Sete Cidades shore excursion: Pineapple plantation & lakes

Taste fresh island pineapple liqueur before soaking in panoramic Sete Cidades views

A 3–4 hour shore excursion from Ponta Delgada cruise terminal designed for passengers with limited time ashore, visiting the Arruda Pineapple Plantation with tasting, the Vista do Rei viewpoint overlooking Sete Cidades' Blue and Green Lakes inside a dormant volcanic crater, the village center and church, and Miradouro do Escalvado before returning to your ship. The tour timing adjusts to your ship's arrival and disembark, and pickup happens directly from the cruise terminal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Arruda Pineapple Plantation15m
2. Sete Cidades30m

Sete Cidades highlights from cruise terminal

• Visit Santo António Pineapple Plantation
• Enjoy pineapple tasting and liqueur
• Drive through Sete Cidades volcano
• Stop at Vista do Rei viewpoint
• Visit Sete Cidades village and São Nicolau Church
• Stop at Miradouro do Escalvado viewpoint
• Return to cruise ship in Ponta Delgada

The experience

The tour starts at the Arruda Pineapple Plantation, where glass greenhouses hold the only pineapple crop grown this way in the Azores. You walk through the growing operation, learn how the fruit is cultivated in this specific setup, and taste fresh pineapple and local pineapple liqueur before leaving. From there, a scenic drive takes you through Sete Cidades volcano itself: the landscape shifts from cultivated land to the raw volcanic terrain that shapes the entire region.

The centerpiece is Vista do Rei, the viewpoint where the Blue Lake and Green Lake sit side by side inside the dormant crater. The color contrast between them is the reason this spot ranks among Portugal's seven wonders, and the vantage point gives you the full scale of the volcanic basin. After time here for photos, the route descends into the village of Sete Cidades, where you can visit the Neo-Gothic São Nicolau Church or walk along the edge of the blue lagoon. The final stop is Miradouro do Escalvado, a clifftop viewpoint facing the black-rock Ilhéus dos Mosteiros islets and the coastal village of Mosteiros on its lava-fan shoreline: the last major view before the 30-minute return to Ponta Delgada.

Pickup and drop-off are at the cruise terminal itself, and the departure time adjusts to when your ship arrives, so you don't wait around the port. The return is timed to get you back before disembark, and you can choose to be dropped at the terminal or the city center. A live guide speaks English and Portuguese throughout.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off at Ponta Delgada cruise terminal.
• visit to the Arruda Pineapple Plantation with guided tour of the greenhouses and tasting of fresh pineapple and pineapple liqueur.
• scenic drive through Sete Cidades volcano.
• time at Vista do Rei viewpoint overlooking the Blue and Green Lakes.
• stop in Sete Cidades village center with access to São Nicolau Church.
• stop at Miradouro do Escalvado viewpoint.
• live guide in English and Portuguese.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Child (1 to 4 years)

GroupUp to 33

Live guideEnglish 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by iGoAzores

Is this one for you?The tour runs in English and Portuguese, so you'll follow the commentary comfortably in whichever language suits you. The timing is locked to your ship's schedule, which means you don't coordinate a separate departure or worry about getting back late. The whole itinerary is built around cruise terminal pickup and return.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 4 years).

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 Arruda Pineapple Plantation and why is it worth a stop?

The Arruda Pineapple Plantation is the only pineapple operation in the Azores that grows fruit inside glass greenhouses, a unique cultivation method. You tour the growing area, learn the process, and taste fresh pineapple and pineapple liqueur: a direct look at how one of the island's signature products is made.

Can I see both the Blue Lake and the Green Lake from one viewpoint?

Yes. Vista do Rei is the viewpoint where both lakes are visible together inside the Sete Cidades volcanic crater, and the color contrast between them is what makes this spot one of Portugal's seven wonders. It's the main photo stop of the tour.

How much time do I spend in the village of Sete Cidades itself?

The itinerary includes a stop in the village center, where you can visit the Neo-Gothic São Nicolau Church or walk along the blue lagoon's edge at your own pace. The exact time depends on the overall tour flow, but it's built in as a separate stop after the viewpoint.

Will I make it back to the cruise ship before it leaves?

Yes. The return journey takes around 30 minutes from Miradouro do Escalvado, and the entire tour is scheduled to fit within your ship's port window. Departure time adjusts to your ship's arrival, and you're returned to the cruise terminal in time for disembark.