Madeira & Azores Tourism Guide - Sao Miguel Island

Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel's Main City

The largest of all the Azores cities/towns is Ponta Delgada, hence the large number of Azores hotels, restaurants and striking buildings here.

Note the City Gates/Portas da Cidade dating from the 18th century and the various ornate churches around Ponta Delgada including the Gothic come Manueline influenced Matriz de Sao Sebastiao.

Other delights in Ponta Delgada include a huge municipal swimming pool,and a marina and yacht club. Ponta Delgada golf course is just 7km to the north (see weblink right for details).

For walking and trekking tours, birdwatching tours and jeep safari tours around Sao Miguel contact Geo-Fun, animacao Turistic Lda, Av.D.Joao III, no 47-6 Drt.Sul, 9500-310 Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores. Tel. (351) 296 385 693. (weblink right for details).

Furnas, Sao Miguel

Beautiful Furnas adjacent to Furnas Lake sits in a stunning valley. The area is renowned for its therapeutic hot springs - volcanic in origin of course. People sometimes cook food buried in the earth here! Expect to see the odd Geysers or earth sprout of boiling hot water.

Take a thermal bath here in Furnas, why not indeed. The stunning Terra Nostra Park is also here in the Furnas area. The park dates from the 18th century, and is crammed with exotic plants and a a thermal iron water lake pool.

Nearby is the pretty fishing village Ribeira Quente (meaning hot stream) which has a great beach - Praia do Fogo meaning Fire Beach. So called due to the warm water temperatures here created by underwater volcanic activity.

A number of Sao Miguel peaks surround lake Furnas.

Nordeste, Sao Miguel

To the north east sits the aptly named Nordeste/north east. You're in prime Azores walking territory here as the area is carpeted in trees, particularly sylvan.

The highest peak on Sao Miguel - Pico da Vara (1105m) is over this way. The area around Pico da Vara is a protected Nature Reserve, so only guided tours and access authorised by the Regional Forestry Commission is allowed here.

Nordeste has numerous miradours/lookout points which offer dramatic views of the of the island and challenging walks. Pretty parks, a 15th century church and the nearby Moinhos river basin are other features here.

Nordeste is essentially a tranquil walker and nature lover's paradise.

Vila Franca do Campo, Sao Miguel

Originally the island's capital, historic Vila Franca do Campo sits further along the south coast of Sao Miguel, to the east of Ponta Delgada.

It's a popular tourist destination on the Azores, as there's much to do in the town including a public gardens, historic sights and statues, a central square dominated by Convento de Santo Andre, a huge 19th century manor house and adjacent a museum exploring the cultural history of Sao Miguel.

The port here was once the main port on Sao Miguel. Today it's mostly attractive fishing boats here and you can hop on a boat trip to the Ilheu Vila Franca - a natural reserve situated around 1km off-shore.