Piscina Natural Da Boca De Ribeira

Today we were at Piscina Natural da Boca de Ribeira, in my opinion the most beautiful natural pool on São Miguel. Unfortunately, you can't swim in it in winter because it is not maintained in winter due to the winter storms.

This natural seawater pool is carved into the volcanic rocks along the coast near Nordeste, a quiet area on the northeast part of the island. The pool fills and flushes with the tide, giving swimmers a natural bathing experience directly in contact with the Atlantic.

In summer the water tends to be very clear, and the rocky edges and volcanic features give the area a distinctive look — great for swimming, or just relaxing beside the sea. In winter, of course, all the driftwood from the winter storms and also some large boulders are in the water.

Natural conditions vary depending on tides and weather. In some years, unusually high algae growth driven by ocean changes has occasionally made the pool less appealing or even led to temporary closures during peak season.

There’s car access and nearby parking and some facilities, like changing rooms, restrooms and A Kkeiner kiosk (which is closed in winter). Fortunately the emphasis here is on the natural environment rather than built infrastructure.Read more