São Miguel East Highlights: Furnas, Nordeste & Lunch
Recommended by 100% of travelers
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Sao Miguel, Portugal
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover the natural beauty of São Miguel’s east side on this scenic day trip. Witness bubbling hot springs in Furnas, and sample iron-rich waters and traditional “cozido” stew cooked by volcanic steam. Visit the stunning Ribeira dos Caldeirões waterfall and unwind at the scenic Santa Iria viewpoint, a memorable mix of volcanic wonders and serene island landscapes.
- Eastern São Miguel’s scenic highlights from Ponta Delgada with a small group
- Visit a secluded mountain church and admire views of the island’s coastline
- See volcanic springs and gas vents in action at Furnas Lake (hot spring is optional)
- Eat a lunch of traditional stew slow-cooked in the thermal ground
What's Included
- Lunch (cozido stew, drink of choice, dessert, and coffee)
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off (Centrally located Ponta Delgada hotels and Lagoa Town))
- Expert driver/guide
- Thermal pools (optional)
- Any service not mentioned as being included
- Bottled waterTo minimize environmental impact, we do not provide water bottles on this tour. We encourage you to bring your own reusable bottle
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Pick-up is available from main hotels and designated meeting points in Ponta Delgada. If you are staying outside Ponta Delgada, a transfer to our office can be arranged for an additional cost. Please be ready at the front entrance by 9:00 am. Pick-ups may take up to 20 minutes to be completed.
Operating hours.9:00 am
Itinerary
Your tour begins with hotel pickup in the morning, where you board a comfortable 9-seater van, destined for the east side of São Miguel Island.
Arrive in Furnas, a town built entirely inside a volcano caldera, home to volcanic springs, gas vents, and thermal pools. Take the opportunity to relax in the delightful thermal pools of Furnas town (optional, own expense) and revitalize with a "cozido" stew, cooked in pots buried within the thermal grounds.
Admire some of the island's best panoramic views of Furnas Lake from an elevated viewpoint.
After a stop at the stunning Ribeira dos Caldeirões waterfall in the natural park, take in the coastal views from a high cliff. Your tour concludes with hotel drop-off.
Arrive in Furnas, a town built entirely inside a volcano caldera, home to volcanic springs, gas vents, and thermal pools. Take the opportunity to relax in the delightful thermal pools of Furnas town (optional, own expense) and revitalize with a "cozido" stew, cooked in pots buried within the thermal grounds.
Admire some of the island's best panoramic views of Furnas Lake from an elevated viewpoint.
After a stop at the stunning Ribeira dos Caldeirões waterfall in the natural park, take in the coastal views from a high cliff. Your tour concludes with hotel drop-off.
1
Nossa Senhora da Paz
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Caldeira das Furnas
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Parque Terra Nostra
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
Miradouro Pico Do Ferro
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Miradouro do Salto do Cavalo
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeiroes
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Nordeste
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Miradouro de Santa Iria
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 56 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 1,288 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Licinio_Q, Jul 2026
It was fantastic! Daniel (Danny) our tour guide was awesome, very knowledgeable and great sense of humor. Went over and above to make sure we had a good time, and saw all the sites comfortably. Spoke very good english and portuguese (of course 😂)
I would highly recommend this tour, worth every penny!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic day with Daniel. His knowledge, sense of humour, and dedication to making every guest feel comfortable are qualities we're very proud of. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to São Miguel for another adventure in the future!
KinHung_T, Jul 2026
First of all, we had great communication with Julia from Pure Azores prior to the tour. The EV van is comfortable and pick up from our hotel was prompt. Besides being a competent driver, our tour guide Clara is also very friendly, knowledgeable and attentive to the group. We had plenty of time to enjoy all the sights. One of the best tour we had in our 40+ years of travel and we highly recommend it.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that everything, from your communication with the BackOffice before the tour to your day with Clara, met your expectations. It means a lot to us that you consider this one of the best tours from your many years of travel. Thank you for your recommendation, we hope to welcome you back to São Miguel again in the future!
Sean_S, Jul 2026
Joao was very knowledgeable and interesting. Visited some great places. Brilliant way to see the island
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring the island with João and appreciated his knowledge and insights. It’s great to know you visited some amazing places and had such a positive experience. Thank you for your kind words!
