Zona Balnear dos Poços

Poços de São Vicente Ferreira, also known as Poços de São Vicente, are popular natural swimming pools located on the north coast of São Miguel near Capelas.

“Poços” means wells, which are what they call many natural pools and swimming areas enclosed in either volcanic rock or cement. 

In this case, it is cement and a wall made of big rocks, protecting the swimmers from big waves. This makes Poços the ideal spot on the north coast to swim in the Atlantic Ocean even if the sea is rough because this shield protects you against the powerful Atlantic waves.

These seawater-filled pools are excellent places to swim all day, the water is clear and coast around beautiful.

There are also the old pools, which are small and shallow and only separated from the sea by a small wall but they are not used any more.

When the sea is calm in summer, you can choose between the calm, enclosed pool, or the open ocean for more adventurous swimming and snorkeling and spotting colorful fish and other marine life right near the rocks.

There is also Azorean history around, as it sits near the ruins of an old whale factory.

Despite its wild appearance, the area is well-equipped: there are showers, toilets, and a dedicated car park and during the official bathing season (June to September), the area is typically monitored by lifeguards.

In winter this is the best option for real swimming since Ponta da Ferraria is only dipping - but warmer since the sea water there is a little bit heated up by the thermal spring.Read more