Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Azores: São Miguel and Terceira
8 days in the Azores: five nights on São Miguel for Sete Cidades, Furnas, Lagoa do Fogo and a whale-watching boat, then a short flight to Terceira for Angra do Heroísmo and the lava caves.
8 days · Ponta Delgada to Terceira (Lajes Airport) · up to 12 guests
Sete Cidades from Vista do Rei, São Miguel Photo: Jan Helebrant, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2019-05-25_12-38-31_PT_Sao_Miguel_JHe_K70_(54538374614).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Start and end
- Ponta Delgada to Terceira (Lajes Airport)
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Walks of 2 to 7 km on crater rims, lakeshores, gardens and cobbled old towns, up to about 3 hours on foot a day with some steep paths and steps; the steepest stretches (the descent to Lagoa do Fogo, the steps in Algar do Carvão) are optional. The whale-watching boat is about 3 hours on open sea.
- Meals included
- 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner
- Room of your own
- + CAD 920 (estimated price)
- Season
- May to October
Highlights
Why this trip
- Vista do Rei before 9 am, over the blue and green lakes of Sete Cidades, then a walk along the crater rim
- Watch the cozido pots lifted from the hot ground at Lagoa das Furnas, then eat it for lunch
- A warm, iron-rich soak in the Terra Nostra pool and a booked slot at the Caldeira Velha springs
- A whale-watching boat out of Ponta Delgada, included rather than sold as an extra
- Lagoa do Fogo from the high viewpoint, then tea in the fields at Gorreana
- Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage town, on foot, and the view from Monte Brasil
- Down inside the Algar do Carvão volcanic chimney, then alcatra and Biscoitos wine
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 920 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL) to your hotel in Ponta Delgada
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Ponta Delgada
- Drive about 15 min
Fly into Ponta Delgada's João Paulo II Airport (PDL) on São Miguel, the largest island of the Azores. It sits only a few kilometres west of the town, so a driver meets you in arrivals and you are at the hotel within about fifteen minutes. Most flights from North America connect through Lisbon or Porto, or arrive overnight on direct routes, so the day is kept free to rest.
Afternoon
In the late afternoon your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short walk through the old centre: the 18th-century city gates on the waterfront, the black basalt and white plaster of the churches, and the patterned calçada pavements.
Evening
Then a briefing on the week, including how we swap the São Miguel days around the weather, and a welcome dinner of island fish and local cheese at a restaurant in town.
Included
- Pick-up at Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL)
- Short walk through the old centre with your guide
- Welcome briefing and welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the late-afternoon walk
Activity: Plan to land by about 3 pm to join the walk and briefing; later arrivals are met and join the group at dinner. If you land in the morning or on an overnight flight, we hold your bags at the hotel; early check-in is not promised, so book the night before (at extra cost) if you want a room on arrival.
Sete Cidades and the crater rim
Ponta Delgada to Vista do Rei and Sete Cidades, then back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Ponta Delgada
- Drive about 1.5 h
Morning
We leave after an early breakfast to reach the Vista do Rei viewpoint before about 9 am, when the air is often clearest and the tour vans have not yet arrived. Below you, inside a volcanic caldera about 5 km across, lie the two lakes of Sete Cidades, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde, joined by a narrow bridge. From the viewpoint we walk part of the crater rim, about 7 km on a broad track with long views to the sea on one side and the lakes on the other, then drop down into the village of Sete Cidades.
Afternoon
Lunch is at a restaurant in the village. Afterwards there is time to stroll to the bridge between the lakes before a short drive to the Boca do Inferno viewpoint by Lagoa do Canário if the cloud allows. We are back in Ponta Delgada by mid-afternoon, with the rest of the day free.
Included
- Vista do Rei viewpoint over the Sete Cidades lakes
- Guided walk along the crater rim
- Lunch in Sete Cidades village
- The bridge between Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde
- Boca do Inferno viewpoint, weather permitting
Easier option: Skip the rim walk: ride down to the village with the vehicle and walk the flat lakeside path to the bridge.
Free time: Afternoon free in Ponta Delgada
Activity: About 7 km on a broad, mostly downhill track; this day can swap with day 3 or day 5 if cloud sits on the crater.
Furnas, cozido and the hot pools
Ponta Delgada to Furnas, then back by the Pico do Ferro viewpoint
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Ponta Delgada
- Drive about 2 h
About an hour east along the south coast brings us to Lagoa das Furnas. We walk part of the lakeshore path to the fumaroles, where steam hisses from the ground and restaurants bury their cozido pots in the hot earth for about six hours.
