Discover São Miguel in 8 days: craters to explore, lakes to admire, tea to taste, dolphins to chase, and hot springs to recharge. A week of WeRoad adventure between sky, sea, and volcanoes!

Is this trip for me?

Party and nightlife
Relax
Nature and adventure
City and cultures
Monuments and history
Physical effort
Trip type
Searching best flight prices

Itinerary

Eight days in the Azores, all on São Miguel, the archipelago's largest island, explored by land and sea from Ponta Delgada. We trek Lagoa do Fogo, Vista do Rei and Lagoa Azul, try canyoning at Ribeira dos Caldeirões and walk Europe's only, and oldest, tea plantation.

Then we sail out after dolphins and whales and circle a crater rim in the Caldeira Nature Reserve. Trekking and volcanic nature lead the way, with ocean swims and thermal baths to balance the effort. Hiking boots by day, warm water by afternoon: sound like a plan?

A travel itinerary route map of São Miguel island marked with route lines and stop points over a blue sea background.
A high-angle view of green volcanic hills surrounding two crater lakes, one green and one blue, with the ocean on the horizon.

Check-in: our adventure kicks off

We land on São Miguel and ease into island life: the walking starts tomorrow!

  • Check-in and welcome meeting: we check into the hotel and gather for the welcome meeting, where the plan for the week gets laid out and everyone finally has a face.

  • A first taste of the island: local specialities and a toast to the start of the trip, the fastest way to recharge body and soul after a travel day.

A WeRoad group trip of five people crouching and smiling on a hilltop overlooking two large crater lakes in a lush, green valley.

The lake in the volcanic crater

Boots on for the first hike: ready to see what the island's wild interior looks like?

  • Around Lagoa do Fogo: a lake tucked inside a volcanic crater, with scenery that at times feels straight out of Hawaii. We loop around it and admire it from several viewpoints.

Around four hours of walking and 300 metres of elevation gain: nothing too intense.

Relax by the waterfall

Lunch comes with a twist: a sandwich eaten with our feet dipped in the lake.

  • To the Salto do Cabrito waterfall: then a short walk to Salto do Cabrito, a stunning waterfall.

  • Back to Ponta Delgada: some time in the lush nature before heading back to base in Ponta Delgada.

An aerial view of a WeRoad group trip with people scattered and waving among the green rows of a terraced tea plantation.

The thrill of canyoning

Adrenaline first, tea second: today swings from a gorge in the northeast of the island to a plantation! With water-carved gorges, waterfalls and lush green walls, the Azores are considered one of the top places in the world for canyoning.

  • Canyoning at Ribeira dos Caldeirões: we head to Ribeira dos Caldeirões to try canyoning: jumping, climbing, swimming and diving into natural pools for a few hours of pure fun.

The lush tea plantations

The afternoon is gentler.

  • Among the tea plants: a walk through the agricultural landscape of Chá Gorreana, Europe's oldest tea plantation, ending with a tour of the processing facility.

A WeRoad group trip poses for a photo at a viewpoint overlooking a vast landscape of green hills and two different colored lakes.

A thousand shades of green

New day, new hike, and this one is all about a viewpoint. Which trail do we pick?

  • Up to Vista do Rei: various trails lead to the Miradouro da Vista do Rei, all through lush nature in countless shades of green, until the view opens onto the twin lakes below.

A blue lake and a green one

After a break to refuel, we head down.

  • Down to Sete Cidades: we drop to the colonial town of Sete Cidades.

  • Walk to the two lakes: then we walk to the tranquility of Lagoa Azul and the nearby Lagoa Verde.

A WeRoad group trip smiling for a selfie on a rigid inflatable boat sailing on the open blue sea.

Between whales and dolphins

After days spent inland, we go looking for company in the water. Spring is best, but chances stay high all year.

  • Up for whale watching? We hop on a boat and watch for whales and dolphins, up to 28 species a year, splashing around undisturbed near this remote Atlantic island.

Chill out in Ferraria's natural pool

Then back in the cars.

  • Soak at Ponta da Ferraria: at the natural pool of Ponta da Ferraria, warm water from a volcanic spring meets the cool Atlantic Ocean at an ideal temperature.

A high-angle view of a green lake nestled within a valley of lush rolling hills and fields under a cloudy sky.

Vila Franca do Campo Island

Two volcanic set pieces today: one sits a kilometre offshore, the other bubbles away beside an inland lake.

  • The island off Vila Franca: opposite the village of Vila Franca do Campo, famous for its cliff diving competition, lies an island paradise: an ancient submerged volcano with a circular pool at its centre. Who's jumping in first?

The calderas at Lagoa das Furnas

We dive in, dry off and move on.

  • Around Lagoa das Furnas: a stroll around Lagoa das Furnas leads to the calderas, or fumaroles, little craters of rainwater bubbling from the heat underground.

Beyond the steaming pools, the lake holds plenty of other points of interest in a volcanic landscape enhanced by abundant local vegetation.

A WeRoad group trip swimming in a natural pool at the base of a small waterfall surrounded by a lush green forest.

On the crater of a volcano

Last day, and unstructured on purpose: we leave the cars in the morning and do whatever we want!

  • Around a crater rim? One option is the Caldeira Nature Reserve, where a trail runs a circular route around a crater a whopping two kilometres in diameter, ocean air included.

Treat yourself to a spa day

The other option is a well-earned reward after the past few days.

  • Rather a warm soak? The natural pools of Caldeira Velha hide warm water in a wild landscape. We settle at the foot of the warm waterfall, take in the forest and go back over everything the week has thrown at us.

Check out

Time for goodbyes: after eight days on this island, they take a while!

  • Check-out: we check out and say farewell to São Miguel and the Azores at the hotel door, bags already piled up.

Then it's see you on the next WeRoad, which someone in the group will start planning before we even reach the airport.

What's included

What's not included

Roundtrip flight to/from destination
  • Food and drinks where not specified

  • Gas/petrol, parking, toll fees 

  • All the extras you'll want to buy and manage to stuff into your backpack :);

  • Anything not mentioned in the "What's included" section

Optional activities

Please see below extra optional activities that you can experience during your trip. Your Group Leader will be happy to assist with organizing these activities for the group. Availability may vary depending on location and group preferences.

Please note these activities are provided by third party suppliers and liability rests exclusively with these third party suppliers.

  • Whalte watching excursion - approx. USD61

  • kayak Ilha do Vila Franca do Campo - approx. USD51

  • Termas Poca da Dona Beija approx. USD23

  • Treetop Adventure Park - approx. USD39

  • Surf class - appros. USD36

Additional info

Learn more about accommodation, transport, and other useful travel information.
  • Accommodation

    Hostels, B&Bs, apartments, or small hotels. The private room option isn't available for all trips.

  • Transports
    Rental car.
  • Info on private roomsShow all details

Why WeRoad

  • Small groups, on average 11 people

  • Move or change your trip for free up to 31 days before departure

  • Book with $ 0. Pay the $ 100 deposit only once the trip is confirmed

The Group Leaders

Our Group Leaders are chosen because they’re people just like you: passionate travelers who share the experience authentically, while having the skills to take care of the organisation, and help you get the most out of every moment of the trip.

Find your flight

For this trip, we recommend arriving and departing from these airports.

ArrivalPonta Delgada (PDL)
ReturnPonta Delgada (PDL)
Searching best flight prices
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

About this trip

About WeRoad

About Azores

From
$ 2,260
Book with $ 0
•Free trip change
•0% interest installments