São Miguel
São Miguel, also known as the green island, due to the abundance of pasture and forest covered peaks,
is the largest and most enchanting islands on the Azores. On São Miguel you can spend as much time as
you have. The nature is so beautiful, and does encourage for tours and for walks. In the summertime the
landscapes full of flowers. If you want to " see it all ", you must stay for a longer period. The island is about
65 x12 km. São Miguel would be a natural start on a holiday on the Azores. About 140.000 people live on
Sao Miguel.
It will take far too long to describe everything beautiful and interesting on
São Miguel. It might sound easy to say,
but it really is overwhelming.
The landscapes change all the time. There are many deep crater-lakes and geysers.
Cozy villages in the hilly countryside. On the island of São Miguel it is a good idea to
rent a car getting around.
All over the island you will find small cozy villages, which are absolutely worth a visit.
Sete Cidades is situated on the very bottom of a big crater. You can easily
enter the village by car. The church is
a must-see. Take a detour on the small road along the crater edge, and enjoy the excellent view. Close to Sete
Cidades are several other beautiful lakes to enjoy visiting. On Sao Miguel there
are a few small beaches.
I suggest that you rent a car on Sao Miguel. The eastern part of Sao Miguel is
where the biggest mountains are
located. From "Pico Bartolomeus" you will find a spectacular view. On
many maps the road to the top is shown
as a forest-road. But the road is actually paved with asphalt, and very good all
the way to the very top.
If you don't want to rent a car, I suggest that you "rent" a taxi for
a few hours or for a day. It might even be cheaper
for you than renting a car. In addition you will get an excellent guide, who
will be glad to give you all the information
about the island and local issues you want. But make sure you get a driver whom
speaks English, or another language
you understand. I would like to recommend
Ricardo Amorim. He speaks English very well. You can contact him on
his web site www.amazingtours.se
On Sao Miguel there is a production of coffee, tea, pineapple, tobacco, bananas
and pepper. Visit the tobacco
plantation at the village Santo Antonio on the western part of the northern coast.
Visit also the tea factory "GORREANA"
in Maia some close to Ribeira Grande on the eastern part of the northern coast.
They still produce tea "the old fashion
way" on very old machines. There has been a production of tea since1883,
and is absolutely worth a visit.
Taxies runs without meters, but you pay fixed prices. You may ask for the price
before you go. Look HERE to see
examples of prices on different tours.
The tourist office in Ponta Delgada will be glad to give you all information you may need.
Ponta Delgada:
Maps of Sao Miguel and Ponta Delgada. CLICK HERE.
Ponta Delgada is the largest city on São Miguel, and on all the Islands of the
Azores. It's an exiting
and charming
business town with lots of old houses and narrow streets. There is a great variety of hotels, residencias and
restau-
rants for any wallet. Here you will also find the biggest concentration of tourists on the
entire Azores. But still far as
many as seen in other places in Europe. On the other smaller islands, you will only find few
tourists. So far.
Staying at a hotel in the centre of Ponta Delgada, and renting a car, you
will have problem parking your car, unless
your hotel provides you with private parking. Parking is a huge problems
in Ponta Delgada, mostly due to the narrow
streets. You have to pay for parking between 08.00 AM and 06.00 PM.
Many restaurants are closed on Saturdays or Sundays. That indicates that the
restaurants which are open, can
be very crowded. So I recommend you eat on weekends before 08.00 PM. I can recommend a few
restaurant's. In
the centre of Ponta Delgada They are "rest. O Museu" and "Rest. Bar Alianca".
Table reservation in these restaurant's
is a must at least the day in advance. It's not necessary for lunch. Also in the
centre of Ponta
Delgada is "rest. O Curisco".
In the eastern part of the town you find "Rest. Acores Marisqueira". These
restaurants are some expensive compared to
other restaurants. But the quality is also very high. But you can still get a 2
dishes dinner
for less than 10 €. Some restau-
rants serve "dinner of the day" such as Coke, soup, main dish and coffee for
as little as 5 €.
Don't miss the fountain at the end of the road " Rua Joao III". It's spectacular. There is a nice public pool near the
marina. On a rainy day you should visit the Carlos Machado Museum or "Parque
Atlântico"..
If you
don't want to stay in big hotels, but instead prefer to stay in a smaller and
"cozy" place, I can recommend
“Casa Vitoriana”. It’s
located in the central of Ponta Delgada, and it’s nice, clean and calm. “Casa
Vitoriana” is a rare
example of an older well preserved Victorian house with 3 flats; all furnished
in original Victorian style, but fully moderni-
zed to the standard you can expect today, including shared laundry room.
All flats have private kitchen and bathroom, cable TV and option for wireless
Internet access. In the peacefully shared
garden there are many flowers, and several exiting tropical fruit trees. In the
back of the garden there is a small separate
house for rent, equipped like the flats.
7 km. north of Ponta Delgada is situated a very nice 27 holes golf course.
Vila Franco do Campo:
This is a larger charming town, from where you can take the boat to the island
"Ilheu de Vila Franca". A very small and
exiting island, which volcanic origin has shaped in a spectacular way, and where
there is a "natural pool". See
the pictures below.
In Vila Franco do Campo you will also find "Atlantico Splash". A very
nice place for kids with several pools and
waterslides. See the pictures below.
Furnas:
In Furnas you will find several geysers. It is so hot just below the surface, that
you can cook your meal in small
wells. If you visit the north part of the Furnas Lake around 11.30 a.m., you can
see how the staff from local restau-
rants collect there huge casseroles, where they have been placed since around
04.00 a.m., and brings them back
to the restaurant. All ingredients are placed in the same casserole. (Beef,
pork, chicken, veal and all varieties of
vegetables.) Along with the earth heat it brings a very nice and exiting taste to the dish.
There is a very nice 18 holes golf
course nearby. In the Furnas valley close to Furnas town there is a nice and
modern
campsite.
See also General information about the Azores. ( F. A. Q. )
Ponta Delgada
Ponta delgada " by night "
Vila Franca da Campo:
Ilheu de Vila Franca da Campo.
Vila Franco do Campo "Aquasplash"
Ribeira Grande
Sete Cidades:
Furnas:
Povoacao:
Nordeste
If you want to se more pictures from Sao Miguel, then click HERE
