Azores - July 2023 trip report

[Anonymous]

If helpful to anyone else - I just spent a kid free week in the Azores - Sao Miguel island only (went while kids at sleepaway camp). We live in NOVA but we flew nonstop EWR to PDL both ways.

I booked Airbnb, flights, and a rental car before arriving. I really didn’t know much about the island before arriving - tho saw an Airbnb I really liked in Vila Franca do Campo and some reviews said it was centrally located and I just felt like we could rent a car and use that as our base because the sites seemed all over the place, but that it was a pretty small island so nothing too, too far away. Before we left - I asked my husband if he wanted me to plan things in advance or if he wanted to wing, and he said wing it, it so we did!

Here are my fave things that we did: Sete Cidades & hike there from Miradouro do rei - which is also a really nice view point. People also do a viewpoint from an abandoned hotel right there but I watched the Last of Us, and was not interested in that!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189134-d547603-Reviews-Caldeira_das_Sete_Cidades-Sao_Miguel_Azores.html

We liked the hot springs in Furnas area - we liked Poca da Dona Bejia. We did not go to Parque Terra Nostra but people do either. Furnas Lake is very nice and I think the Caldeiras downtown are worth stopping to see. They also have a volcano cooked food speciality there - cozido das Furnas which I tried once because I always like to say “when in Rome”… but I don’t think I will eat it again haha. It is worth spending a full day in Furnas, I think.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1190881-d19417482-Reviews-Poca_da_Dona_Beija-Furnas_Povoacao_Sao_Miguel_Azores.html

We really liked Vila Franca do Campo where we stayed. Terra Azul whale watching leaves from the marina there. (We booked a trip with them that was canceled due to weather then they didn’t have openings for the rest of our trip - but I booked the following day on another boat out of Ponta Delgada). On the whale trip we saw dolphins and some sperm whales which is what I hoped to see but for whatever reason - I preferred another local boat trip out of Vila Franca de campo with Azorsea adventures. It was totally impromptu after the first whale watch trip was canceled and we had a fun time.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1190889-d8638832-Reviews-AzorSea_Adventures-Vila_Franca_do_Campo_Sao_Miguel_Azores.html

Even if you don’t stay in Vila Franca do Campo you could spend a day there esp if you want to do whale watching. The islet is nice to see or visit and there is a good bakery for queijadas da vila a good local dessert that I think is worth trying if you have a sweet tooth -

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1190889-d11650897-Reviews-Queijadas_da_Vila_do_Morgado-Vila_Franca_do_Campo_Sao_Miguel_Azores.html

My husband loved the steak and sushi at Atlantico Azorean Restaurant.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1190889-d1877709-Reviews-Atlantico_Azorean_Restaurant-Vila_Franca_do_Campo_Sao_Miguel_Azores.html

We enjoyed a canyoning trip with Azorean Active Blueberry.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g16677038-d7084493-Reviews-Azorean_Active_Blueberry-Achada_Sao_Miguel_Azores.html

We also did one beach day at a beach in Vila Franca do Campo that I really liked. It has a waterfall with water coming down from Lagoa do Fogo that you can use as a natural shower.

Notes: We are both moderately in shape which I felt was helpful for some of the activities.

I would guesstimate that 30% of tourists we saw were other Americans and 70% other Europeans. Everyone was really nice and it’s such a small world - we would see other tourists more than once in totally different parts of the island!

Download the SpotAzores app before your trip so you can see weather conditions at various attractions before you go.

Other people we met visited other islands, which we didn’t do on this visit. Other people liked this salto do prego hike which we will have to try next time.

I am happy to answer any questions!

[Anonymous]

Ooh sounds incredible! Thanks for sharing!!

[Anonymous]

For driving - it’s very hilly / mountain roads - some narrow too. And often not a lot of parking. My husband grew up & learned to drive in Brooklyn & could handle the driving and parking but then we also got a stick shift because it was cheaper. He rose to the driving challenge though!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like too many tourists there. I should have gone 30 years ago!