Sete Cidades / Lagoa do Fogo – Full Day Tour

Key Points

• Price and Duration: This full-day tour costs $65 per person and lasts approximately 8 hours.
• Highlights: Features visits to Sete Cidades’ Green & Blue Lakes, Lagoa do Fogo inside a volcanic crater, and Caldeira Velha hot springs waterfall.
• Personalized Experience: Small group size limited to 8 participants ensures a comfortable and intimate tour.
• Guide Quality: Led by a certified guide, with highly praised knowledgeable and friendly staff.
• Activities: Includes scenic viewpoints, a hiking trail, and visits to local factories, pineapple plantations, and artisan workshops.
• Food Options: Lunch can be included for €15, offering local traditional dishes, with vegetarian and vegan options available.

You can check availability for your dates here:

Discover the Beauty of the Azores’ Volcanoes and Lakes

The Sete Cidades / Lagoa do Fogo – Full Day Tour offers a comprehensive exploration of some of the most breathtaking natural sights in the Azores. Priced at $65, this tour provides 8 hours of guided sightseeing, combining scenic viewpoints, hiking, cultural visits, and natural springs. Whether you’re seeking stunning landscapes or interested in local crafts, this tour aims to satisfy many interests in a single day.

Starting at 9:00am, the tour departs from your accommodation in Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande, or Lagoa, with a small group size of up to 8 people. This setup ensures a personalized experience with plenty of space and room for comfort. The tour’s flexible approach allows for a lunch break of 1 hour and 30 minutes, with an optional €15 full meal at a local restaurant, including fish, meat, vegetables, and desserts. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, making it suitable for different dietary preferences.

Visiting Sete Cidades: Lakes, Viewpoints, and Local Villages

The first part of the day is dedicated to exploring the Sete Cidades area, famous for its dual lakes of green and blue, considered one of Portugal’s 7 Wonderful Places. The tour begins with a visit to the Pineapple Plantation, where visitors can see the greenhouse setups, shop for arts and crafts, and learn about local agriculture.

Next, the Pico do Carvão viewpoint offers sweeping views of the Sete Cidades lakes and surrounding volcanic landscape. The tour includes visits to the Natural Park of Lagoa do Canário, accompanied by a hiking trail to the Grota do Inferno viewpoint. This trail is a highlight for those who enjoy light walking amid spectacular scenery.

Additional stops include the Cerrado das Freiras viewpoint, which provides a panoramic overlook of the charming Sete Cidades village, giving insight into local life and history. The visit concludes with a brief exploration of the center of the Sete Cidades parish, where visitors can absorb the peaceful village atmosphere.

A Full Afternoon Focused on Lagoa do Fogo

In the afternoon, the tour shifts to Lagoa do Fogo, a pristine crater lake renowned for its turquoise waters and natural beauty. The visit begins with a stop at the Lagoa town’s pottery factory, where artisans create traditional ceramics, and visitors can browse local shops.

The Pico da Barrosa viewpoint provides a dramatic perspective of the lake and surrounding volcanic terrain, perfect for photos. The Lagoa do Fogo viewpoint itself is a key highlight, offering a sweeping vista of the caldera and the lake’s tranquil waters.

Next, the group visits the Caldeira Velha Hot Springs, where a 40-minute walk allows for appreciating the lush surroundings and natural thermal waterfalls. Although swimming isn’t part of the visit (tickets for bathing are not included), the sight of the warm spring water cascading over rocks adds a soothing element to the day.

The tour continues with visits to the Liquor Factory, where traditional Azorean liquors and whiskeys are produced and sampled. The north coast viewpoint of Ribeira Grande caps off the afternoon, offering dramatic views of the coastline and volcanic landscape.

The Small Group Advantage and Expert Guides

A key feature of this tour is its small group size, limited to 8 participants, fostering a more relaxed and engaging atmosphere. The certified guides are highly praised for their knowledgeable explanations, making each stop informative and enjoyable.

