São Miguel Island

Azores Portugal 

It was so fun to be able to explore another Azores Island. Each island is different an unique in it's own way. We were fortunate to be guided by a friend who lives on the Island.

To start off, get a car rental. You are going to need it. 

Bathroom

We stayed at the San Miguel Park Hotel. It was a nice hotel and I would stay there again. Good breakfast, nice indoor and outdoor pool, clean and comfortable. 

Our Room

View from room

Outdoor pool

P.s I would recommend staying at the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel for at least one night. See below for details.

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The first place we went to after checking into our hotel was Jardim Antonio Borges where we met up with a couple of friends who live on the Island.

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That night we went to Poca Da Dona Beija

It was awesome! The biggest hot tub I have ever been in. It smelt a little funny because of the minerals but there are several tubs and one small tub and dressing rooms. There is also a little gift shop there as well. I believe it was about 2 Euro per person; which is great!

I was so excited to be there that I didn't take much pictures and i didn't care how they turned out. Its a must go if you are traveling to this beautiful island.

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The next day we tried to go see the view of Caldeira das Sete Cidades but there was way to much fog so we decided to go inside the abandon hotel right next to it. 

Everything was really foggy that day so I didn't get much.

(Went on another day and got this)

See a documentary on Hotel Monte Palace here. 

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                                                                 We also visited Portas da Cidade

 

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                                     We went to a place that I would not waste your time on. 

Ponta da Ferraria

Like I said on my scuba diving adventure, I HATE cold water, but I love me some warm water. All the reviews I was reading were that this place was a hot pool in the ocean. 

First off, getting there was very difficult because we first went down the wrong hill. The hill was so steep. And we had rented a manual car so the fist 10 attempts we couldn't get back up the hill. I seriously thought we were going to fall off the cliff and die. We kept rolling down the hill backwards. Finally my husband tried going up the hill side to side. We made it on the 3rd attempt with the side to side technique. So scary!

 Anyways, finally made it to Ponta da Ferraria and the water was Freezing. It was a pretty view but it was just disappointing from the hype of all the reviews.  

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Caldeira das Sete Cidades was beautiful. 

And the most popular thing on the Island to see. It's amazing how one lake can be green and the other blue. The myth behind it is pretty cool. Something about a king and a princes but you'll have to ask the locals when you travel here. 

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This next part was the best date night ever! 

We started it off with dinner at O Miroma.

A lot of people tell you to get the meal that's cooked in the Furnas so we did; it was okay but i wouldn't get it again. If I where you I would pick a different restaurant because this one is just average, and you are on vacation after all. 

Then we had some fun taking pictures around Furnas

We ended our date in the Terra Nostra Gardens.

This was my favorite place in São Miguel.

Not only was it the biggest and warmest pool ever, there was also no one around. Jared and I where able to have a great conversation and just relax. There was hardly anyone there because we went after they had shut the doors to the public and only kept them open for hotel guest. We were not aware that they closed early so we went. The lady at the front desk was so nice and let us go in anyway. 

If I would have know the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel was so great I would have stayed two nights here and three at the Park hotel. It took about 1.5 hours to drive from our hotel in Ponta Delgada to Furnas where all the cool hot water is. and we spent 2 days in Funas so it would have made things easier. 

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I am really glad we had the opportunity to visit this island. It is breathtaking and with the right planning I know everyone could have a blast!