If you are looking of beautiful black sand beaches, hydrangeas at every turn, friendly locals, and delicious pastries...then a visit to the Portuguese Azores Islands would be right for you! I visited the biggest island of the Azores, São Miguel, and it was an incredible experience.
Why SÃo Miguel?
São Miguel is amazing for many reasons. Besides the ones listed above, the island is easy to get to (from the East Coast of the US) and navigate (rent a car, but not a big car!). Even though it's the largest of the 7 Azores islands, it's still only about 40 miles long, so you can see a lot even during a short trip. I spent 6 days there during June, which was a wonderful length of time. When flying SATA Azores Air, you can book up to 7 days in São Miguel as a layover and then "continue" your flight to Lisbon (or vice versa). I chose to do this, and it worked out great!
Where to stay?
We decided to stay in an AirBNB because there were 6 travelers in our group, and it luckily was a perfect stay! This was a few years ago though, and AirBNB isn't as reliable as it once was. If you need help finding the best accommodations, reach out to me and I can help you every step of the way!
What to see?
Did someone say "views"?! Because there is truly no shortage of them on São Miguel Island. The city of Ponda Delgada is great for exploring and finding some delicious food. Driving around the island, you can find beauty everywhere! We even took a sunset sailboat tour, which I highly recommend doing.
Beaches
The volcanic black sand beaches of São Miguel HAVE to be seen in person. Every view was breathtaking!
Praia do Fogo (pictured left) is a fantastic small beach with plenty of amenities. We got a great snack after lounging in the sand!
Sao Roque (pictured middle) is another small beach that has amazing views and is perfect to sit and watch the waves.
Praia de Ribeira das Tainhas (pictured right) was STUNNING! To access the beach, you have to navigate a long staircase along the cliff, which I totally would have done...but the beach was closed due to erosion/safety concerns. This view was worth the trip alone, though!
Gorreana Tea factory
The Gorreana Tea Factory was such an interesting place to visit. The black and green tea fields went beyond the eye could see, and you can take a little jaunt around! The factory had information and demonstrations, which was pretty neat.
augusto arruda pineapple plantation
I loved our visit to the Plantações de Ananases A. Arruda! It was so cool to see how pineapples are grown on the island. If you're a pineapple fan, they have ALL things pineapple: pastries, ice cream, liquor, you name it. If you're a cat fan, there were cats! I thought this was a highlight of the trip for sure.
Caldeira Velha Hot Springs
Caldeira Velha is a MUST SEE. The hot springs water is naturally warm, so it's worth a trip no matter what the weather is like. There are 4 thermal pools to enjoy during your time slot. You can buy tickets in advance online here. The pools and waterfall are such a treat to experience. A TIP: Bring a swimsuit that is dark colored or that you're not too concerned about...the minerals in the water can stain!
Lagoa das Sete Cidades
One of the most famous sights to see on São Miguel Island is Lagoa das Sete Cidades. You can see why! This photo was taken at the Vista do Rei Viewpoint, which has a picturesque drive to get to.
Where to eat?
Tony's Restaurant
Tony's Restaurant is where you go if you're a visitor and you are looking for some amazing Cozido das Furnas (a local delicacy, stew cooked underground by volcanic heat...NBD). There are a few places to find it in Vale das Furnas, but Tony's was perfect! Wandering around The Furnas Valley was also a treat, so make a day of it.
quinta dos sabores
Our meal at Quinta dos Sabores was such a highlight of the trip to Sao Miguel. I honestly think about it all the time. A TIP: Make a reservation ahead of time! I don't know how we got so lucky to get a reservation for 6 for that weekend, because it's a popular restaurant that's very small, but it was meant to be. Located on a farm, this restaurant features an incredible 5+ course surprise tasting meal AND you can peek at the sheep outside the sliding glass door while you eat! I did not uphold my food blogger duties, so I didn't take any photos there...but just trust me, it's worth it!
Louvre Michaelense
I wanted to eat at Louvre Michaelense SO BAD, but alas, they were closed for renovations during my visit. They did have this adorable coffee and pastry setup outside though! Go for me and I'll be back someday to have a full meal!
suplexio handmade burgers
Suplexio Handmade Burgers in Ponta Delgada was a really nice choice for a really nice burger. Everything we had there was delicious, and the service was top-notch!
Pastries!!!
We were very lucky to be staying two doors down from a pastry shop because what a spread. Everything in that photo cost €9,20???? Anyway, go to a local pastry shop and get everything, especially pasteis de nata. Did you even GO to Portugal if you don't have at least one pastel de nata?!