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Azores 2026
  • Gina Steiner
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  • Gina Steiner

Azores 2026

A 58-day adventure by Gina Read more
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    🇵🇹 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Romeiros

    Yesterday in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Today I set off at 4:15 a.m. to take Rainer to the airport. On the way there, I encountered a group of singing men. I had already heard another group yesterday morning and watched them walk past my house.

    On the way back from the airport, I overtook two more of them in the pitch black. This time I parked further ahead at Parque de Merendas de Mosteiros because I had seen a lit cross there. Then I observed their activities from a distance.

    They are Romeiros.

    Romeiros are groups of men who travel around the island as religious pilgrims during Lent (before Easter).

    They can be recognized by their dark cloaks or scarves, rosaries around their necks, walking sticks in their hands, and backpacks on their backs. They are often singing or praying as they travel.

    The groups walk around São Miguel for about a week, visiting many churches and chapels along the way.

     They pray together, sing religious songs, stop at shrines, and stay overnight with families in the villages.

    Their journey can cover around 300 km.

    This is a form of penance and gratitude in the Catholic faith. Many pilgrims undertake the pilgrimage out of personal vows: for health or family, for a good future for the Azores, or simply out of tradition and a sense of community.

    The Romeiros often walk at dawn or very early in the morning because their daily schedule is strictly organized, and they want to visit as many chapels as possible each day. Furthermore, singing together at dawn is part of the spiritual atmosphere.

    Mosteiros, where I live, lies on the classic coastal route that many Romeiros walk during their circumnavigation of the island. During Lent, several "ranchos" (pilgrim groups) travel through this very area.

    Around Mosteiros Romeiros often come from: Ginetes, Candelária, or Sete Cidades. They are recognizable by their scarves/colors, as each group has slightly different colors and prayer rhythms.

    In the first two videos you don't hear the rhythmic singing but sacred music from the tape near the cross. They typically chant rhythmically when they walk. A leader calls out a line, the group responds—this way they keep pace and remain spiritually focused.

    I saw them very early in the morning, so they were probably on one of the longer stages of the day and had been walking since about 4 or 5 a.m.

    During a morning prayer stage, on the way from the west coast towards the north of the island, stopping at the cross in Parque de Merendas de Mosteiros is a fixed ritual.

    The Romeiros pilgrimage dates back to the time after the devastating earthquakes of the 16th century. Since then, every year during Lent, groups of men walk around the island in prayer—one of the most vibrant traditions of the Azores.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Cais da Sardinha

    February 21 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Opinions on the Cais de Sardinha differ, but from me the restaurant gets a clear plus 🌟.

    It is located directly on the harbor of Ponta Delgada with a view of the water and since the restaurant has a spacious interior with a completely glazed front, I find it very cozy there even in cloudy weather and wind.

    You clearly pay for the location, but it's worth it, because in my opinion this is the best location in all Ponta Delgada but the price definitely has also to do with the quality of the food.

    We had Salada de Polvo and Pica-Pau do Mar and both were really excellent, we tried to taste the composition of the spices, which was not easy.

    It took a while until the food came, but not too long, if food is freshly prepared, that's normal in my opinion. It may take a long time if the restaurant is full, but since only 4 tables were occupied except for us, everything was unproblematic.

    We only had a little snack there, if you want to eat extensively there, you have to pay a little more (30-40 p. p) since the portions are small and you have to go for at least a starter, a meal and bread. However, if all the food is as delicious as our two meals, it's definitely worth it.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler
    1

    Sete Cidades

    February 20 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Sete Cidades is a civil parish and a village, that is located in the center of a massive volcanic crater five kilometres across. The population in 2011 was 793 in an area of 19,19 km2. It is one of the smallest parishes of Ponta Delgada by population, although the largest in area. It contains the localities Cerrado da Ladeira, Cerrado das Freiras and Sete Cidades.

    At this time of the year it is not so easy to find the villages or the craters in the sunshine, because at Ginetes the warm air is forced to go up on the mountainside and the humidity condenses. Thus the crater rims are often in the clouds.

