Sete CidadesStory N° 168
Azores: Crater Lakes & Geothermal Calm
Slow right down on São Miguel, soaking in volcanic hot springs above the green crater lakes of Sete Cidades.
The itinerary.
3 days · 7 stops
Friday
Day One
Arrive in Ponta Delgada and ease in with a quiet harbour walk and your first geothermal soak.
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Caldeira Velha
A mossy nature reserve on Pico da Barrosa with warm, iron-rich thermal pools beneath a waterfall in the laurel forest.
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Poça da Dona Beija
A series of warm mineral pools in Furnas, open into the evening for a long, unhurried soak under the trees.
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Hotel
Furnas Boutique Hotel Thermal & Spa booking.com · AI hotel ratings: hotelist.com
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Getting around
- Arriving via Ponta Delgada (João Paulo II) Airport, transfer east to Furnas
- Slow drive over the central plateau
Saturday
Day Two
A gentle day around the Furnas valley — steaming springs, a slow-cooked lunch and a thermal botanical garden.
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Terra Nostra Park
A 19th-century botanical garden centred on a large warm, ochre thermal pool ringed by giant ferns and camellias.
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Furnas Fumaroles (Caldeiras)
Bubbling sulphur springs by the lake where locals bury pots to slow-cook cozido das Furnas in the volcanic ground.
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Tony's Restaurante
The classic Furnas table for cozido das Furnas, the beef-and-vegetable stew cooked for hours in the earth's heat.
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Hotel
Furnas Boutique Hotel Thermal & Spa booking.com · AI hotel ratings: hotelist.com
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Getting around
- Strolling the Furnas village and lakeside
- Short drive to the caldeiras
Sunday
Day Three
A calm last morning above the blue-and-green twin lakes of Sete Cidades before flying out.
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Vista do Rei
The famous overlook of the Sete Cidades crater, where one lake reads blue and its twin green within the same caldera.
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Lagoa do Fogo
A pristine, undeveloped crater lake in a protected reserve, often wrapped in mist for a deeply quiet final stop.
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Hotel
Furnas Boutique Hotel Thermal & Spa booking.com · AI hotel ratings: hotelist.com
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Getting around
- Scenic drive west to Sete Cidades
- Transfer to Ponta Delgada Airport
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Azores: Crater Lakes & Geothermal Calm?
3 days. The itinerary runs from Friday to Sunday and covers 7 curated stops across 3 days.
How much does Azores: Crater Lakes & Geothermal Calm cost?
Premium — €300–600 per day per person, premium lodging included.
Where do you stay during Azores: Crater Lakes & Geothermal Calm?
Furnas Boutique Hotel Thermal & Spa is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Azores: Crater Lakes & Geothermal Calm itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 7 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Sete Cidades.
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