terminal in Ponta Delgada and drives you through three viewpoints: Vista do Rei overlooks the crater; Pico do Carvão frames the island's narrowest point; and a stop at a working pineapple greenhouse shows how the fruit grows in this unique climate. The tour runs three to three and a half hours and includes a local guide who speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sete Cidades and surroundings

• Travel through Ponta Delgada Ocean Boulevard
• Admire panoramic view at Vista do Rei
• Stop at bridge between Green and Blue Lakes
• Walk and have coffee in Sete Cidades village
• Enjoy view at Pico do Carvão
• Visit pineapple plantation near Ponta Delgada
• Return to city and drop off

The experience

The route starts at Vista do Rei, a panoramic overlook 5 kilometers above the Sete Cidades crater. From there you descend into the village at the crater's floor, where the Green and Blue Lakes sit on either side of a bridge. You have time to walk the village center, sit by the Blue Lake shore and talk with locals: the kind of quiet stop most crater tours skip. On the return to Ponta Delgada, the driver stops at Pico do Carvão, where on a clear day you can see almost the full length of Sao Miguel, from the highest peak to the lagoon in the south.

Before heading back to the city, you visit a working pineapple greenhouse to learn how the fruit grows in this specific microclimate: a process found nowhere else in the world. The route back follows a serpentine road through pastureland that feeds over 100,000 black and white cattle. Your guide and driver are both local, and the vehicle is a private luxury car or van, so the pace and stops stay under your control. A bottle of water is included, and if you're on a cruise ship, the operator commits to getting you back to the terminal on time.

What’s included

• Hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off in Ponta Delgada.
• a private luxury car or van for your exclusive use.
• a dedicated local guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• a bottle of water per person.
• entry to a working pineapple greenhouse with an explanation of how the fruit grows in this unique climate.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by IdilicAzores

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a private vehicle and a local guide who can adjust the pace to your interests: the three-hour route works for cruise passengers on a tight timeline and for travelers staying in the city who want to see the crater without joining a group.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

21 verified traveler reviews

5 ★21

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish 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 can I see from Vista do Rei on the Sete Cidades tour?

Vista do Rei is the panoramic overlook above the Sete Cidades crater, where you see the Green and Blue Lakes from above and the crater's 5-kilometer diameter. The view is one of the most photographed in the Azores. You'll also learn about the historic abandoned hotel on the mountaintop that operated for only 18 months.

Do I get time to explore the village of Sete Cidades itself?

Yes. After the overlook, you descend into the village at the bottom of the crater. There's time to walk the center, have a coffee, and sit by the shore of the Blue Lake, with the chance to meet and talk with locals who live there.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off in Ponta Delgada, a private luxury car or van for the entire route, a dedicated local guide, a bottle of water per person, and entry to the pineapple greenhouse. If you're arriving by cruise ship, the operator guarantees you'll return to the terminal on time.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs three to three and a half hours from pickup to drop-off, including all stops and the village visit.