    From my location I can simply drive to the north slope, the south slope and between the crater lakes over the bridge, which I often do on the way to Ponta Delgada.

    The village of Sete Cidades, is located in the southwest portion of the crater and extends from the Blue Lake north to south. Farmland, mostly pastures, are located around the village, and confined to the portions south of the Blue Lake. The remainder of the crater is forested, although the southeastern portion also has some grasslands. A bridge at the junction of the two lakes provides the most direct road connection to Ponta Delgada. The tunnel to Mosteiros is located in the western end of the crater, in an area of open parklands,

    The region received its geographic nomenclature from the Latin Insula Septem Civitatum, which means "Island of the Seven Tribes" or "Island of the Seven Peoples" (Portuguese: Ilha das Sete Tribos or Ilha dos Sete Povos), but became a historical reference as the "Island of the Seven Cities". In Latin, civitas does not signify city, but rather a collectivity of citizens of a determined community.

    The first Iberian document to refer to Sete Cidades was a Latin chronicle from the city of Porto-Cale (the modern city of Porto), written in 750 A.D. by a Christian cleric.

    I like the drive over the bridge between the lakes and up and down the serpentines of the crater slopes, it's a nice contrast to the coast. So when I go to Ponta Delgada I often drive through the montains there and back again by the sea.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Cooking on an island of the high seas

    February 19 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    As on all islands located further out at sea, the selection and quality of food here are limited. The fact that the mainland is 1500 km away doesn't make things any easier.

    In January and the first half of February, the selection of fish here isn't comparable to, for example, on the Spanish mainland. What's available here is beef, milk, cheese, and deep-sea fish such as high-quality tuna, swordfish, and grouper.

    Many foods have to be brought in by ship or plane, which certainly doesn't make them any fresher. The people who were born here have long since gotten used to it, or rather, have never known anything different. For us, it's an adjustment.

    But since we're often on islands, we're familiar with it, prepared, and have our workarounds. I always bring a wide variety of spices, and Rainer brings ground whole-wheat flour, sourdough starter, and a baking pan. Since apartments often only have coated pans, he sometimes brings an uncoated one. Not this time, though, because there was a stainless steel one available.

    Since we have an outdoor kitchen here with a fireplace grill, sink, and roof, we can invent the best things imaginable together. I also try to get an apartment with an oven, which doesn't always work out, but usually it does, like here.

    Today we're having calamari with baked potatoes; we bought the rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves at the market yesterday. The wine, including the port, is exceptionally good here and really reasonably priced.

    Bon appétit!    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Miradouro da Tromba de Elefante

    February 19 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Perched high above the rugged northern coastline of São Miguel, the Miradouro da Tromba de Elefante is one of the island’s most dramatic and lesser-known viewpoints.

    Its name “Elephant’s Trunk Viewpoint” comes from the striking rock formation below, where a long, curved ridge of dark volcanic stone stretches toward the Atlantic Ocean, resembling the trunk of an elephant dipping into the sea.

    Unlike some of São Miguel’s more frequented scenic spots, Miradouro da Tromba de Elefante feels peaceful and untouched. The surrounding area is characterized by endemic vegetation and a coastal contours shaped by centuries of volcanic activity and erosion.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Ilhéus dos Mosteiros

    February 18 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    When I'm looking for a place to spend the winter, there are a few things I pay attention to.

    I want to be able to see the sunset, the sea can't be too far away, and the microclimate has to be right. I also have a few requirements for the apartment itself, but above all, the microclimate is important if I'm going to be spending two months there.

    Finding the right microclimate isn't quite so simple, so I consult climate charts, monthly averages for temperature, cloud cover, wind, and rainfall, study the major air and ocean currents in the area, and, most importantly, carefully examine the local topography in relation to it.

    This time, too, my analyses were correct: if there's any sunshine on the island, it's here. Even after a long and stressful workday, I'm in a beautiful place, watching the sunset, the sea, and the Mosteiros Islets

    The Ilhéus dos Mosteiros (literally, Islets of the Monasteries) are four uninhabited rocky islets located about 1 km from Mosteiros.

