Portugal / The Azores / São Miguel (Ponta Delgada)São Miguel (Ponta Delgada)
Crater Lakes, Hot Springs and Whales in the Mid-Atlantic
The largest island of the Azores, volcanic and green, in the mid-Atlantic about 2 h 15 by air from Lisbon (Ryanair left the islands in March 2026; SATA's Azores Airlines and TAP fly). From Ponta Delgada: the twin blue and green crater lakes of Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo, and the steaming valley of Furnas, where cozido stew is slow-cooked in the volcanic ground and the Terra Nostra garden has a warm iron-rich pool; Europe's oldest tea plantation at Gorreana; and whale and dolphin watching (sperm whales all year, blue whales mostly in spring). The weather changes by the hour and the lakes are often in cloud; hire a car to get round. Winters are mild, but Atlantic storms from November to March can cancel boats and flights.
Highlights
- Sete Cidades from the Vista do Rei
- Whale and dolphin watching
- Cozido cooked in the ground at Furnas
- Warm pool at Terra Nostra
- Lagoa do Fogo
- Gorreana tea plantation
Things to do
- Sete Cidades crater lakes and viewpointsMorning · 4h
- Whale and dolphin watching from Ponta DelgadaMorning · 3h
- Furnas: fumaroles, cozido lunch and the Terra Nostra poolAfternoon · 5h
- Hike down to Lagoa do FogoMorning · 3h
- Gorreana tea plantationAfternoon · 1h 30m
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: May – September
Heads up
Atlantic Storms: Flights and Boats Cancelled
From November to March Atlantic storms bring days of rain and wind to Madeira and the Azores: flights are delayed, whale-watching and boat trips cancelled, and mountain roads and trails closed. Winters are mild, but keep a spare day before your flight home.
Heads up
Azores Flights: No Low-Cost Carrier Since March 2026
Ryanair stopped flying to the Azores at the end of March 2026, leaving SATA's Azores Airlines and TAP on the routes from Lisbon and Porto, with fewer seats and higher fares. Book flights to Ponta Delgada early, especially for summer.
- Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres — The Azores' biggest religious festival, on the fifth Sunday after Easter: the image of the Christ of Miracles is carried through Ponta Delgada's streets laid with flower carpets, with emigrant Azoreans flying home from North America for it. Book flights and rooms early.