Furnas Volcano & Tea Plantation With Traditional Lunch, East Tour
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Sao Miguel, Portugal
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore the wonders of Sao Miguel’s Furnas Valley on this informative full-day tour, including lunch. Visit the island’s famed ceramic factories, snap memorable photos at Caloura, Vila Franca do Campo, and Furnas. See Furnas lake and the surrounding hot springs and indulge in a traditional Sao Miguel lunch of ‘cozido,’ a rich stew cooked by thermal vents underground. You won’t want to miss the tea factory and the Ribeira Grande City with its beautiful architecture.
- Learn about Sao Miguel’s fascinating history from a professional guide
- Take in the volcanic island’s unique terrain
- Tour one of Europe’s only tea plantations
- Enjoy the island’s famed ‘cozido’ stew for lunch
What's Included
- Driver/guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan (maximum 8 people per van)
- Lunch
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Soda/Pop
- Bottled water
- Parking Fees
- Entrance fee - Terra Nostra Botanical Garden & Geothermal Pools (optional)€17.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.9:00 am
Itinerary
1
Miradouro de Santa Iria
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Plantacoes de Cha Gorreana
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Miradouro Pico Do Ferro
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Lagoa das Furnas
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
5
Restaurante Banhos Ferreos
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
6
Caldeira das Furnas
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Parque Terra Nostra
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
8
Nossa Senhora da Paz
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- A minimum of 2 people is required per booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
David_C
Did the Furnas Volcano & Tea Plantation East tour with Jose Melo as our tour guide. Very friendly, with a wealth of knowledge of the history of the island. He was very patient and accommodating. It was a rainy day but he made the trip very enjoyable. Food was excellent. Highly recommend this tour.
Reviews
4.8
based on 191 reviews
Cynthia_F, Mar 2026
If you’re visiting Ponta Delgada and thinking about exploring Furnas, do yourself a favor and book this tour… and hope you get Joaquin.
From the moment we were picked up at the port, everything was seamless and stress-free. Joaquin wasn’t just a driver, he was an incredible guide who brought the entire island to life. His knowledge of the Azores, especially the volcanic history of Furnas, was impressive, but what really stood out was how naturally he shared it. It never felt like a lecture, more like traveling with a very knowledgeable friend who genuinely loves where he lives.
The small group made a huge difference. We never felt rushed, and Joaquin tailored the experience so it felt personal rather than scripted. As we drove through the countryside, the views were already stunning, but his commentary added so much depth. Every stop had context, stories, and little details we would have completely missed on our own.
Furnas itself is something else entirely. Seeing the volcanic activity up close at the lake, learning about the traditional cooking methods, and then soaking in the thermal hot springs was just unreal. Sitting in those warm mineral waters surrounded by lush greenery felt like something out of another world.
Joaquin made sure we experienced the best of everything, from scenic viewpoints to hidden gems, all while keeping the day relaxed and enjoyable. The transportation was comfortable, the timing was perfect, and the entire experience felt incredibly well thought out.
This wasn’t just a tour, it was one of those travel days you end up talking about long after the trip is over.
If you get Joaquin as your guide, you’ve already won.
Linda_D, Mar 2026
This tour is the perfect way to see the eastern part of the island. Very relaxed and beautiful scenery. So nice to get out of the city. Our guide Joaquim was the best and made this experience even more wonderful. He was attentive to questions and conversation to everyone in our group. No rushing at all. Had a lot of inside info since this is his home! Every stop we made was beautiful and the stew was delicious!
Nigel_P, Mar 2026
Friendly driver but he needed to pay more attention to his driving, sometimes only one hand on the steering wheel, on a couple of occasions no hands on the steering wheel.
Allison_M, Mar 2026
What a wonderful day with Jose. His expertise and easy personality made the tour so much more memorable. While it might seem like a long tour (advertised as 8 hours) it honestly flew by. Every stop was interesting. My entire family learned so much. The food was delicious. Learning about the volcanoes and the hot springs and getting to experience it all in comfort was a bonus. When you have teenagers who say “thanks for a great day” you know it was a win. Thank you again for a great time. This is truly worth every penny.