    The Mosteiros Islets gave the neighboring municipality of Mosteiros its name. According to Azorean chronicler Gaspar Frutuoso, the earliest settlers to the area thought the largest of the islets looked like a church or monastery, and therefore named the islets and their settlement Mosteiros. Frutuoso noted:

    "Between the large islet and Ponta Ruiva, by the cliffs, until the promontory of Escalvados, there are some large depressions and well made fumaroles, in the form of a church, or monasteries, or of both things, that older settlers called the monasteries [Mosteiros], situated on the fajã that ran from the peak in Sete Cidades."

    The Mosteiros Islets are the exposed remains of a submarine volcanic cone heavily eroded by the sea over time. The islets are composed of compacted palagonite tuff rock. The maximum altitude of the islets is 72 metres above sea level.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Azorean Poke

    February 18 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Today we once more drove to Capelas, to the Zona Balnear dos Poços. Using satellite imagery, I timed our trip, so we arrived at the parking lot just as the sun began to break through the clouds, revealing a beautiful blue sky.

    Swimming time! 🏊 🌊 🌞

    Since buying fresh fish and cheese from the island's best cheesemonger was also on the agenda, we then drove from Capelas on the north side of the island to Ponta Delgada on the south side.

    At the narrowest point of the island, the drive only takes 15 minutes. We arrived in Ponta Delgada right at lunchtime and took the opportunity to eat a poke bowl at Azorean Poke.

    It's definitely my favorite place to eat. While there's no outdoor seating, you could take the bowl to the beach. The tuna is incredibly fresh, as are all the other ingredients.

    A large bowl costs 11 euros, and the service is very friendly. It's not particularly fancy; it seems that decorating is rarely a priority here in the Azores, but it's pleasantly furnished.

    I haven't met any other tourists there yet; I suppose it's not local enough for most of them.

    I absolutely love coming here, it's truly my favorite spot. The food is simply the best and freshest of anything I've eaten in restaurants around here (if you accept not local recipes). Only Cais da Sardinha comes close, but that's in a different price range. I will write something about Cais da Sardinha later on.

    So put on your bucket list: Azorean Poke.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Queijadas de Coco & Queijadas de Amêndoa

    February 17 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    You're probably all familiar with Pastel de Nata (or Pastel de Belém). These are puff pastry tarts filled with pastry cream, which were likely made before the 18th century by the monks of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belém, now a district of Lisbon.

    By the way, the name Pastel de Nata can be translated as "puff pastry with cream filling."

    I'm a Pastel de Nata fan in Germany, but only because Queijadas de Coco and Queijadas de Amêndoa aren't so easy to find.

    Queijadas de Coco are traditional Portuguese coconut custard tarts, particularly popular as a regional variation of the classic Queijada from Sintra. These small pastries are characterized by a moist, creamy interior and a slightly crispy or golden top. 

    They feature a "custardy" consistency similar to a cross between a creamy milk custard and an eggy macaroon. They are predominantly sweet with a rich coconut taste, often balanced with subtle notes of vanilla, cinnamon, or citrus (lemon or orange zest). Typically they are shaped like cupcakes or mini-tarts, often served in pleated paper liners. 

    While the original Queijada de Sintra (dating back to medieval times) is made with fresh cheese, the coconut version is a popular "regional flavor" found in pastry shops throughout Portugal and thus also the Azores.

    The same applies to Queijadas de Amêndoa but they have an intense almond flavor.

    Ohn nom nom 😋😋😋.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Zona Balnear dos Poços

    February 16 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    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

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler
    3

    Piscina Natural Da Boca De Ribeira

    February 15 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    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

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões

    February 15 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Our second stop was the Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões.

    This is a lush, scenic park where waterfalls, old watermills, and dense Macaronesian forest come together in a riverside setting.

    This protected area stretches along the Ribeira dos Caldeirões stream, on the slopes of the Serra da Tronqueira. The park has some impressive waterfalls, abundant greenery, and traditional watermills.

