São Miguel, the Azores in 7 Days
A private self-drive week on the largest of the Azores islands: crater lakes, hidden thermal pools, whale watching and a canyoning finale, one resort as your base for the whole stay, your rental car and own MLH roadbook taken care of.
You have a week on an island that rewards every one of its days differently: a crater lake one morning, a thermal spring the next, a boat full of whales the day after. One resort is home for the whole stay, your own MLH roadbook riding along each day, arranged so that all you have to do is turn up and enjoy it.
The shape of the journey
Arrival & the west
Collect your rental car on arrival and settle into your resort on the island's north coast. Then head inland to the Sete Cidades crater, the most photographed lagoon in the Azores, a twin of blue and green water cradled by green walls. Continue west to the volcanic coastline, and if the tide allows, a dip in the natural hot pool where a thermal spring meets the Atlantic at Ponta da Ferraria.
South & whale watching
A boat trip in search of whales and dolphins, departing from the marina at Ponta Delgada, among the finest wildlife encounters in the Atlantic. Back on land, the fishing cove of Caloura for lunch by the water, then Vila Franca do Campo and its offshore islet, a flooded volcanic crater you can see from a clifftop viewpoint above the town.
The green centre
A private food tour through Ponta Delgada's old town in the morning, tasting your way through the island's kitchen. In the afternoon, inland to Lagoa do Fogo, widely held to be the most beautiful lake on the island, and on to Caldeira Velha, a warm spring pool hidden in ancient forest, before a stop at Europe's only tea plantations for a walk among the rows.
Furnas & a sunset sail
A full day in the Furnas Valley: steaming fumaroles, the lake where the local cozido stew cooks slowly underground, and the Terra Nostra Garden, arguably the island's finest, its thermal pool waiting for a swim. As the sun drops, a sail out on the Atlantic, and after dark, a last dip at the thermal pools of Poça da Dona Beija, lit and steaming under the stars.
The eastern coast
The island's quietest, least visited half. Begin at the waterfalls of Ribeira dos Caldeirões, then follow the coast to the cliff-top viewpoints of the northeast, Ponta da Madrugada and Ponta do Sossego chief among them, the road growing narrower and wilder with every mile.
At leisure & canyoning
A slow morning at the resort, the pool, the spa, or simply the view. In the early afternoon, a canyoning adventure through a volcanic gorge: natural waterslides, abseils and clear pools, before a last quiet evening back at the resort.
Until next time
A day without a schedule until your evening flight. Wander Ponta Delgada's old town, its basalt-and-whitewash streets, gardens and churches, or simply return to a favourite corner of the island. Drop off your rental car at the airport in good time for your flight.
Everything taken care of
In your private journey
- A rental car for the whole week, with your own MLH roadbook
- Six nights at a single resort base, breakfast included
- A whale and dolphin watching boat trip
- A private food tour through Ponta Delgada
- A sunset sail and a canyoning excursion
- The days shaped to your style and pace
One base, the whole island
One resort on the island's north coast for the whole week, so you unpack once and let the island come to you, breakfast each morning. Should you prefer something more refined, or a particular address you have in mind, simply tell us. We will tailor the stay to suit you.
Tailored to you
There is no off-the-shelf price, because there is no off-the-shelf journey. Tell us your dates, how many you are and what you love (the water, the lakes, or a good long hike), and we will send a tailored proposal, accommodation, rental car and all. An extra day in Ponta Delgada, or a longer stay to reach the island's finest trails, is always possible.
Curious about the Azores as a whole? Read more about the Azores.
Good to knowQuestions, answered
Do we need to change hotels during the week?
No. This journey is built around a single resort base, so you unpack once and explore the island on day trips, with a different corner of São Miguel each day.
Do we need to drive ourselves?
Yes, this journey is entirely self-drive, with your own MLH roadbook as your companion: maps, timings and our picks for every stop. If you would rather not drive, we can shape a version of this journey with a private driver instead.
Is whale watching likely to succeed?
São Miguel is one of the best places in the world for it, with resident and migratory species passing close to shore most of the year. No sighting is ever guaranteed, but the odds here are as good as they get.
How much hiking is involved?
As much or as little as you like. The island's best viewpoints and lagoons are reachable by short walks from the car, and the longer trails are entirely optional extras we can point you to.
Can you arrange this for a family or a larger group?
Yes. Tell us your numbers and we will tailor the whole journey, accommodation and all.
Let's plan your journey
Tell us when you would like to come and who is travelling. Your travel designer will shape the week around you and send a tailored proposal.