Afternoon
Arriving in the late morning, we watch the pots being lifted out around midday, then drive the few minutes into Furnas village to eat cozido for lunch: meats, sausage, cabbage and potatoes cooked slowly in the volcanic ground. After lunch we walk through the village caldeiras, where hot springs bubble beside the streets and you can taste the naturally sparkling mineral water from the public fountains. The afternoon is in Terra Nostra Park, an old garden of tall trees and ferns with a large thermal pool of warm, iron-coloured water. On the way home we stop at the Pico do Ferro viewpoint for the whole Furnas valley from above.
Included
- Walk along Lagoa das Furnas to the fumaroles
- The cozido pots lifted from the ground
- Cozido lunch in Furnas village
- The caldeiras and mineral springs of Furnas village
- Terra Nostra Park entry, with time in the thermal pool
- Pico do Ferro viewpoint
Easier option: Ride to the fumaroles with the vehicle instead of walking the lakeshore, and spend longer in the pool.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: About 5 km of easy, level walking. Bring swimwear and an old towel; the pool water can stain light fabric. Vegetarians: cozido is a meat dish, so we arrange a vegetable alternative with the restaurant when you tell us at booking.
Whales and a free afternoon
Ponta Delgada marina, out to sea and back
- Breakfast
- Stay in Ponta Delgada
- By boat
Morning
This morning we walk down to the marina and board a whale-watching boat with a licensed local operator. The Azores sit over deep water close to shore, and lookouts on the cliffs radio the skipper when they spot a blow, which is how the old whalers worked before the hunt ended in the 1980s. Sperm whales live here all year, and common, bottlenose and Risso's dolphins are often seen; in spring, migrating blue, fin and sei whales pass the island. Sightings are never certain, and the skipper decides on the day whether the sea is safe; if not, we go on day 5 instead.
Afternoon
Trips take about three hours, and we are back for lunch on the waterfront, which is your choice. The afternoon is free: the Carlos Machado Museum in an old convent, the pineapple greenhouses on the edge of town, or a long coffee on the seafront.
Included
- Whale-watching boat trip from Ponta Delgada with a licensed operator and onboard guide
Optional experiences
- Carlos Machado Museum
- A pineapple greenhouse in Fajã de Baixo
Easier option: If you are prone to seasickness, stay ashore and take the morning at your own pace; your guide can suggest a walk along the harbour.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free in Ponta Delgada
Activity: About 3 hours on open water, often with swell. Take seasickness tablets before boarding if you need them, and bring a warm, windproof layer.
Lagoa do Fogo, Caldeira Velha and tea
Ponta Delgada to Lagoa do Fogo, Caldeira Velha, Ribeira Grande and Gorreana, then back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Ponta Delgada
- Drive about 3 h
Afternoon
We climb the mountain road above the south coast to the high viewpoint over Lagoa do Fogo, at about 900 m, early enough to beat the cloud that often gathers by midday. The lake fills a crater of the Água de Pau volcano and is protected as a nature reserve, with no buildings anywhere around it. Those who want to can walk the steep path down to the beach at the water's edge and back. On the northern side of the same mountain, Caldeira Velha has warm pools and a waterfall under tree ferns, and we have a booked slot to bathe. Lunch is in Ribeira Grande, the town on the north coast, before we follow the coast road east to Gorreana, a family-run tea plantation working since 1883. Walk between the rows of camellia bushes, see the old machines in the factory and taste the black and green teas, then drive back across the island to Ponta Delgada. At about two and three-quarter hours, this is the longest day on the road, split into short drives.
Included
- Lagoa do Fogo viewpoint
- Caldeira Velha entry and a booked bathing slot
- Lunch in Ribeira Grande
- Gorreana tea plantation: the tea fields, the factory and a tasting
Easier option: Stay at the viewpoint while others walk down, and use the Caldeira Velha visit for the short boardwalk to the waterfall rather than the pools.
More active option: Walk the steep path from the viewpoint down to the shore of Lagoa do Fogo and back, about 1.5 hours.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: The path down to Lagoa do Fogo is steep, loose and often muddy; it is optional.
Fly to Terceira and walk Angra
Ponta Delgada to Lajes Airport (TER) by air, then Angra do Heroísmo and Monte Brasil
- Breakfast
- Stay in Angra do Heroísmo
- Drive about 45 min
A short transfer to the airport and a short scheduled flight west to Terceira, the third largest island; we confirm the flight time when we book it. Our second vehicle and driver meet us at Lajes and it is about half an hour across the island to Angra do Heroísmo, where we stay two nights.
