The Best of Sao Miguel

If you’re planning a first visit to the Azores, let us show you the very best of Sao Miguel.

Your week begins in the capital Ponta Delgada – one of Europe’s most welcoming cities where you can immerse yourself in Azorean culture and cuisine. The family-run Hotel do Colegio has been our go-to city centre hotel for over twenty years. If you prefer a touch of modern luxury, the Grand Hotel Atlantico is an excellent choice, with its sea views over Ponta Delgada’s bustling Portas do Mar marina – and our handy online restaurant guides will help you to sample the best seasonal, locally-sourced cuisine Sao Miguel has to offer.

From your base in the city, you’ll head west to the great crater at Sete Cidades – the largest and arguably the most beautiful of the Azores’ volcanoes, where you can hike, cycle or kayak on the crystal-clear waters of Lagoa Azul. You’ll also explore the high central mountains of Pico da Barrosa, the secluded Lagoa do Fogo crater lake and the volcanically-heated waterfalls at Caldera Velha.

Leaving Ponta Delgada behind, you’ll cross the island for a stay in the enchanting Furnas valley. Furnas is home to the Azores’ most famous hotel, the art deco Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, where you’ll relax and unwind in the geothermal swimming pools at the Parque Terra Nostra botanical gardens. For the ultimate spa experience, you might prefer a stay at the Furnas Boutique Hotel, with its celebrated A Terra Fornaria restaurant which has helped to reinvent Azorean cuisine for the 21st century.

A holiday to the Azores wouldn’t be complete without a trip to sea – for a visit with the islands’ whales and dolphins. Sperm whales, pilot whales, bottlenose and North-Atlantic spotted dolphins are all resident in the waters around Sao Miguel, and we work with the best conservationists on the island to give you an unforgettable wildlife experience.