    The cascade of Ribeira dos Caldeirões is the park’s main attraction, a fall surrounded by rich vegetation and mossy rocks.

    You can walk through the forest typical of Macaronesia, with ancient tree ferns, cryptomerias and hydrangea thickets that make the landscape feel almost tropical.

    Several watermills from as early as the 16th century still stand in the valley and some of them have been restored.

    In summer you can also do guided canyoning experiences along the river, combining waterfalls, natural slides, and jumps into clear pools.

    Entrance is free and open year-round. Best time to visit is spring and early summer when it's warm and waterfalls are still in full flow.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara

    February 15 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    The first stop on our today's tour around the island was Praia Areal de Santa Bárbara.

    It is one of the largest and most popular beaches on São Miguel, stretching about 1 km along the north Atlantic coast near Ribeira Grande and Ribeira Seca.

    Its long expanse of dark volcanic sand against the deep blue ocean and green hillside scenery makes it a classic Azorean beach.

    The beach is well-known for its consistent waves, attracting surfers, bodyboarders and other water-sport enthusiasts. Many locals and visitors alike come here to ride the Atlantic swells.

    It often earns a Blue Flag, meaning good water quality and safety standards. There’s lifeguard supervision in season, plus showers, toilets, bars and parking.

    Waves can be strong here, and currents should always be respected — especially outside of peak summer season.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler
    2

    Tunnel das Sete Cidades

    February 14 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Today we went through the Tunnel from Mosteiros to the banks of Lagoa Azul. It is a 1.2 km long water drainage tunnel.

    The tunnel was built from 1930-1938 in order to make it possible to drain water from the Sete Cidades lakes towards the coast (the lakes otherwise have no drainage).
    Rather than in an open canal (as is e.g. common for levada tunnels on Madeira), inside the tunnel the water runs in a big waterpipe.

    Be prepared for puddles, wet and muddy stretches, which may force you to either wade through or climb up on the low concrete wall that holds a smaller water pipe.
    You will need torches inside the tunnel (take care that you have enough battery, it may take you about 1 h to go through it and back if a lot of puddles slow you down).

    Since life is never boring for me, it has also taken an interesting turn here. After about half of the distance, some parts came off the sole of my hiking boot at the heel.

    Of course, the best of all men had a piece of super string with him and so we decided to fix it well and move on. But the soles have probably both reached their denaturation date and so the other sole soon came loose 😂.

    Of course, the condition of the first sole did not get any better and when we arrived over there, one sole was completely off and the half of the other sole was loose.

    The question was: either hitchhike back or Rainer going back alone and then picking me up by car. We opted for the second solution, and the best of men heroically battled his way through the tunnel alone to rescue the princess at the lake with his golden horsepower.

    The tunnel is a remarkable feat of 20th-century engineering, it was built by decision of the executive committee of the General Board, with engineer Francisco Xavier de Castro in charge of the project.

    Drilling work on the mountain began on October 1, 1930, resulting in the construction of a tunnel over 1200 meters long, connecting Sete Cidades to Grota do Alqueive in Mosteiros. It was inaugurated 30th of December , 1937.

    The tunnel cuts straight through the mountain and made it possible, for the first time, to control excess water and also provided an easy crossing (except for the claustrophobic) to the other side of the mountain.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Convalescence

    February 13 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Today I'm feeling much better. Not god enough to go on a hike but maybe to go for a short dip in the thermal sea water spring later the day.

    For now I'm knitting in the sun ☀️, later on we will prepare a squid on the grill and I watch the weather in Hamburg from time to time 😂.Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler
    2

    Sunset

    February 12 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    I'm a loner.

    I still like to talk to people everywhere and full, but in the basic understanding I am an autonomous person.

    Photographing people is not my thing and certainly not portraits. But at sunset I'll make an exception with my flavor. And this evening I felt better, so I took a short walk.Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler
    1

    Pumice

    February 12 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    We found pumice at Lagoa Azul! I'm still limited today, so I'll take my time to write something about pumice.

    It was dancing on the surface of a small stream near a small weir, circling around, obviously waiting for us to collect some, which we did.