David_C, Mar 2026
Did the Furnas Volcano & Tea Plantation East tour with Jose Melo as our tour guide. Very friendly, with a wealth of knowledge of the history of the island. He was very patient and accommodating. It was a rainy day but he made the trip very enjoyable. Food was excellent. Highly recommend this tour.
Kelvin_L, Mar 2026
Great tour, so much packed into a single day including a lovely lunch but nothing rushed. Bruno was a terrific guide.
Joanne_B, Mar 2026
Canceled less than 24 hrs before start of tour - by email not even thru Viator. Hotel helped us to book locally or we would have wasted a whole day. Said I would get a credit card refund but still had to put out same amount in cash to pay for another tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Good evening,
Yesterday morning, we sent a request to change/or cancel the tour. We gave you this option and did not cancel immediately. Unfortunately, due to logistical issues, we were unable to carry out the tour today.
The request was made through Viator! and not via email as you mentioned!
The status of your reservation is still pending for you to say whether you want to cancel or change the reservation to another date! At this precise moment, it is still pending! From the moment the reservation is in this state, we cannot do anything more on our end because the response and what you want to do is up to you. I'm sorry, but if you don't understand how the platform works, it's not our fault. Please cancel and receive your money back because we are an honest and responsible company and we don't want any money that isn't ours.
Kim_H, Feb 2026
I liked the people we walked with in the tour. I really liked the tour guide, he was very friendly and knowledgeable about the tour
Maxim_S, Jan 2026
Great tour, great guide Joaquim, great dinner! São Miguel is the largest and most populous island in Azores archipelago, famous for its stunning volcanic landscapes, lush greenery, hot springs, and dramatic coastlines, geothermal areas in Furnas.
Jie_Z, Dec 2025
Joaquin is a very knowledgeable and very nice person. My husband and I booked he Furnas tour at last minute after our tour group did not included the Furnas Tour during our one week in Azores. Joaquin arrived out hotel early our pick up time and waiting for us. We like his on time!
The lunch was great local food! His car is very clean.
Cleda_S, Nov 2025
This is a wonderful full day tour and a great value for the price. The local steamed lunch is a must to try served with wine or beer if you like. All viewpoints spectacular. We enjoyed our guide Joaquin so much that we signed with him for another full day tour other side of island.
WILLIAM_F, Nov 2025
unpleasant experience..... unhappy and angey about tour
we have full day Furnas with traditional lunch (east tour) Furnas Nov 11 at 9 am
we received an email cancelled the day before tour Nov 10 but in Nov 11 at 6am received another email for tour confirmation so we went to meeting point and nobody showed up i tried to call to phone no in my invoice, nobody anawered. i googled another phone no after 45 min somebody picked up phone and couldnnot give us reasonable respond and he said he will ask operator of tour call us back but nobody call us neverrrrr
we have been only 2 days in ponta delgadA and Viatour ruins one full day
veryyyy veryyyy unpleasant and un happy
mis management
william Jeffrey Finne
Maddie_C, Oct 2025
If we could give 6 stars, we would! Bruno was so informative, funny and kind! He gave information in the most creative and enjoyable way! He went beyond our tour expectations and we would definitely go with him again. Don't miss the opportunity to have him as your guide!
N_V, Oct 2025
Joao is excellent guide, had very nice trip. Would recommend this tour and tour operator.
Thank you for great experience!
David_W, Oct 2025
Joaquim our tour guide and driver was charming, very knowledgable and the perfect host and we saw far more things in a day than we could have done had we hired a car.
He took us to a traditional Azores restaurant where we enjoyed a super lunch.
We are in our mid 70’s and would highly recommend this tour.
Ken_D, Sep 2025
We really enjoyed this personalized tour with Joao! He was friendly and personable, gave us good information about the islands. Only downfall was the thermal springs. It was disorganized there nobody to help you figure it out, change rooms were small. Be prepared. You need wifi to get a secure locker. My partner opted out of the experience to watch our belongings. Unfortunate waste of our entry fee. The gardens were lovely and worth a stroll. Would still recommend the tour as it was not their fault! Overall great experience!
