Are you traveling to São Miguel in the Azores and looking to do something different and original? If you are someone who doesn't settle for the usual, take note of these 8 unique experiences in São Miguel, the wonderful island of the Azores.
The largest island in the Azores, the "green island," the most visited... São Miguel is many things, and it leaves no one indifferent!
When it comes to activities, there's a wide variety to choose from, catering to all tastes. But being a nature destination, it's no surprise that most activities are focused on adventure or the sea. In fact, the most booked activities are whale watching and swimming with wild dolphins, two of the best adventure activities in São Miguel.
So, as you plan your trip to São Miguel and the Azores with our comprehensive São Miguel travel guide, keep in mind these unique activities in São Miguel—they'll make your trip very original and unforgettable!
Let's get started!
If you love adventure and nature, don't miss out on the best activities on the island of São Miguel. You can experience things like swimming with wild dolphins or canyoning. There are so many amazing experiences!
8 Unique Experiences in São Miguel (Azores) - Contents:
1. Try a Geothermal Brunch in Furnas, one of the best experiences in São Miguel
Let's start with a strong contender. If you've read our section on the town of Furnas in our São Miguel travel guide, you’ve likely come across one of our top recommendations in the Furnas area: the geothermal brunch at Chalet da Tia Mercês.
For many people, this is one of the best culinary experiences in Furnas due to its authenticity (in addition to eating a good "Cozido das Furnas," of course).
Photo by Azores Essentials (www.azoresessentials.com)
This small establishment offers a varied and original brunch with teas and sweet and savory options, all prepared with products made using the earth's energy. Surprised? In the Furnas area, the hot springs play a starring role in cooking! In fact, if the weather is good, you can enjoy incredible views of the fumaroles from their wonderful terrace.
If you decide to try it, you can choose between two types of brunch: the “Geothermal Tea Brunch” or the “All Azores Royal Tea Brunch.” We recommend booking in advance through their website as it tends to be in high demand. And keep in mind that (at least in 2023) you need to book 48 hours in advance for a minimum of 2 people.
If you haven't booked your rental car yet, don't miss out on the best rental deals on the island, with full coverage to protect you from any issues!
2. Drink pineapple wine at the Herdade do Ananás Hotel in Ponta Delgada
The Herdade do Ananás Hotel, one of our recommended hotels in Ponta Delgada, offers the chance to do something you’ve likely never done before: taste wines made from pineapple. Isn’t that unique? We certainly think it's a fantastic culinary plan in São Miguel, perfectly blending culture and gastronomy.
You can experience this at the Herdade do Ananás Hotel by taking a tour of their pineapple plantation with wine tasting, which includes explanations from a local guide. You'll have the opportunity to learn all about the pineapple cultivation process at their plantation.
So, if you’re like us and love the world of wine, don’t miss the chance to taste this delight—we guarantee it will surprise you!
By the way! Before moving on to the next unique activity in São Miguel, we highly recommend choosing this hotel as your base for your São Miguel trip. You can book your stay and then tell us what you think of the pool in their pineapple greenhouse...
3. Taste craft beer from Azores Brewing Company
Did you know that you can also taste local craft beers in São Miguel? The Azores aren’t known for their beer, so this experience might go unnoticed by most visitors.
If you’re a beer lover or just enjoy trying new things, you can't miss visiting the Azores Brewing Company during your trip to São Miguel. Founded with the mission of bringing creative beers to the Azores, this local brewery has become a go-to spot for both beer enthusiasts and occasional drinkers looking to try craft beers made with Azorean ingredients.
Photo by Azores Brewing Company (www.azoresbrewingcompany.com)
What do we like most? Besides their four types of beer, we love the cozy atmosphere and their garden, where you can savor their beers while participating in various games. They also offer guided tours of the brewery with tastings included, allowing you to learn about their brewing process and taste some of their best creations.
We recommend visiting their website for updated hours and note that some days require reservations.
