Ponta Delgada

São Miguel is the largest and most densely populated island of the Azores. To the west lie the crater lakes of Sete Cidades, in the centre Lagoa do Fogo, to the east the Furnas Valley with its hot springs and steaming fumaroles. Between these stretch pastures, tea plantations on the north coast, and the capital Ponta Delgada.

In the west of São Miguel is a large volcanic crater with two connected lakes, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde. You'll get the most famous view from the Miradouro da Vista do Rei on the crater rim. Below in the basin lies the village of Sete Cidades, with hiking trails leading around the lakes and up to the crater rim. If cloudy, you often won't see anything from the top, so it's worth driving up again later.

Furnas lies in a volcanic valley in the east of São Miguel. Fumaroles and hot springs steam right in the village, smelling of sulfur. On the shores of Lagoa das Furnas, Cozido das Furnas is cooked in earth pits, a meat and vegetable stew served by many local restaurants. In Parque Terra Nostra, you can bathe in a warm, iron-rich thermal pool; old swimwear is advisable because the water stains.

Terceira ist die drittgrößte Insel der Azoren. Ihre Hauptstadt Angra do Heroísmo mit Renaissance-Grundriss, Kirchen und Stadtpalästen ist seit 1983 UNESCO-Welterbe. Im Inselinneren kannst du in den Algar do Carvão hinabsteigen, einen erloschenen Vulkanschlot, der in eine Höhle mit kleinem See führt. Im Sommer finden in vielen Orten Stierfeste auf der Straße statt, die Touradas à Corda.

The Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic, about 1,400 kilometers west of Lisbon. Crater lakes, hydrangea hedges, hot springs, pastures, and steep cliffs characterize the landscape. The islands are a destination for hiking, whale watching, and for quiet days away from large resorts.