    Pumice is widespread in the Azores due to the intense volcanism, especially on São Miguel and Faial. The light-colored, porous rock shapes the landscape, forms beaches at Lagoa do Fogo, and is used locally as a building material (tuff).

    Pumice is a very light, highly porous volcanic glass that forms during gas-rich eruptions and floats on water due to its low density.

    It forms when gas-rich lava cools rapidly and is often white, gray, or brown in color. During its formation, viscous lava is foamed up by water vapor and carbon dioxide.

     Chemically, pumice is no different from other lava (its chemical composition can vary just as much as that of lava), but it is significantly lighter (approximately one-third the density) and, due to pores caused by volcanic gases, often has a much lighter color than lava rock of the same composition.

    Pumice can reach the sea through relatively steady land erosion, but also through acute volcanic eruptions. The particularly large eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia in 1815 ejected so much pumice into the sea that ships were still encountering floating pumice rafts years later.

    In August 2012, light-colored pumice was sighted floating in the South Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and Tonga, covering an area of ​​463 × 55 km. It is attributed to the underwater volcano Monowai.

     In August 2019, catamaran sailors Michael Hoult and Larissa Brill discovered a pumice carpet covering 150 km² and collected samples of the 1–25 cm diameter stones. NASA satellite images show that an underwater volcano had erupted off the island nation of Tonga on August 7th.

    Carpets of this type occur in this region approximately every 5 years.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler
    1

    Low tides in Ferraria?

    February 11 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    I'm ill today but needed to drive to the store. To the store I pass by Ferraria. Low tides but over 4m waves, so no swimming for anybody in the thermal sea water today.

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Furnas, Thermal Village of São Miguel

    February 10 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    Since I haven't written anything about Furmas itself yet and today is not only a working day, but also foggy outside, I'll use the time to catch up on it.

    Furnas is a small picturesque thermal village located in the heart of São Miguel and known for its natural beauty, with verdant landscapes, volcanic hot springs, and vibrant botanical gardens.

    So it's mainly about its abundant geothermal activity, evident in the steaming fumaroles and natural geysers. In addition you have lush green landscapes and the beautiful botanical gardens. That's it more or less, some small stores and restaurants here and there. Nothing fancy, nothing extraordinary, just normal island food - octopus with potatoes or beans with potatoes and pork belly.

    There is the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel and if you live there, you have free entry to Terra-Nostra Park. However, I don't understand why you should stay here for several days, because the location of the place is not convenient as far as the other parts of the island are concerned.

    I prefer to live a little nicer on the coast and come here from time to time for a day trip. But you should definitely do that, because this region is one of the most intriguing and unique places to visit on the island of São Miguel and you definitely have to spend some hours in a thermal spring.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Parque Terra Nostra

    February 9 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Terra Nostra Park is a botanical garden located in the Furnas Valley. This park houses one of the world's largest collections of camellias, with more than 600 different genera, and also the largest collection of cycads in Europe.

    One of the biggest attractions is the water pool with naturally brown thermal water and a temperature of 38 °C. The pool is decorated with stone carvings and surrounded by exotic plants. Bathing is allowed, but requires longer showers afterwards.

    But you can't just look at the park, it costs an entrance fee of 17.-. If you have nothing else to do in Furnas or live there for a week, you can safely invest this 17.-. However, if you have a car around to explore the island and some time, you should not pay the entrance fee for the time being and only fall back on it when you can't think of anything else.

    The garden was founded in 1780, when the then consul of the United States of America on the island of São Miguel, Thomas Hickling, built his summer residence here, which then became known as Yankee Hall.

    It was not until the middle of the 19th century that the area of two hectares gradually grew. The Viscondes da Praia or later the Bensaude family expanded the area to an attractive size.

    Water gardens and plantings with dark alleys and flower beds were created, and Yankee Hall was transformed into a hotel. In 1872, when the garden was already in the hands of the 2nd Visconde of Praia, he brought in Portuguese and English specialists. They carried out a reconstruction of the existing canal, built caves and avenues of boxwood, but the paths with orange trees have disappeared. Trees were imported from North America, Australia, New Zealand, China and South Africa.