Afternoon
Lunch is your choice in the old town. In the afternoon your guide walks you through Angra, listed by UNESCO in 1983 as the port where ships crossing the Atlantic stopped for centuries. Much of it was carefully rebuilt after the earthquake of 1 January 1980, and the grid of painted houses, the cathedral and the town hall square look much as they did in the 16th and 17th centuries. We climb through the Duque da Terceira garden to the Alto da Memória monument for the view over the roofs to the bay, then drive up Monte Brasil, the old volcano beside the harbour, for the late light over the town.
Included
- Flight from Ponta Delgada (PDL) to Terceira (TER)
- Transfers to and from both airports
- Walking tour of Angra do Heroísmo with your guide: the cathedral, the town hall square and the Duque da Terceira garden
- Alto da Memória viewpoint
- Monte Brasil viewpoint
Free time: Lunch and evening free in Angra
Activity: About 3 km on cobbled and sloping streets, with steps up to Alto da Memória. Your bags travel in our vehicle to and from both airports; the airline's checked-bag allowance is confirmed when we book the flight.
Terceira's fields, lava pools and caves
Angra do Heroísmo to Serra do Cume, Biscoitos, Algar do Carvão and Gruta do Natal, then back
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Angra do Heroísmo
- Drive about 2.5 h
We start at the Serra do Cume viewpoint on the eastern side of the island, where stone walls divide the green fields into a patchwork that runs down to the sea. From there we cross to Biscoitos on the north coast, where black lava has made natural rock pools you can swim in on calm summer days, and visit the small wine museum for the story of vines grown inside walls of volcanic stone and a tasting.
Afternoon
Lunch is alcatra, Terceira's beef slow-cooked in a clay pot, at a local restaurant. The caves on the island open mainly in the afternoon, so we go underground after lunch: Algar do Carvão is an old volcanic vent you walk down into by a tunnel and steps, with mineral formations on the walls and a pool at the bottom, and Gruta do Natal is a lava tube you walk through.
Evening
Back in Angra, the farewell dinner is in town.
Included
- Serra do Cume viewpoint
- The Biscoitos lava pools
- Biscoitos wine museum with a tasting
- Alcatra lunch
- Algar do Carvão volcanic vent, with a guide
- Gruta do Natal lava tube
- Farewell dinner in Angra do Heroísmo
Easier option: Skip the steps down into Algar do Carvão and wait at the visitor centre; Gruta do Natal is a mostly level walk.
More active option: Walk the Mistérios Negros trail through the 18th-century lava field near Algar do Carvão, about 5 km, in place of Gruta do Natal.
Activity: Algar do Carvão is damp and has many steps; wear shoes with grip. Cave opening hours vary by season and are confirmed with your final itinerary. If the caves open in the morning on your dates, we swap the order: caves first, then Biscoitos and a later lunch.
Angra and home
Angra do Heroísmo to Lajes Airport (TER)
- Breakfast
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
The morning is free in Angra. Walk the harbour and the Prainha beach, buy queijadas or Dona Amélia cakes for the journey, or, if your flight is after about 2 pm, join your guide for a walk on the forest paths of Monte Brasil to the Pico das Cruzinhas monument above the bay. We check out after breakfast and keep your bags at the hotel until it is time to leave. The drive to Lajes Airport is about half an hour, and your guide sees you to the terminal and checks your flight before saying goodbye. Most travellers connect home through Lisbon or Porto; routes and seasonal flights from Lajes change, so we confirm the current schedule with you at booking. Book a flight leaving after about noon so the morning is not rushed.
Included
- Drop-off at Lajes Airport (TER)
More active option: A guided walk on Monte Brasil to Pico das Cruzinhas, about 4 km, for flights after about 2 pm.
Free time: Morning free in Angra
Activity: Book a flight out of Lajes (TER) after about noon; for the Monte Brasil walk, after about 2 pm.