Margaret_H, Sep 2025
Our guide, Joachim had grown up on the island and was a wonderful narrator of the island: past, present and future. He was so knowledgeable, friendly and eager to share his beautiful island home with us. We had a perfect sized group, 6 people.
Sandra_H, Sep 2025
What a wonderful day. Jaoa picked us up and showed us all over this beautiful island. We had a great lunch of meat stew which was delightful. The Azores is a must visit and Jaoa is a must guide. So personable, friendly and a joy to be around m. This island has so much beauty
Sandra_R, Sep 2025
Our guide was amazing! He answered all the questions we had. Explained all the sights in detail. Even spoke Spanish and English to accommodate us all. Beautiful sights and good lunch.
Lyubov_D, Sep 2025
Timely hotel pickup. The guide (Bruno) went above and beyond giving extra time at each location, hence extending the trip time by more than a hour. Great experience overall.
James_L, Aug 2025
Great tour and a full day of fun sites. Tour guide was beyond personable and informative. We loved it
Katie_E, Jun 2025
Such a great day with our wonderful guide, João! While we had rented a car for our time on the island, so being driven to each location and provided with so much information about each place and the island was a welcomed break for us. Each place we visited was incredible and we were even able to fit in a cheese tasting at a local shop with their own cows. We had so much fun and learned a bunch, 10/10 recommend! Thank you, João!
Robin_H, Jun 2025
This is a very full day! Nice combination of driving and stopping for activities. Gorgeous views, stellar food. The driver, Joe, was extremely kind and knowledgeable, but too chatty. A bit less input and more time for quiet and guests' questions would have been better. But overall an extremely special day.
Karyn_A, Jun 2025
Joaquim was AMAZING. So knowledgeable about the history, the flowers, really anything about the islands. It was an amazing way to spend the day. We would have never had these experiences if we tried to do all of it on our own. And the food. What can I say. Joaquim made sure our lunch in Furnas was a cultural experience.
myerliz, Jun 2025
Bruno was a wonderful guide. We had a very compatible group, and he adapted the tour to our preferences. The sites were very interesting. Lunch was a fun experience. Views were beautiful. Bruno even stayed late for us. Overall, a great day.
Cecilia_D, Jun 2025
The tour was well organized and our guide, Bruno was great. He was knowledgeable and flexible. We saw quite a bit of the eastern side of the island. Breathtaking views!
Rasa_M, May 2025
We had the pleasure of touring with Joaquim, and it was truly an outstanding experience. Joaquim was incredibly knowledgeable—not only about the history of the tea plantations, but also about the rich and fascinating history of the Azores islands. His passion for the region was evident in every story he told and every detail he shared.
What really stood out was Joaquim’s kindness and his natural ability to connect with people. He made everyone feel welcome and comfortable, and he was always happy to answer questions and share recommendations. Beyond the tour itself, Joaquim provided fantastic suggestions for other activities to explore in the area, as well as excellent restaurant recommendations.
One of the highlights was that Joaquim went above and beyond the planned itinerary, showing us even more of the area than expected. His generosity with his time and knowledge made this experience unforgettable. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide and would highly recommend Joaquim to anyone visiting the Azores.
Megan_C, May 2025
Amazing tour of the must-see sights on the East side of the island. Guide was friendly, knowledgeable and insightful. The lunch was delicious and amazing to see where it was cooked underground.
Sandra_O, May 2025
Joao was an excellent tour guide. We did al the tour items listed. He saw the rain coming in and took us to the mountain first for a great view of the lakes. Most tours missed the view bc their guide saved the view for last. He also showed us some areas where the locals go for swimming and fishing. The tour is listed as a full day but he made sure we made it back to our cruise with time to spare! Best tour!!!!
Vasilii_Z, May 2025
Great tour overall! Our guide and driver Jose was welcoming, kept us entertained with stories and was eager to answer our questions. His driving was also top notch. The tour was decently paced - we didn't feel rushed.
From $88.01
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Furnas Volcano & Tea Plantation With Traditional Lunch, East Tour
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