4. Enjoy a private dinner or fondue at Lapsa Garden
Continuing with culinary experiences, let’s talk about what we call a "little indulgence," an exclusive and unique experience. Lapsa Garden is an exceptional farm nestled in a tranquil paradise away from the hustle and bustle. At this farm, you can enjoy a private dinner on a terrace with sea views, where you can savor products made on the farm, such as fresh vegetables and other local products. Additionally, Lapsa Garden offers a very interesting experience (attention cheese lovers!): enjoying a fondue of Azorean cheeses in a privileged setting.
Advance booking is essential. We recommend checking updated prices directly with them, and if you want to know more about this experience, contact them through their website.
Photo by Lapsa Garden (lapsagarden.com)
For your stay in São Miguel, we recommend the Herdade do Ananás hotel, cozy and unique with its pineapple greenhouse; the Comercial Azores Boutique, located in the center of Ponta Delgada; and also the Canadiano Urban Nature, with a perfect quality-price ratio.
5. Stay in a houseboat in Ponta Delgada
Yes, it’s time to leave behind the culinary experiences and talk about another important aspect of travel: accommodation. Choosing an unconventional place to stay can greatly enhance your travel experience, don't you think?
Photo from Booking
A great way to enjoy unique accommodation in São Miguel is by staying on a boat. You can do this with The Homeboat Company, an innovative lodging option that lets you enjoy views of the city of Ponta Delgada from the comfort of a boat. Yes, this accommodation is in the port of Ponta Delgada, so you'll also be in the capital of São Miguel island.
Photo from Booking
But that’s not all. The Homeboat Company offers free bicycles for guests, has a pool, barbecue, and communal garden, and even provides restaurant services. Keep in mind, though, that the nightly rate is around €200 during peak season, which is higher than the average price in São Miguel, making it not suitable for all budgets.
6. Practice yoga in São Miguel
More and more people are practicing yoga, and can you imagine doing it in São Miguel? If you’re a fan of this sport, don’t miss the opportunity to try it here.
Photo from Get Your Guide
You have two options for practicing yoga, starting with the most unique: taking a Paddleboard Yoga class at the Sete Cidades Lagoon. Yes, you read that right—you have the chance to practice this relaxing sport on a paddleboard in the lagoon of Sete Cidades. Never done it before? Don’t worry! The class includes an introduction to using the board and a preliminary paddle to build confidence on the water. Are you up for it?
If practicing yoga on the water isn’t your favorite option, you can choose another: enjoying a yoga class followed by a delicious brunch in Ponta Delgada. This class lasts about 75 minutes and includes a brunch with healthy products, making it a pretty complete activity.
Photo from Get Your Guide
THE BEST ACTIVITIES IN SÃO MIGUEL!
7. Attend the Faial Terra da Blues Festival
If you’re a music and food lover, don’t miss the Faial Terra da Blues Festival, an annual event held since 2022. This event was recommended to us by some locals we met in 2023, and we’re eager to experience it ourselves in the future as we haven’t had the chance yet.
This festival is held over a few days each year (in 2024, from August 1 to 4) in Faial da Terra, so only those lucky enough to be in São Miguel during that time can attend.
The festival is free and takes place outdoors. As we were told, there’s an area where food and music take center stage, allowing you to taste typical Azorean dishes at various small food stalls while enjoying good music with the locals.
We recommend checking the exact dates of the festival for the year you visit São Miguel as they may vary (for example, in 2023, the festival was held on August 3, 4, and 5 in Faial da Terra).
8. Try Coasteering, another unique experience in São Miguel
And finally, we come to the last of our 8 unique experiences in São Miguel: practicing coasteering on the coast of São Miguel. To be honest, we hadn’t heard of this activity until we visited the Azores, and we found it super exciting and a great way to explore the coast of São Miguel.
If you’re not familiar with coasteering, we’ll explain it here. It’s an exciting outdoor activity that combines hiking, cliff jumping, climbing, and swimming, all while exploring the coast in the most adventurous way possible.
Photo from Civitatis
So, if you love feeling adrenaline, you can’t miss this activity on the coast of São Miguel, where you’ll traverse coastal trails, jump from cliffs into the sea, explore caves, and snorkel to discover marine life. Doesn’t this activity offer a different perspective of the coast?
And that wraps up our post with 8 unique experiences in São Miguel! We hope you enjoyed it and found inspiration for living a unique experience on this wonderful island in the Azores.
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