Claire_D, Jul 2026
We really enjoyed this tour and a brilliant way to see all the main sights of interest on the east of the island. This part of the island is interesting as you get to see the geothermal park and the stunning coastline, not to mention beautiful waterfalls and landscape. Our guide Marcio was so knowledgeable and he made the day fun and enjoyable. The vehicle was new and very comfortable and we liked that the group was small with only 8 of us. Well worth it and we would definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring the east side of São Miguel and that you appreciated the geothermal area, waterfalls, coastline, and beautiful landscapes. It’s fantastic to know Márcio’s knowledge and enthusiasm made the day even more enjoyable. Thank you for your recommendation, we truly appreciate it!
Naomi_K, Jul 2026
Just had an amazing adventure with Joao and pure azores. The trip was in a small van, we went to numerous locations which were all gorgeous! Joao was super knowledgeable and was great with my children. We loved the hot springs (a super highlight) and the lunch was delicious. A five star trip my kids said it was a super experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you and your family had such an amazing day with João. It’s fantastic that you enjoyed the beautiful locations, the hot springs, and the traditional lunch, and that João helped make the experience so enjoyable for your children. We’re especially happy to hear they called it a “super experience”!
Martin_B, Jun 2026
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.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the West tour with Clara and that you appreciated the mix of viewpoints, Furnas experience, and traditional Cozido lunch. It’s great that even with less ideal weather, you were still able to make the most of the day. We truly appreciate your feedback!
Chris_Z, Jun 2026
Joao was a fantastic guide and driver. The tour was wonderful with tons of stops. Lunch was solid and very filling. We had some cloudy weather but that's not the tour's fault. Will travel with them again.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your kind review. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour with João and that his knowledge and friendliness made the experience even better. It’s great that you still had a wonderful day despite the cloudy weather. We truly appreciate your feedback!
CarolAnne_A, Jun 2026
It was a rainy and cloudy but the guide provided good information about the area. Overall a good tour of the area.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review. We’re glad to hear you still enjoyed the tour despite the rainy and cloudy weather, and that the guide provided good information throughout the experience. We appreciate your feedback!
michael_w, Jun 2026
Exceptional tour with our guide Hugo. So many sights seen, felt it was better than West tour. Highlight was hot springs (extra cost 17 Euros pp) but scenery was amazing. Highly recommended
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your kind review. We’re very happy to hear you had such an exceptional experience with Hugo and that you were able to enjoy so many beautiful sights throughout the day. It’s great that the hot springs and scenery were a highlight for you. We truly appreciate your recommendation!
Jasper_G, Jun 2026
Another great day out! Had Marcio again as my guide and he was again brilliant. Brought us around Furnas and Nordeste, introduced us to many local sights and foods, and we even said hi to his grandma along the way.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your kind review. We’re delighted to hear you had another great day with Marcio and that he made the experience so enjoyable once again. It’s wonderful that you were able to explore Furnas and Nordeste, discover local sights and food, and enjoy those personal touches along the way. We truly appreciate your feedback!
Kai_S, May 2026
This tour was excellent for experiencing an overview of the east of the island. João was an excellent guide, teaching us a lot about the island and sharing stories. The vehicle was spacious and modern. Would certainly recommend.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your kind review. We’re very happy to hear you enjoyed the East tour and that João’s knowledge and stories helped make the experience more interesting. It’s great that you also appreciated the comfort of the vehicle. We truly appreciate your recommendation.
Judy_B, May 2026
This was great way to see the island with a local guide who was very knowledgeable and accommodating. It was also fun to share the day with other travelers from various countries and backgrounds.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your kind review. We’re very happy to hear you enjoyed discovering the island with a knowledgeable local guide and that sharing the experience with fellow travellers from different backgrounds made the day even more enjoyable. We truly appreciate your feedback.
Kathleen_F, May 2026
Experience the Island of Sao Miguel with what feels like a personal tour. Our guide took us through an informative and uplifting day filled with local history and anecdotes at every stop.