- Ponta Delgada5 nights
- Angra do Heroísmo2 nights
- Terceira (Lajes Airport)end
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Cloud can hide the crater lakes on any day, so the São Miguel days swap to catch clear weather. Sperm whales and dolphins are seen year-round; migrating blue, fin and sei whales pass mainly in spring. Boats do not sail in rough seas, so the whale trip has a spare day.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want crater lakes, hot springs and green walking country without long drives
- A first visit to the Azores, seeing two islands well rather than four in a rush
- Whale watching included, with a spare day for the weather
- Those who like a mix of guided days and free afternoons in a small town
Not for you if you want
- Guaranteed sunshine: cloud and rain come in any month
- Long, hard hiking days or summit climbs such as Mount Pico
- Travellers who want to visit Faial, Pico or São Jorge on the same trip
- Step-free access: crater paths, cobbles and cave steps are part of most days
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
7 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Ponta Delgada5 nights
- Angra do Heroísmo2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 7 nights in central hotels of at least a 3-star-plus standard: 5 in Ponta Delgada, 2 in Angra do Heroísmo
- We name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL) and drop-off at Lajes Airport (TER)
- The inter-island flight from São Miguel to Terceira, with airport transfers
- A private vehicle and driver for the group on each island
- The whale-watching boat
- Your luggage carried in our vehicle on both islands, including to and from the inter-island flight
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide for the whole trip, with local guides on the whale-watching boat and in Algar do Carvão
Activities
- Ponta Delgada old-town walk
- Sete Cidades: Vista do Rei and the crater-rim walk
- Lagoa das Furnas, the fumaroles and the cozido pots
- Terra Nostra Park and thermal pool
- Whale watching from Ponta Delgada
- Lagoa do Fogo viewpoint
- Caldeira Velha, with a booked bathing slot
- Gorreana tea plantation and tasting
- Angra do Heroísmo walking tour, Alto da Memória and Monte Brasil
- Serra do Cume viewpoint
- Biscoitos lava pools and wine museum tasting
- Algar do Carvão and Gruta do Natal
- Trail and site fees on the day plan
Meals
- Breakfast daily (7)
- 4 lunches: Sete Cidades, cozido in Furnas, Ribeira Grande, alcatra on Terceira
- Welcome dinner in Ponta Delgada and farewell dinner in Angra do Heroísmo
- Dietary needs collected at booking and sent to every restaurant on the plan in writing, including a vegetable alternative to the cozido and alcatra lunches
Not included
- International flights to Ponta Delgada and home from Terceira
- Visa or travel authorisation fees, if any
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed, including lunch on days 4, 6 and 8
- Drinks, other than the tastings listed
- Tips
- Optional activities
- Extra baggage on the inter-island flight
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 920 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the Azores trip price include?
Seven nights in central hotels, breakfast daily, four lunches including cozido in Furnas and alcatra on Terceira, welcome and farewell dinners, the São Miguel to Terceira flight, airport transfers, our own vehicle and driver on each island, your See Sight Tours guide, the whale-watching boat, Terra Nostra, Caldeira Velha, both Terceira caves and the Biscoitos tasting. Dietary needs go to each restaurant in writing.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. Several Azores trips take up to 16 or 22, so a group of 12 fits one vehicle, one restaurant table and one whale-watching boat comfortably, and everyone can hear the guide at the viewpoints.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group for the whole week, on both islands. Licensed local guides join where the site requires them, such as the onboard guide on the whale-watching boat and the guide inside Algar do Carvão. We name your guide when we confirm your departure.
How fit do I need to be?
Easy to moderate. The longest walk is about 7 km along the Sete Cidades crater rim, mostly downhill, and most days have 2 to 5 km on foot. The steep path down to Lagoa do Fogo and the steps in Algar do Carvão are optional, with an easier alternative each time.
I am travelling solo. What does a single room cost?
A room of your own is from CAD 920 more than the shared price, shown up front before you request to book. Solo travellers are welcome on every departure and sit at the same tables as everyone else; ask us if you would like to be matched with a roommate instead.
Will we see whales?
Very likely, but never certain. Sperm whales and several dolphin species live around São Miguel all year, and blue, fin and sei whales pass mainly in spring. The trip has a spare day, so if the skipper cancels for rough seas on day 4, we sail on day 5 instead.
What if it is cloudy at Sete Cidades?
We move the day. Sete Cidades, Furnas and Lagoa do Fogo are interchangeable on São Miguel, and your guide picks the clearest day for each the evening before using the forecast and the crater webcams, so you have three chances to see the lakes.
When is the best time to visit the Azores?
May to October has the warmest weather, the longest days and calmer seas, with hydrangeas flowering along the roads from about June to August. Spring is best for migrating baleen whales. Rain and cloud are possible in any month, so pack a waterproof whatever the season.
Do I need a visa for the Azores?
Canadian and US citizens do not need a visa for a short stay; the Azores are part of Portugal and the Schengen area. Check whether the EU's ETIAS travel authorisation applies on your dates, and make sure your passport is valid for at least three months after you leave.
Which flights should I book?
Book an open-jaw ticket into Ponta Delgada (PDL) and home from Terceira's Lajes Airport (TER), usually via Lisbon or Porto. Land by about 3 pm on day 1 and leave after about noon on day 8. We book the inter-island flight between the two islands for you.
How does booking work?
Choose a departure and send a request to book. No payment is taken with the request. We check space and confirm your trip within 24 hours, then send the booking terms and the payment details. Prices are per person sharing, in Canadian dollars, with taxes.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The trip also runs as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the same hotels, flight and activities.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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