Volcano Tours on São Miguel, Azores
Three volcanic systems within an hour of one city, 35 experiences, and an island that last erupted in 1630.
São Miguel is 760 square kilometres of island carrying two thirds of the Azorean tourism market, and it does that on geography rather than on marketing. Three separate volcanic systems sit within ninety minutes of a single city. You can sleep in the same bed for a week, drive west one day and east the next, and see a caldera with two lakes on its floor, a second lake inside a second caldera, and a valley where the ground steams and lunch is buried in it. Nothing else in the archipelago is arranged this conveniently, which is why 35 of the 51 Portuguese listings on this site are here.
This page is about the island as a base: how far things really are, whether to hire a car, what the full-day tours contain, and what São Miguel sells that has nothing to do with craters. The two areas that take most of the bookings have pages of their own, because the operational detail is different in each. Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo are a driving and viewpoint day. Furnas is a lunch, a bath and a fumarole field with an unusual timetable. If you already know which one you want, go there. If you are working out how many days the island needs, stay here.
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Volcano Travel Experiences in São Miguel
Private 4x4 Half Day from the Ponta Delgada Pier, You Pick the Crater
A private off-road half day from the cruise pier at Ponta Delgada, with the destination up to you: Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo or another that fits.
Quads on the Azores Rallye Trails, above Sete Cidades
You drive the quad, on tracks that are stages of the Azores Airlines Rallye, up to 845 metres at Pico da Cruz with all four lagoons in view below. Half day.
São Miguel in Two Days: the Highest Lagoon and the Glass Pineapples
Two days across the island with a local guide: the Lagoa do Fogo, Sete Cidades, the Furnas calderas and the only glass greenhouse pineapples in the world.
Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo by Electric Van, Eight Seats
Eleven stops across western São Miguel in a fully electric van with eight seats, from Pico do Carvão to Lagoa do Fogo, with an Azorean lunch included.
Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo by Jeep, over Pico da Barrosa
A full day by jeep over the rim of Sete Cidades at 650 metres and the 947-metre Pico da Barrosa, with lunch and drinks at a local restaurant included.
Sete Cidades by Land Rover on the Crater Rim Track
Land Rovers on the dirt track around the crater rim, a stop inside at the church of São Nicolau, and the green and blue lakes from the bridge between them.
Sete Cidades for Cruise Passengers, with the Pineapple Greenhouses
A cruise call spent at the pineapple greenhouses with a liqueur tasting, the blue and green lakes from Vista do Rei, and the cliffs at Escalvado. Back on time.
The Furnas Stew, Gorreana Tea and the Chapel Above Vila Franca
The stew comes out of the ground at Lagoa das Furnas and is eaten at a restaurant, with Europe's oldest tea plantation and Terra Nostra either side of it.
Two Hours Along the Coast Only Reachable by Sea: Caves, Cliffs, Priest Rock
Two hours along a north coast with no road to it, entering the sea caves when the swell allows, past rock stacks the crew know by name.
Two Lines Round São Miguel, 9 to 7, Hop On and Off
Two lines, Sete Cidades and Gorreana, running 9am to 7pm with as many stops as you want. Under 5s travel free and 6 to 10 year olds pay a reduced fare.
West São Miguel: a Whaling Lookout, 947 Metres Over Lagoa do Fogo, Lunch Included
The westernmost point on this route was a whaling lookout, and the afternoon reaches 947 metres over Lagoa do Fogo. Lunch, drinks and dessert are included.
Ratings collected by Viator and Tripadvisor