Our guide Joao de Costa brought the Island to life!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review. We’re very happy to hear the tour felt personal and that João helped bring São Miguel to life through his stories, local history, and uplifting approach throughout the day. We truly appreciate your kind words and feedback.
Kylie_I, May 2026
João was an incredible tour guide and made our experience so enjoyable from start to finish! My sister and I had such a great time and a huge part of that was because of his energy, knowledge, and personality. He was informative and he shared so many interesting facts and local insights that made the experience even more special! He was also very friendly, engaging, and made everyone feel welcome and included. You can tell he genuinely enjoys what he does, and that really comes across throughout the tour. He made the entire experience feel relaxed, fun, and memorable. My sister and I left feeling like we learned a lot while also having an amazing time. We’re so happy we had João as our guide and would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for a great experience. Thank you for making our trip even better!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review. We’re very happy to hear you and your sister had such an enjoyable experience with João and that his energy, knowledge, and friendly personality made the tour so special. It’s great that you felt welcomed, included, and able to fully enjoy a relaxed and memorable day while learning more about the island. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation.
Rinus_E, May 2026
Great tour! I did both the east and west tour with this company. Both very different and great tours!!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your kind review. We’re very happy to hear you enjoyed both the East and West tours and that each offered a different and great experience. We truly appreciate your feedback and are glad you chose to explore the island with us.
Joe_R, May 2026
Awesome tour! Our guide, Daniel, was super knowledgeable and really made everything great. He even had umbrellas for everyone when there was some sporadic rain. We got to see and experience some amazing places on this tour. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your kind review. We’re very happy to hear you had an awesome tour with Daniel and that his knowledge and care made the experience even better. It’s great that he was prepared with umbrellas and helped you enjoy the sites despite the weather. We truly appreciate your recommendation.
Lina_C, May 2026
We had a wonderful time. Our tour guide, Marcio, was professional, friendly, and knowledgeable, and he made our day truly terrific.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your kind review. We’re very happy to hear you had a wonderful time and that Marcio’s professionalism, friendliness, and knowledge helped make your day so enjoyable. We truly appreciate your feedback.
Tony_d, Apr 2026
We got to see most of the highlights on the eastern side of the island. Clara did a great job getting us from place to place in a timely and efficient manner. She educated us on each spot we stop at. I also had good communication from their back office. I would recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your kind review. We’re glad you enjoyed exploring the eastern side of the island and that Clara’s guidance and explanations helped make the experience even better. It’s also great to hear that our communication met your expectations. We truly appreciate your recommendation.
meiping_t, Apr 2026
The tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Be prepared to dress well and wear study walking shoes.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your review. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and that the guide’s knowledge and friendliness made the experience positive for you. We also appreciate your helpful tip for future guests.
John_R, Apr 2026
Fantastic scenery, we had a marvellous tour guide in Jojo. The volcano hot springs were unbelievable.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your kind review. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the fantastic scenery and that João made the experience even better for you. It’s great that the volcanic hot springs were such a highlight of your day. We truly appreciate your feedback.
David_L, Mar 2026
The views on this tour were amazing, the food exceptional and our guide, Joal was terrific. He was entertaining, informative and showed our group a wonderful day.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review. We’re thrilled you enjoyed the views and the local food, and that Joao made the day both entertaining and informative. It’s great to hear the tour created such a memorable experience for your group.
Chrys_T, Jan 2026
I had a really great birthday trip with our guide, Joao. I’ve done many tours before and he is really one of the best guides I’ve met. Very knowledgeable, lots of local stories and personal tips, amazing storytelling ability, and I was never bored during the whole day. He drove safely and spent the right amount of time at each spot. Another shoutout to the customer service agent because this company hired a gem. I received very prompt replies and updates, even messages before the trip. It all felt very professional and I can clearly tell that Pure Azores is a company that is run by people who know what they are doing. I’ve already booked another tour with them!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
We’re so glad your birthday trip was such a special day. It’s wonderful to hear that João’s stories, knowledge, and care made the tour engaging and enjoyable from start to finish. We’re also happy that our team’s support added to the experience, and we’re thrilled you’ve already booked another tour with us!
