Portugal · SETE CIDADES TOURS
The crater fills with cloud most mornings and clears late, so departure time decides what you see. These 15 compare the van days, the walks down to the lakes and the combined trips, with prices.
Drive your own quad from Fenais da Luz toward Sete Cidades, following guides such as Bruno, Filip, or Felipe over paved roads, coastal tracks, and steep mountain trails. The 3 to 4-hour ride reaches Pico da Cruz at 845 meters, with views of five crater lakes when weather allows.
“Great experience. Phillipe was an excellent guide. We saw beautiful vistas. The Azores are amazing!!”
Spend eight hours exploring São Miguel with guides such as Sergio, Mariano, or Eduardo. Ride dirt tracks around Sete Cidades, visit Lagoa do Fogo viewpoints, stop in remote villages, and enjoy an authentic Portuguese lunch with wine, beer, or soft drinks. Pickup is available in Ponta Delgada.
“Excellent from the begining to the end. Sergio, our tour guide was very nice and gave us time for everything we wanted.”
Ride a Land Rover or 4x4 SUV from Ponta Delgada to São Miguel’s Sete Cidades crater. You’ll follow rough rim tracks, see the Green and Blue Lakes, visit São Nicolau Church, and hear local stories from guides such as Sergio, Ricardo, Eduardo, or Rudy.
“Wry informative guide. Was allowed to stop at anyplace we asked for pictures guide was very knowledgeable”
Ride a 4WD through São Miguel’s Sete Cidades crater, stopping at Muro das Nove Janelas, Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Verde, and Vista do Rei. Your English- or Portuguese-speaking guide may include local tales, geology, and plant life. Hotel and cruise-port pickup make this a smart half-day choice.
“Excellent trip notwithstanding the weather, which didn’t cooperate. Hugo, our guide, was engaging and knowledgeable. He brought everything to life, and made the afternoon interesting and fun. I went with my wife, my daughter and her partner, and everyone had a thoroughly good time.”
Spend seven hours crossing São Miguel by jeep or SUV with guides such as Carlos, Miguel, Francisco, Nuno, and Tania. See Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo, waterfalls, coast views, geothermal plants, and local liqueurs. Hotel pickup from Ponta Delgada is included.
“Miguel made the trip special. Being on a tour off the beaten path with only one other couple was perfect. Miguel is a wealth of information , very personable and was kind enough to take numerous photos as requested. The scenery was spectacular and lunch with local food in a small town was terrific. We would highly recommend the tour with Miguel.”
Drive through Sete Cidades by quad, buggy, or jeep, stopping at Pico do Carvão, Lagoa do Canário, Grota do Inferno, Vista do Rei, and the crater lakes. Choose a half-day or full-day route, with guides speaking English, Portuguese, or Spanish. Full-day trips include a buffet lunch.
“Great way to visit Sete Cidades with smacking pov. Our guide was excellent!”
At Sete Cidades, rent a double-seat kayak from Azores For All and paddle the Blue Lake inside São Miguel’s volcanic crater. You get a canoe, life vest, flippers, and insurance. Staff members such as Luis and Alessandro help you get underway, and one hour is enough for a taste of both lakes.
“Luis and Alessandro were the best! We had so much fun! We had an 11 year old daughter and she did great. Great adventure for families! We saw so many beautiful fish and the kayaking was my daughter’s favorite part!”
Drive a guided buggy from Rua do Paim in Ponta Delgada toward Sete Cidades. Pedro leads small groups along coastal roads, dirt trails, volcanic viewpoints, an old aqueduct, and crater-rim paths. Bring a valid driving license, warm layers, and clothes you do not mind getting dusty.
“What an amazing experience. Pedro was kind, funny, accommodating and just an all-around legend of a man. He took his time to explain the smallest details of the various environments and flora and fauna of the microclimates we traveled through. Rather than a guide, he felt like a friend. The whole tour was super-fun and amazing value for dollar. It was so good, in fact, that I would do it again. Obrigado Pedro!”
From Ponta Delgada’s cruise terminal, a local English-speaking guide such as Mario or Denisa takes you to Sete Cidades, Santiago Lake, Pico do Carvão, and a pineapple greenhouse. Expect scenic stops, village time, fruit tasting, and a return to port in about four hours.
“Mário did a great job today. He is very knowledgeable and his English is impeccable. Our Ponta Delgada tour was very enjoyable and it left us wanting for more. Who knows, maybe we will return some day to this beautiful island.”
Rent a well-equipped e-bike in Sete Cidades and choose from four GPS-guided routes lasting about 2.5 to 6 hours. Ride past volcanic lakes, forest tracks, viewpoints, and village sights at your own pace. Henrique Sejas and Diogo are among the friendly staff who provide route help, safety gear, tools, and emergency support.
“The young man, who was the tour operator was very helpful and friendly. He spoke very good English, which helped us out. The bike ride was phenomenal in such beautiful surroundings!”
From Ponta Delgada, your English or Portuguese guide drives you up São Miguel’s volcanic rim in a 4x4 jeep, using rough secondary roads to reach quiet viewpoints above Sete Cidades. Expect twin lakes, crater villages, local stories, photo stops, and coffee in the caldera.
“We were just a group of 4. We were able to customize our time at a single place.”
Spend three hours exploring Sete Cidades on a mountain bike and double kayak. This self-guided outing lets you choose the order and pace, with route advice, helmets, life jackets, insurance, and friendly English or Portuguese-speaking staff at the lakeshore.
“We got rained out about one hour in and the hosts allowed us to come back another day to finish the other two hours. Great people!”
Explore São Miguel’s Sete Cidades crater by pedal-assist mountain bike with guides such as Nuno, Rodrigo, Warren, or Andre. Expect lake views, village streets, volcanic trails, steep climbs, some public-road riding, and a 3 to 4-hour outing capped at 8 to 10 riders.
“There is no reserved parking area, you share it with the other hundreds-thousands of people around that day so its up to luck if you get parking. We couldnt make our original time due to cows crossing a road and staying there so we had to backtrack down the mountain and couldnt make our destination on time. Youre also on the main highway/ roads with tons of cars for 1/3 the trip which should be advertised.”
Join a small group of up to eight from Ponta Delgada for a four-hour Sete Cidades tour with an English- or Portuguese-speaking guide. See volcanic viewpoints, hydrangea-lined roads, the village of Sete Cidades, and Ponta do Escalvado without renting a car.
“Our tour guide Counseulo( Gonzales) was great tour guide very kind and knowledgeable..He did excellent job..We enjoyed the tour and fall in love with Azores sao miguel Island.”
Spend eight hours crossing São Miguel with a local English- or Portuguese-speaking guide. Visit Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo, Salto do Cabrito, and coastal viewpoints, with hotel pickup, drinks, insurance, and a regional lunch included. Groups are limited to eight people.
“A really enjoyable day trip around the,west of São Miguel with a friendly and,very knowledgable guide”
Pick a coast, a cellar or a cliff.
