3. José do Canto Botanical Garden

The José do Canto Botanical Garden is another natural gem of São Miguel Island. Created by José do Canto, one of the wealthiest men on the island, it's located in the city of Ponta Delgada, albeit a bit away from the historic center.

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This garden could be considered an oasis of biodiversity and has an atmosphere reminiscent of the jungle. It houses over 3,000 different species of exotic plants. What's truly impressive is that many of them were planted in 1840, so you can appreciate a multitude of centennial plants.

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Other highlights you can see in the José do Canto Botanical Garden include the Santana Palace, a majestic neoclassical tourist residence from the 17th century located at the end of the garden, and the Hermitage of Santa Ana, a small 17th-century chapel located at the entrance of the garden.

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Although the island has many natural attractions, we believe that entry to the garden is worth it if you're passionate about exotic plants. The botanical garden is open from 10:00 am until sunset, and the entrance fee is €5 per person. The visit is self-guided, though a map is provided upon entry.

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