Small Group Shore Excursion # 7- Waterfall in Nordeste & Furnas Crater Lake

Path of Small Group Shore Excursion # 7- Waterfall in Nordeste & Furnas Crater Lake

TOUR DURATION: 6 hours or during your ship stay.

Pick up at the sea pier after the ship is fully attached.

We will start driving from the South coast, where your ship is docked, to the North coast.
Our first stop is at the viewpoint Miradouro de Santa Iria, here you will see the dramatic North coast cliffs and the rural part of Sao Miguel island, small villages that blend into the vast green pastures that slowly climb up towards the top of the mountains.

From there we will drive to the only Tea Plantation Factory in Europe. Here we will see tea plants, vintage machinery, process explanation, their tea shop, and at the end relax with a cup or two of tea.

When everyone is ready we will drive to our next stop, the Ribeira dos Caldeirões Park, where you will see the most popular waterfall on Sao Miguel Island. At the park you can go inside ancient watermills, visit the local handicraft shop, walk on paths to admire the different vegetation and scenery in the valley park.

From there we will drive up to one of the highest views of our tour Salto Cavalo viewpoint (if weather conditions are favorable), where you can see Furnas Caldera (lake and village), Povoação town (the first settlement of Sao Miguel in 1432), and big part of Sao Miguel island with is high picos.
If weather conditions are not so favorable at Salto do Cavalo viewpoint we will go to Pico do Ferro viewpoint, here you can admire the biggest volcanic crater of the island and see Furnas lake and village.

Then we will drive down into Furnas crater to see Caldeiras, the main attraction in Furnas area, where you will see many impressive fumaroles, and thermal springs where you can drink some of their many water springs.

In the village it will be a good suggestion to have a light lunch, your Guide will give you several suggestions.

When everyone is finished we will leave Furnas village, on our way out of the crater to go to the South side of the island. While driving still in Furnas crater we will pass beside Furnas lake, where you saw from the higher viewpoint, you may better admire the splendid greenery and feel that you are really in an old volcano.

After driving up a while and you start to see the ocean, shortly you will see from a distance Vila Franca do Campo town (the first capital of the island, before the earthquake in 1522) and the islet of Vila Franca do Campo, a circular submarine volcano.

Our next stop is the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz that is on a high hill viewpoint. From there you can see or even walk up the zigzag stone stairs into an eighteen century reconstructed chapel and have a better look of the town of Vila Franca do Campo with several banana and pineapple plantations, and the islet of Vila Franca do Campo, sometimes named as the ring of the Princess due is circular volcanic structure and an emerald colour water pool.
After that we will check the time and determine what more we can fit our clients mood (for example Caloura viewpoint or Agua de Alto beach, if time permits).

During the Tour there will always be WC stops, and in the middle of this Tour a stop to drink and eat depending how long your ship stays here that day, and what the clients feel like doing.

Note: Sao Miguel island weather may affect this itinerary and alternate sites may be visited if necessary.