Visiting the island of São Miguel is always a good choice not only for the huge variety of green and unique landscapes that you can enjoy but also for the fantastic cuisine and places whose visit is more than mandatory.
In this post we will show you, among the various unique and exuberant lakes that are part of the range of attractions that São Miguel has, the ones we consider essential to make your visit to the island worthwhile.
Sete Cidades Lake, São Miguel Island
Sete Cidades Lake
You will hardly hear about São Miguel without someone refering to this lake as one of the most attractive spots not only on the island but also in the Azores in general. Sete Cidades Lake is located in Sete Cidades parish and is the largest lake in the Azores and one of the 7 natural wonders of Portugal.
Sete Cidades Lake, São Miguel Island
It is a mandatory stop for its beauty, promising that those who visit can observe the blue lake and the green lake, which the legend says owes its colors to the tears of a princess and a shepherd whose impossible love originated two natural beauties.
Although it is a story that I would not like to demystify, the reality is that the green lake owes its color only to the reflection of the surrounding vegetation, and the blue lake, on sunny days, reflects the blue of the sky.
It is a spot that you cannot pass by without stopping and enjoying a few minutes of the peace and quiet that it guarantees!
Fogo Lake
Another of the natural beauties of São Miguel Island is the Fogo Lake (Lake of Fire). This is one of the largest lagoons in the Azores and the second largest on the island, being classified since 1974 as a natural reserve.
Fogo Lake, São Miguel Island
With few human interventions, it preserves its fauna and flora still “wild” and is located at 575 meters, occupying an area of 1360 hectares, calling attention by the color of its water, whose reflection of the sky, makes it possible to observe a crystalline blue.
You can access the lake on foot or by car, but to really live the experience we advise you to walk the access trails and enjoy a fantastic proximity with nature.
Furnas Lake
Last but not least we have the amazing Furnas Lake. Located in the parish of Furnas, municipality of Povoação.
Furnas Lake, São Miguel Island
This lake is surrounded by volcanic manifestations, such as fumaroles and boiling water boilers and abundant vegetation.
These boilers have temperatures ranging from 66ºC to 93ºC and are constantly boiling, being responsible for another attraction on the island, the Cozido das Furnas.
Fumaroles
We highly recommend that you visit Furnas Lake when the pots are being removed so you can see and taste in any restaurant our traditional Cozido. This is a process that begins in the early morning when local restaurants prepare the food to be steamed for 6 to 7 hours and the result is quite delicious.
Furnas Stew
Next time you travel to São Miguel, you already know which lakes to visit, you also have an idea of the typical dish for lunch and of course if you stay in one of our accommodations the experience rises to another level!