Guides like Tiago are noted for sharing interesting facts about the islands, pointing out scenic viewpoints, and ensuring everyone stays comfortable. Several reviews highlight how guides make extra efforts to explain each site and share local stories, enriching the experience beyond just sightseeing.

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Practical Details and Logistics

The tour begins with pick-ups at 09:00am from central locations around the three main cities. The van used for transportation is comfortable, with plenty of space for each guest, and is equipped for weather variations—so warm clothing is recommended, especially at high viewpoints where it can be windy and chilly.

The itinerary is well-paced, allowing enough time at each stop without feeling rushed. The lunch break is flexible, with the option to include a full traditional meal at a local restaurant for €15. The meal offers fish, meat, vegetables, salads, desserts, and drinks, with special options for vegetarians and vegans.

Tickets for the Caldeira Velha hot springs are not included, and swimming is not part of the visit, as the tour focuses on sightseeing and enjoying the natural scenery. The tour concludes around 6:00pm, with drop-offs at the starting locations.

What Sets This Tour Apart from Others

This tour’s combination of two major volcanic lake areas in one day makes it especially appealing. The balance between viewpoints, hiking, cultural visits, and natural springs offers a diverse experience. The small group size and expert guiding stand out as significant benefits, ensuring that travelers can ask questions and engage more intimately with the environment.

The inclusion of local factories, pineapple plantations, and artisan workshops adds a cultural dimension that many other similar tours might omit. The €15 optional lunch provides good value for a full meal, with flexible dietary options.

Who Will Most Benefit from This Tour

This guided tour is ideal for those seeking a comprehensive day of sightseeing in the Azores without the hassle of independent planning. It suits travelers who appreciate scenic viewpoints, light hiking, and cultural visits, and who prefer small-group experiences for a more personalized touch.

Since it involves some walking and outdoor exposure, participants should wear comfortable shoes and warm clothing for high-altitude stops. Wheelchair users are not suitable, due to the nature of some terrain and access limitations at certain stops.

Final Thoughts on the Sete Cidades / Lagoa do Fogo Tour

For a well-rounded exploration of São Miguel’s volcanic lakes and landscapes, this tour delivers a solid value at $65. Its 8-hour duration packs in diverse highlights, from spectacular viewpoints to cultural visits. The small group size ensures a more engaging experience, while the knowledgeable guides make each stop informative and enjoyable.

Although lunch is not included unless paid extra, the €15 buffet meal offers a tasty and filling local experience. The tour’s pace and variety make it suitable for travelers who want a comprehensive day without rushing through the highlights. This tour stands out as a reliable choice for discovering the natural and cultural riches of São Miguel.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the cost of the tour?
  The tour costs $65 per person, with an optional €15 lunch.

• How long does the tour last?
  The full-day experience lasts approximately 8 hours.

• Where does the tour pick up from?
  Pick-up is included from your accommodation in Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande, or Lagoa at 09:00am.

• Is lunch included?
  Lunch is not included by default but can be added for €15 at a local restaurant offering traditional dishes.

• What stops are included in the tour?
  The itinerary covers Pineapple Plantation, Pico do Carvão, Lagoa do Canário, Grota do Inferno, Viewpoint of the Blue and Green Lakes, Cerrado das Freiras, Lagoa do Fogo, Caldeira Velha, Liquor Factory, and Ribeira Grande coast.

• Is swimming or bathing possible at Caldeira Velha?
  No, swimming is not included and tickets for bathing are not part of the tour.

• What should I bring?
  Comfortable shoes and warm clothing are recommended due to high-altitude viewpoints.

• Are wheelchair users suitable for this tour?
  No, this experience is not suitable for wheelchair users due to terrain limitations.

• Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?
  Yes, vegetarian and vegan options are available for the included lunch.

• What sets this tour apart from others?
  The small group size, diverse highlights, and expert local guides make this a standout option for exploring São Miguel’s natural beauty in one day.

  You can check availability for your dates here:
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