All Sao Miguel Tours & Excursions in 2026
What are people saying about Sao Miguel
Krista_W, Jun 2026
10/10 would recommend.
10/10 would recommend.
For reference, I am a young woman who likes to solo travel. I was debating between the fast boats or the catamaran and wasn't sure if I made the right decision, as people were saying the speed boats allow you to see more and feel closer to the animals and that the catamaran is crowded.
But that wasn't my experience, though each trip is entirely different as it all depends on what the animals want to grace us with.
But my group was honored to see a Sperm Whale, a large group of Spotted Atlantic dolphins, a small group of common dolphins, three men of war, and about 6 flying fish (don't take your eyes off the water if you want to catch them).
I wasn't seasick at all it wasn't a windy day so the water was nice at still at 9:00am, I always had a good view and both sets of dolphins swam right beside the boat following us (like 1m away) it was magical. They even took us to the Island of Vila Franco since we were so good on time.
There is a bathroom on board.
They say you can't go if you have high anxiety (in their list of not pregnant, no heart problems, etc. ) which I thought was weird but I'm assuming they mean a fear of boats, water, swimming, animals, etc. not sure, I'd recommend they be more specific as someone with general anxiety would be just fine (me :) ). They must have had a bad experience in the past.
Thank you, Team!
God bless!
Martin_B, Jun 2026
East of São Miguel island day tour with Pure Azores
Excellent full day tour with Clara of Pure Azores. The weather wasn’t the best, but we still got to see most of the viewpoints. Furnas was a great experience, both for the sampling of different flavoured liqueurs, tasting various different waters coming out of numerous springs, and the fantastic traditional Cozido lunch at Tony’s restaurant - one of the best meals we had during our stay in the Azores.
Kaylee_B, Jun 2026
Highlight of the holiday!
It was AMAZING! First we thought there wouldn’t be any dolfins, but then a whole group was there! It’s so special to see the dolfins in the wild and you could swim with them. Once in a lifetime experience! The guide was very sweet and passionated. And also, the ride on the boat was so much fun, the captains were cool.
Jeanne_L, Jun 2026
A week's worth of fun in one day
So glad we opted for a guided jeep tour to Sete Cidades & Lagoa de Fogo. Our guide was an expert in finding cloud breaks to catch amazing views. He creatively navigated our day to show more of this beautiful island than we could see in a week on our own.
Highly recommend!
Marvin_M, Jun 2026
Great views of marine wildlife, but need to be good swimmers to snorkel
tldr - you'll travel a short distance off the coast to reach an island with protected marine life. The boat circles the island, and you'll see a variety of wildlife through the glass bottom. Finally, you're given the opportunity to put on a wet suit and snorkel around the island for a closer view.
We got to see quite a lot of wildlife during this tour. The marine specialist keeps visual aids so you can see images of all the different kinds of fish you may come across. Personally though I think it's better to just enjoy the view. The specialist will also share some interesting stories about the island, like an old coming of age ritual that involved using a rather precariously looking rock formation to cross a chasm.
Snorkeling can be quite a challenge if you don't have prior experience. The water is still cold in June, and I was the only one in my family who participated. I'm very comfortable swimming laps in a pool, but I struggled with snorkeling, particularly breathing only through my mouthpiece. Still, if you are comfortable with snorkeling then you'll be treated to some spectacular views. There are quite a few fish that like to hide in crevices around the island and you'll need to dive into the water to catch them. A few of the more experienced divers also had photographs taken of them underneath the glass bottom.
The staff are superb. The captain is clearly a people person, and regularly took time to get to know all of us. He sensed my kids were a bit nervous going into this ride and made sure to check in with us. On our way back to the port he let my daughter navigate the boat up until we were supposed to dock. She was absolutely thrilled to take the wheel, and I'm sure it ended up being one of her favorite memories of the trip.
Once we returned to port the captain treated us to a quick drink in celebration of our journey. Adults get a small glass of port, children a glass of Kima passionfruit soda. In hindsight I would probably wait for my kids to be older before going on this experience, but it was certainly a great one!
Loretha_H, Jun 2026
Great times with the family, memories that will last
My husband and I brought our adult kids over to the island and so far this was the best thing we have done. You really cover a lot of ground and see things you can’t see driving. We all had individual quads, the only thing I would let everyone know is it can be very dusty. If you are in the back of the pack be very prepared for dust!! I highly recommend this tour.
Jeanne_L, May 2026
Magical Day
We enjoyed the variety of sites and activities on this itinerary. Our tour was made even more special by our delightful guide, Silvia. The island stories and island insights she shared added to the delightful day. Highly recommend this tour and Silvia!
lisabeirnes, May 2026
Jaon (john) and Andrea...
Jaon (john) and Andrea made a wonderful tour of the island the 2 days we were at sao miguel. Would definitely recommend this tour especially if your limited to your stay at the island, great way to see everything on the island and still get time to explore.
Yvonne_M, May 2026
A fantastic day out!
Joseph, our guide, was brilliant and ensured we got to see and experience everything, including seeing our food being removed from the volcanic ‘ovens’. We had a lot of fun and Joseph gave us plenty of interesting facts about the different locations we visited. The day was relaxed and we had plenty of time to see all the sights. Really recommend this trip and company
James_D, May 2026
Great adventure. You’ll...
Great adventure. You’ll need to walk to the town taxi stand to get a ride to the meeting location. The cost was 15 euros (one-way). Bruno, the tour operator, helped us call a cab for the trip back to the cruise port. Be sure to wear layers and the temps really change along the way. Enjoy!
Robert_M, Oct 2025
Our guide, Bernardo, was...
Our guide, Bernardo, was great. His focus on safety was paramount he gave clear instructions and was constantly checking on the group, which made us feel completely secure on the water. Beyond safety, he was excellent and well-spoken, providing fascinating details about the volcanic island's history and nature.
It was a professional, fun, and safe experience.
Lori_W, Sept 2025
Good time
Pedro was a great guy with lots of local knowledge and history. The stop points were beautiful and he offered to take photos to capture our trip together. The ATV -quad was comfortable and easy to use. Pedro had a good sense of humor to top it all off. He answered any and all questions. Thank you Pedro
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Sao Miguel, the largest island in Portugal's Azores archipelago, boasts stunning volcanic landscapes and lush scenery. Sao Miguel tours take you into the heart of the island to fully appreciate this natural setting—from exploring the crater lakes of Sete Cidades and the thermal baths of Furnas to canyoneering through waterfalls. The island’s marine life takes center stage on trips that focus on whale-watching, snorkeling, and swimming with wild dolphins, while cultural experiences help you discover local dishes.
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