SAO MIGUEL · MADEIRA & THE AZORES
The tours and day trips worth booking.
The 15 top-rated things to do in Sao Miguel — the boat trips, beach days, volcano hikes and old-town wanders worth building a day around, with real prices and who to book each one with.
A small-group west coast day from Ponta Delgada: Sete Cidades lakes, Lago do Fogo, waterfalls, and Mosteiros coast plus lunch.
Most Popular“Excellent service from our guide Daniel, very attending to everyone’s needs. Magical scenery despite the heavy mist. The fog gave it another allure !”
Small-group van tour through São Miguel’s east coast: Furnas geysers, optional thermal pools, and a cozido lunch, plus Nordeste views.
“Our driver cum guide, Paulo was professional, courteous, knowledgeable. Enjoyable and fun. Great way to tour the island. Highly recommended.”
Full-day Jeep tour from Ponta Delgada to Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo with lunch and drinks, crater rim stops, and big views.
“Eddie our guide was great! The knowledge of someone who is passionate about the island is invaluable. All the stops were nice and in a jeep you can go places that buses cannot. Worth going on for sure.”
Canyoning in Ribeira dos Caldeirões on São Miguel: gear, safety briefings, optional jumps and abseils, plus a wetsuit-and-water morning.
“Great experience. So much to see and do. You need to be fit enough to climb uphill for 15 min! The place itself is breathtakingly beautiful.”
A small-group São Miguel full-day tour with a local lunch and low-crowd stops, from Ribeira Grande geothermal channels to Limbo Falls.
“Catia was the most wonderful Guide. She engaged everyone on the trip and followed through on taking us to the places that were important to us. I must say , I would highly recommend her to all travelers.”
Furnas at night from Ponta Delgada: thermal baths, steaming caldeiras, and a Cozido dinner with reserved tickets and small-group pickup.
“Filipe is an amazing host! We felt so welcomed. His conversations through the journey were insightful. His attention to detail and explanations were brilliant. Loved the dinner. He doesnt normally accompany guest inside the thermal spa, but gave us all the tips and made sure we enjoyed to the max.”
Glass-bottom boat plus guided snorkeling near Vila Franca do Campo islet in São Miguel, Azores. Snorkel gear and a biologist guide included.
“Great captain! He was so funny and personable and made sure to talk to everyone on the trip. The islet is beautiful and we would definitely recommend this company!”
Swim with wild dolphins off São Miguel on a small-group boat tour from Ponta Delgada, with dolphin-safety rules and multiple in-water chances.
“Matteo and Pedro were phenomenal with all our needs and questions . We saw multitudes of playful dolphins coming right up to the boat . They were so cute . You see them better while in the boat because they don’t stay near people in the water . It was a memorable experience of a…”
Full-day Jeep tour from Ponta Delgada to Furnas and Cha Gorreana with cozido lunch, unlimited drinks, and hotel pickup.
“The drive through the countryside. The lush greenery and active farms. A very knowledgeable native guide.”
São Miguel East tour mixes volcano caldera views, Europe’s oldest tea plantation, and underground cozido for lunch in one smooth day.
“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…”
5pm walk through Ponta Delgada with snacks and tastings, then a 3-course wine-paired dinner. Small group, local guides.
“Michael was a great guide, informative about food and wine, tips about the island. Enjoyed our evening”
Small-group full-day West Tour on São Miguel: Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo, waterfalls, black-sand beach, plus lunch.
“Covered a number of great locations for fantastic views over the west side of the island. Learnt about pineapple cultivation, lunch was huge buffet with drinks.”
Two days on São Miguel with Sete Cidades, Furnas geothermal sights, tea and pineapple visits, and small-group island viewpoints.
“The guide can make or break this tour. The sites are amazing but the personal interaction with the guide is an integral part of the experience. Our first guide for the West Tour was excellent(Henry)and you could tell he was experienced. The 2nd day, East Tour was very interesting but was less experienced and did…”
Half-day canyoning in São Miguel’s Ribeira dos Caldeirões with jumps, slides, rappels, and gear provided. Small groups from Ponta Delgada.
“We did this excursion with our family of 5, children ages 9, 11 and 13. We had an absolutely amazing week in Lisbon and Azores but this trip was the highlight of our vacation and what the kids speak most about. From repels, to natural waterslides, to jumps we felt safe and well led. The…”
Ponta Delgada wine and cheese tasting in a 200-year-old home: volcanic wines, six cheeses, dessert, plus a short downtown walk.
“The wine and cheese were delicious! Diogo was a great guide. It is clear that Diogo has spent a lot of time studying the Azores wines and production process. We learned a lot about the wine of the islands. I loved the unique environment where the tasting took place. The Read more”
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