Portugal · THINGS TO DO IN THE AZORES
Nine islands, and most visits start on São Miguel. These 15 take in the crater lakes at Sete Cidades, the hot springs at Furnas and the whale boats out of Ponta Delgada — priced, timed, and clear about which are full days and which leave you an afternoon.
Ponta Delgada whale watching in the Azores with a marine biologist, catamaran or Zodiac options, and a second trip if no sightings.
“It was an amazing experience! Thank you so much for being a part of this 🫶🏼”
Azores whale watching with a marine biologist on a Zodiac RIB, plus a volcanic Vila Franca islet cruise, near São Miguel.
“Can only recommend to book this , you will have a lifetime experience, amazing to see. Special thanks to our guides Monisha and Savi , guys are professional , enthusiastic about what they do and also respectful towards animals. Thank you for an amazing day!”
West São Miguel in 8 hours, small-group van tour with Sete Cidades viewpoints, Boca do Inferno walk, crater lakes, lava coasts, and lunch.
“An unforgettable day in eastern São Miguel – highly recommended! Today I had the pleasure of joining a small-group tour of eastern São Miguel, and it was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. The route itself is stunning — from the scenic south coast and Vila Franca do Campo to the breathtaking viewpoints, waterfalls, and dramatic landscapes of the Nordeste region. Furnas was, of course, a highlight: the geothermal area with its fumaroles, bubbling springs, and mineral waters is truly unique. Everything was perfectly paced, relaxed, and never rushed. The stop at Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park was magical — lush greenery, waterfalls, and a peaceful atmosphere that really shows…”
West São Miguel highlights: Sete Cidades, Mosteiros pools, Ribeira Grande and Lagoa do Fogo, with hotel pickup and lunch included.
“Joao was amazing. He was extremely knowledgeable and really cared about our experience. We learned so much about the Azores while experiencing its beauty. Joao was the reason why we fell in love with Azores and we would highly recommend booking this tour with him!”
Small-group east São Miguel van tour with Furnas geothermal steam, Ribeira dos Caldeirões waterfalls, Nordeste cliffs, and cozido lunch for $88.
“Great Tour with a lot to see. João is very communicative and has a lot of Info and Tales to tell. Recommended”
Biologist-led whale watching on São Miguel with respectful, safe viewing and refunds if no whales or dolphins are found.
“A marvellous experience. At 60+ and in reasonably good health, the zodiac boat was a great choice for our cruise; it was fun and adventurous. Our guide was so knowledgeable and incredibly respectful of the animals we were out to spot. From the first group of a hundred-plus spotted dolphins riding along the waves with our boat for quite some time, to seeing the sei whales, and the seemingly choreographed acrobatics of the striped dolphins, we felt privileged to have such an experience. Pure joy!”
Small-group east São Miguel tour with Furnas geothermal sights, panoramic viewpoints, Nordeste coastline, and cozido stew lunch included.
“It was a full day of sightseeing with only 9 in our group. Lunch was amazing and included in the tour. I thought it was a good value for everything that was included. Katia, our guide, was amazing.”
Canyoning in Ribeira Grande, Azores with disinfected gear, rappels, and optional jumps, small-group safety, and a scenic river run.
“This might be the best tour in the Azores. We did 4 (through Viator) during our 1.5 weeks in the Azores and while they were all amazing in their own ways, this one stood out far above the rest. Super fun guides make sure you stay safe but have an exhilarating adventure. No experience needed, but it's still a ton of fun for people who do a lot of this type of thing (we like to hike/ski/rock climb). The tour company provides everything you need, although we brought a GoPro to capture some of the fun. Would recommend to anyone!”
A small-group Ponta Delgada food tour with market stops, Azorean cheese tastings, and local history, walking about 2 km.
“This was an incredible day. Loved going to the market, to the food places. All were 5 star. We even had a beer with our tour guides after because they were so cool. Loved the day so much. They were amazing.”
Quad biking from Fenais da Luz to Sete Cidades crater views, sea-front trails, and mountain pistes with expert guides and helmets.
“A great way to see the Island and all the varied landscape. The trip was fun and we would highly recommend this.”
Canyoning in São Miguel’s Caldeirões park: zipline, optional jumps, slides, and rappels in Azores nature, guided and safety-focused.
“We did the activity with our family of 6 and everybody from us had a super time! Many thanks to the "supergirl" guides, you all are great!”
Azores whale and dolphin tour from Ponta Delgada. Open boat, marine biologists, and guaranteed cetacean sightings. 2 to 3 hours.
“Amazing experience Everyone super professional and had many knowledge. They love what they are doing and it shows! Would definitely recommend if you get easily seasick to avoid the speed boat and take the bigger option or take a tablet before It is definitely worth it!”
Two days of volcanic craters, lush parks, tea and pineapple farms, and thermal pools, with pickup in small groups and expert local guiding.
“Our 2 days tour was absolutely amazing.We have learned a lot about the island,about history,culture and people of Saõ Miguel-Açores.Our guide was Carlos,he is very friendly,open,funny and professional.He answered to all of our questions,and took us to many beautiful places,where we had amazing views,scenic roads with flowers and animals,unique places and could taste delicious traditional food and tasty sweets and pastries.We have unforgettable memories for the rest of our life.We highly recommend this tour,is a must if you come to the island. Thank you Carlos for everything 🫶🏻”
3-hour zodiac whale watching from Lajes do Pico with marine biologists, dolphin pods, and respectful viewing in the Azores Atlantic.
“Amazing tour, Lynn is a great guide who told us a lot of information about the different species we could see, in a lively and very enjoyable way. Also, we appreciated the way the company operates in full respect for the animals, trying to sensibilize the people about the conservation of the see and its animals.”
Full-day Jeep tour of Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo from Ponta Delgada, with lunch, drinks, and rugged island viewpoints.
“Francisco was a fantastic guide! He was so knowledgeable about the history of the islands and made the tour very fun. It was a great way to see a lot of the islands treasure in one day. There was just the right amount of walking that makes this easy for anyone of any ability or age. Would highly recommend!”
Every kind of day out, and the best of each.
