THE ULTIMATE 48-HOUR GUIDE TO THE AZORES

Even though it is quite tricky to see the Azores in just two days, some of us are looking for a short, weekend trip destinations. The Azores are perfect for that! Have a look at what you should include in your travel itinerary.

Most of travel influencers create a day-by-day list of places to visit and activities to experience but you can level up! Our islands are located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean which means that the weather changes a lot, often during the same day. If you are used to waking up with cloudy sky which stays the same through the whole day - forget about that! Here the wind moves clouds and in this way, during one day, you can experience a mix of some clouds and sun, again clouds, maybe a 5-minute shower, strong sun... you may feel as if you lived 3-4 days within 24 hours ;)

Before heading anywhere, visit the webcams page where you can check the real weather situation around all the islands.

What we recommend is to create a to-do list for your Azorean escapade and adjust it according to the weather conditions on the day when you arrive. Are you ready?

The West of São Miguel island

On the West of the island you should definitely visit Sete Cidades area. Do a hike with breathtaking views, admire the view over the lakes from above and visit abandoned hotel. After quick lunch head towards Mosteiros for its gorgeous black sand beach and to Ferraria to take a dip in ocean bay hot springs. Here is a detailed list:

• Lagoa do Canario, better known as a Snapchat lake due to it's shape, is more than worth visiting,

• Grota do Inferno viewpoint - probably the king of the viewpoints on São Miguel, is one of the most visited spots!

• stop on each and every view point on the way to the bridge between the lakes, as well as in Sete Cidades village itself,

• check Vista do Rei view point and nearby abandoned hotel Monte Palace, which opened in 1989 and operated for only 19 months,

• visit Mosteiros village with its gorgeous dark-sand beach and incredible lava rock sculptures,

• go to Ponta da Ferraria which is a volcanic hot spring situated in an ocean lagoon. Here the salty water mixes with natural hot water.

Central part of São Miguel island

Famous for Lagoa do Fogo (which means fire but indeed, often is covered in clouds so you can say that it's a foggy volcano ;)) with adventurous hike Janela do Inferno (the Devil's Window), that's another must-see place on São Miguel island. Drive through all the viewpoints, swim in the waterfall and end up at the Santa Barbara beach, known as the surfers' beach!

• go for the PRC02 SMI trail and experience magical hike along the levada, an open canal, which is still being used to transport water from the lake,

• admire Lagoa do Fogo from one of 5 viewpoints. You can reach them by car and all of them have some parking spaces. During summer months you can reach them only using specially prepared shuttle,

• hike to the Devil's Window which leads through a few tunnels which were drilled to build the water transportation system,

• relax in Caldeira Velha - a natural monument in a form of a small botanical garden with 4 hot springs pools and a waterfall,

• chill and have a drink at Santa Barbara beach.

The East of São Miguel island

One can say that it's a hub for hot springs - two out of five are located in this part of the island. Visit Terra Nostra botanical garden or Poça da Dona Beija to fully understand the Azorean vibe with natural thermal baths. Go for a hike with the Salto do Prego waterfall and the heritage village of Sanguinho, admire tranquility at eastern viewpoints and try Fofa - local pastry of the first inhabited village Povoação.

• see a real tea plantation - Chá Gorreana, opened in 1883, it is still a family-owned business, producing annually around 44 tons of tea!

• Parque Natural dos Caldeirões is full of massive Hortensias and large-sized cedars, plentiful of cascades and watermills, dating back to the XVI century,

• Farol do Arnel opened in 1876 it was the first lighthouse in the Azores. Still in operation! If you decide to walk down, in a few minutes you will enter a tiny fishermen’s village with small houses built along the steep hills,

• along the eastern coast you will have a chance to stop by a few viewpoints which are literally breath taking! Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego, Miradouro da Ponta da Madrugada and Miradouro do Pôr-do-Sol are a must!

• stop at Faial da Terra and hike to Salto do Prego waterfall and the heritage village of Sanguinho,

• pass the first capital of the island, Povoação town (worth stopping for a coffee and a short walk),

• visit Furnas, the third biggest lake on São Miguel. You should start at the Miradouro do Pico do Ferro, where is a great view of the lake. Furnas is well-known for its thermal springs.

We listed 3 parts of the island which definitely are a must to see even if you have only two days... then you will decide to extend your trip or plan to come back again :)

Check our other blog articles to learn more about São Miguel and remember that when staying at Out of the Blue you are more than welcome to join our guided tours tailored specifically for Travellers like you! Every day we go to explore a different part of the island so if you prefer to have your Azorean visit hassle-free, book a stay with us and join our tours!

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