Rory_B, Jan 2026
One of the best experiences of our Caribbean cruise.
On our crossing of the Atlantic from Europe to the Caribbean, we had the absolute pleasure of visiting Sao Miguel.
Our host Gonçalo was the perfect ambassador, his knowledge and experience combined with an incredible pride for his home island, made for an unforgettable experience.
After disembarking our ship we (my girlfriend myself and our two Canadian friends) where underway in literally minutes, no waiting, queues or hassle.
Beautiful viewpoints, photo opportunities, lake furnas, the amazingly refreshing hot springs of Poca de Dona Beija (highly recommended) and the waterfall at Ribeira dos Caldeiroes made for an amazing day!
Probs again for Gonçalo who was a fantastic host. Not only did his love for the Azores rub off on us, his English was also impeccable; often joining in when we bantered with our Canadian friends about their ‘exclusive accommodation aboard our ship’
This was a full day excursion. Pick up from the cruise terminal and back to the ship was approximately 8 hours.
10/10 would absolutely recommend!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you very much for your kind words and for taking the time to leave such a great review! We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed your day exploring São Miguel and that Gonçalo made your visit both smooth and memorable. We’re also pleased that the itinerary, smooth pickup from the cruise terminal, and the full-day experience met your expectations. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to the Azores in the future.
Ann_S, Dec 2025
This excursion is a full day exploring the East side of the island! You get to see so many amazingly gorgeous areas! This experience was AMAZING! João was literally the best guide! He was extremely knowledgeable, funny (even with some cheesy dad jokes), and an unexpected surprise, he’s a great photographer! He made sure that our group was involved and informed. He was attentive to everyone’s needs and requests. João literally made the day more enjoyable! I would highly recommend this experience with João and Pure Azores Tours! Ask for João!!!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for such a fantastic review! We’re so glad to hear that João made your tour so enjoyable with his knowledge, humor and photography skills added something extra special to your experience. We’re really grateful for your recommendation, and we’d love to have you back for another adventure with João anytime!
Elizabeth_A, Dec 2025
Very interesting and beautiful, even though the day was blustery. Daniel was an informative, enthusiastic guide. Very glad to have taken this tour.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Daniel despite the blustery weather. We’d love to have you join us again on another tour in the future!
Aichin_J, Dec 2025
Our driver cum guide, Paulo was professional, courteous, knowledgeable. Enjoyable and fun. Great way to tour the island. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re thrilled to hear that our guide made your tour so memorable with his courteous and knowledgeable approach. We really appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back for another tour!
Kim_H, Dec 2025
Wonderful Eastern tour of the island. Spent sufficient time at each stop, not too long or short. Max was very informative throughout the tour. Very kind and cautious driver. Would recommend Max and this tour.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for the great review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Eastern tour and that Max made your experience even better with his knowledge and care. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
neha_n, Nov 2025
The Azores ( San Miguel ) are beyond beautiful. Completely smitten with those breathtaking greens and blues - the warmth of the people we met was just as magical . There really is treasure everywhere 💫Goncalo is an extraordinarily kind and welcoming guide who clearly loves his beautiful island and is so generous with us - as we explore it . Beautiful weather , stunning landscapes , delicious food - deeply grateful 🫶🏿
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We’re so happy you fell in love with the beauty of São Miguel and the incredible warmth of its people. It’s great to hear that Goncalo made your journey even more memorable with his passion for the island. We hope you carry these beautiful memories with you and that you’ll return to discover even more treasures of the Azores.
David_G, Nov 2025
Tour was amazing. João was amazing. Don’t hesitate just go. The food was good but the sites were by far the highlight. I enjoyed the hot springs and although it was short, still worth it.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your kind review! We’re so happy you had an amazing experience with João and enjoyed the stunning sites We’re also glad you got to experience the hot springs, even if briefly. Thanks for recommending the tour, and we’d love to see you again soon!
Brian_S, Nov 2025
Great itinerary, beautiful views. Cátia is the best tour guide: knowledgeable, funny, and very accommodating.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so happy you loved the views and had a great time with Cátia! We hope to welcome you back in the future.
From $99.01
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São Miguel East Highlights: Furnas, Nordeste & Lunch
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