The island of São Miguel is full of enchantments and places that dazzle those who pass through here. Some of these places should be a mandatory stop on your next visit to São Miguel, whatever the time of year, we guarantee that the experience will always be incredible and will take your trip to another level!
Ponta da Ferraria
Located in the parish of Ginetes, a few kilometers from the city of Ponta Delgada, Ponta da Ferraria is a protected geosite that originated, as happens all over the island, through volcanic phenomena.
It is characterized as a portion of land originated through the flow of lava from a cliff towards the sea, in this case it emerged through the Pico das Camarinhas, with 309 meters high. From the contact between the hot lava and the sea water emerged the Termas da Ferreira and the natural pools so famous on the island.
They are composed of hot water with various therapeutic purposes allowing you, even on rainy days, to enjoy a relaxing moment with your family surrounded by nature. Entrance to the hot springs is paid, which is not the case with the natural thermal pool. When visiting Ponta da Ferraria you should take into account the tide level, it is advisable that it is at a medium or low level so that you can enjoy these waters at pleasant temperatures. When the tide is high it is more difficult for the waters to remain warm and if it is very low the temperatures may be very high causing some discomfort.
In Ponta da Ferraria you can also pass by the viewpoint of Ponta da Ferraria also known as Sabrina Island Viewpoint, is a great place to spend the afternoon, with several tables where you can have a picnic after a fantastic swim in these waters.
Salto do Prego Waterfall
This fantastic waterfall can be found in the parish of Faial da Terra. It offers a fantastic landscape even before reaching the waterfall with an unusual surrounding beauty.
To reach the waterfall you will have to walk the Salto do Prego Trail. It is a trail of medium difficulty, with an extension of about 4.5km and an average time of 2h00, it is surrounded by dense vegetation with several species typical of the region, and while doing it you will be able to observe some resident animals, small streams that feed the main stream, some orchards of the families that live there and of course the main attraction, the waterfall!
It is a relatively small, shallow waterfall, with clear, cold water! It is a great place to cool off after the trail and enjoy the peace of mind that the sound of the waterfall gives you, we recommend visiting this place in the summer so you can bathe in the waterfall at more pleasant temperatures.
Vila Franca do Campo Islet
This islet is located in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo as its name already indicates. The islet of Vila Franca do Campo is the result of the crater of an ancient submerged volcano, thus considering it as one of the main tourist attractions of the island of São Miguel, especially after being the stage of one of the stages of Red Bull Cliff Diving, the world cliff diving championship.
It was classified as a Nature Reserve and has a natural pool inside with a narrow passage communicating with the sea. Its waters are great for swimming and diving!
On the islet you can observe several seabirds such as shearwaters and terns and it is a very irregular area with only a few paved areas, it is possible to visit only from June to September, in order to control the excess of people on site and to take maximum care for their preservation. During these months a regular boat service is available to take people to this paradisiacal place to enjoy a fantastic day on this islet, where they can have a picnic and refresh themselves in its waters!
As the entrance is limited to 400 people per day we recommend that you get your ticket in advance so you don’t miss the opportunity! Departures are made every hour and the trip lasts no more than 10 minutes.
Although the entire island possesses a splendor all its own, be sure to stop by these places and thus complement your visit to the island!