    In the 1930s, the Terra Nostra Park was acquired by Vasco Bensaude, who saw it primarily as an addition to the Terra Nostra Hotel. At that time, the park reached an area of 12.5 ha, divided alternately into gardens and forest. Vasco Bensaude had a great knowledge of botany and horticulture, as did his gardener of Scottish origin, John McEnroy.

    If you stay in the hotel you can enter for free.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Jardim Público da Courela

    February 8 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Jardim Público da Courela is a public garden located in Furnas, a small town in the southeastern part of São Miguel Island in the Azores.

    It is a beautiful and tranquil spot, offering a variety of walking paths, lush vegetation, scenic views and stinky vents 😂. This park is more widely known for its geothermal activity, featuring numerous fumaroles - openings in the earth's surface that emit steam and volcanic gases 🤢.

    These fumaroles are part of the larger Furnas Volcano, a significant dormant volcano with a summit subsidence caldera. The park offers visitors a unique experience of witnessing geothermal phenomena up close.

    Since the Parque Terra Nostra costs entry fee it's import to mention that you neither pay for entrance, nor for parking.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Bar Caloura

    February 7 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Today we made up for the missed birthday fish dinner from yesterday.

    The weather was only sunny this morning, so we took advantage of it to drive along the north coast to Furnas to visit the hot springs. I was really amazed this morning that the sun came out at all after the doomsday weather yesterday and there was little wind.

    And the following clouds in the afternoon after visiting the hot springs didn't hurt the following fish meal at all 😋.

    We had 16° and it was relatively windless there, so without any problems, we could sit outside with a jacket. Me of course, without a jacket 🤣.

    I highly recommend this restaurant for the fish. Skip everything else, they have no sense for salad or vegetables but go there for the fish. It was an excellent choice and it's definitely worth it!    Read more

  • Gina SteinerAzores 2026Traveler

    Poça da Dona Beija

    February 7 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Today we went to Furnas in the hot spring bath called Poça da Dona Beija.

    The entrance fee to this thermal bath is 12.- for 1.5 hours and that's quite enough time for the thermal bathing. There are changing rooms and showers, which can also be warmed up for a fee of 1.-. There is parking right at the entrance.

    At one point there was a little bit of rain and it was the absolute highlight, to sit in the hot water and get cold raindrops on your head 💦😍❤️.

    But also without rain it's awesome to hang out in the 39° warm water and get massaged by the small waterfalls.

    The Poça da Dona Beija, also known as Poça da Juventude (Youth Pools) or Poça do Paraíso (Paradise Pools), is located directly in the valley of Furnas, in an area known as Zona das Águas Quentes.

    The name comes from the brazillan soap opera Dona Beija. The romantic scenes of a small waterfall where the main character, Dona Beija, used to bathe, was still fresh in people's memory, when this location started to gain more notoriety, thus giving it its current name.

    It is part of a set of iron rich hot springs connected to the volcanic phenomena of the crater of the valley of Furnas. Its formation comes from the existing underground thermal aquifers which makes the water, in permanent contact with rocks subjected to high temperatures, gradually heat, reaching the average temperature of 39º C.

    On site there is a natural hot spring within a cave, which supplies the water for the four pools, an area to wet your feet or body and part of the stream (which holds a removable floodgate) allowing a mixture of hot and cold water.

    The yellowish colour of the water is due to the presence of cyanobacterias, photosynthetic oxygenic beings, that when found in iron-rich environments react with the free iron, oxidizing it.

    Nowadays Poça da Dona Beija’s ferruginous muds are indicated for cutaneous invigoration, and it’s hot waters are therapeutic.

    The iron-rich waters are used by the local people to water the taro root plantation, because the mud is considered an ecological fertilizer for it, and its amount makes the Furnas people grand taro root planters of the island of Sao Miguel. You can also find the taro plants in the thermal bath.

    We plan to go again, that time we plan to go at night 🤩.    Read more

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