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- English
Discover the Azores with self guided tour, allowing you to explore Europe's most spectacular volcanic archipelago at your own pace. Stand on the rim of Sete Cidades, a massive volcanic crater cradling twin lakes of emerald green and sapphire blue on the island of São Miguel, one of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in all of Europe. Soak in golden hued thermal pools heated by the earth itself at Terra Nostra in Furnas, where locals slow-cook traditional cozido stew by burying pots underground in volcanic steam for six hours. Walk through ancient laurel forests draped in moss and swim in natural lava rock pools carved by centuries of ocean waves at Mosteiros beneath towering sea stacks. Discover nine islands where Azulejo tiled churches, cobblestone harbour villages, and Europe's only tea plantations dot a landscape of dramatic calderas, hydrangea lined roads, and mist-shrouded peaks rising from the mid Atlantic.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This is a self-guided app-based tour with no in-person guide or fixed meeting point. Travelers are free to start at the suggested location below or choose any stop on the route as their starting point, and explore in the order that suits them best.
Itinerary
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1Portas da Cidade
The Azores' charming capital — enter through the iconic 18th-century Portas da Cidade gates onto the waterfront promenade and explore the cobblestone old town with its black-and-white basalt churches, the ornate Matriz church, the Conceição Palace, lush botanical gardens, and the lively marina lined with seafood restaurants.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
2Caldeira das Sete Cidades
The Azores' most iconic landscape — a vast volcanic caldera cradling two lakes side by side, one emerald green and one sapphire blue, ringed by lush crater walls. The viewpoint at Vista do Rei offers one of Europe's most breathtaking panoramas, while trails descend to the lakeshores through hydrangea-lined paths.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
A geothermal wonderland in the heart of São Miguel — bubbling fumaroles, boiling mud pools, and natural iron-rich hot spring pools surrounded by lush botanical gardens. Locals cook cozido das Furnas — a traditional meat-and-vegetable stew — by burying pots in the volcanic earth for six hours at Lagoa das Furnas.
Admission ticket free -
3Lagoa do Fogo
The 'Lake of Fire' — a pristine crater lake perched at 575 meters in the centre of São Miguel, surrounded by untouched native vegetation and often partially shrouded in atmospheric mist. The steep trail descending to the white-sand beach at the lake's edge rewards with one of the most remote and beautiful spots in the entire archipelago.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
4
Europe's only commercial tea plantation — the Gorreana family has been growing and processing green and black tea on the misty hillsides of São Miguel since 1883. Walk through the emerald rows of tea bushes stretching down to the Atlantic, tour the original Victorian-era processing factory, and taste freshly brewed Azorean tea.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Mosteiros
A dramatic coastal village on São Miguel's western tip — famous for its black volcanic beach with towering sea stacks rising from the surf, and natural rock pools carved from lava where locals swim in crystal-clear Atlantic water. The sunset views towards the distant island silhouettes are among the finest in the Azores.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
6
The wild, unspoiled northeast corner of São Miguel — dramatic sea cliffs, cascading waterfalls, ancient laurel forests, and the stunning viewpoints of Ponta da Madrugada and Ponta do Sossego. The remote village of Nordeste and its botanical park offer a glimpse of traditional Azorean life far from the tourist trail.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
A hidden hot spring waterfall in the heart of São Miguel's laurel forest — warm iron-rich waters cascade down a fern-covered cliff face into a natural bathing pool surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. The site sits on the volcanic slopes between Lagoa do Fogo and Ribeira Grande, with boardwalks through steaming fumaroles and dense forest.
Admission ticket free -
Islet of Vila Franca do Campo (Pass by)
A volcanic crater islet just offshore from Vila Franca do Campo — the collapsed cone forms a near-perfect natural swimming pool of calm turquoise water connected to the Atlantic by a narrow channel. Accessible by boat in summer, this protected nature reserve is one of the most unique bathing spots in Europe.
Admission ticket free -
7Plantação Ananases A Arruda
A traditional Azorean pineapple plantation in Ponta Delgada where the fruit has been grown in Victorian-era greenhouses since the 19th century — using a unique smoke-based technique to force flowering. Walk through rows of glass hothouses filled with thousands of pineapple plants at every stage of growth and taste the exceptionally sweet local fruit.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
A natural ocean hot spring on São Miguel's western coast — where volcanic thermal water mixes with Atlantic waves in a rocky cove, creating a unique geothermal bathing experience in the open sea. The water temperature varies with the tides, warmest at low tide when the volcanic vents dominate. The dramatic clifftop setting with crashing waves completes one of the Azores' most extraordinary natural phenomena.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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