Guides & tips

Plan your trip like a local

Honest answers to the questions travellers ask us most.

A whale breaching out of the Atlantic with a stretch of coast in the background

Whale Watching in the Azores: Ponta Delgada, Pico or Faial?

Compare whale-watching departures from São Miguel, Pico and Faial by logistics, tour style and evidence — without pretending any harbour guarantees a sighting.

Read the guide →
A van parked at a viewpoint above a blue crater lake ringed by green hills

Sete Cidades: Tour, Quad, Kayak or Go Independently?

Choose the right way to see Sete Cidades by comparing a full-day van tour, a half-day quad and a self-guided kayak-and-bike outing.

Read the guide →
Visitors at a railing looking over a green lake and wooded hills

Furnas: Volcano, Hot Springs and Cozido — Tour or Drive?

Decide between a guided Furnas day tour and driving yourself, with the real trade-offs around lunch, thermal pools, timing and eastern São Miguel.

Read the guide →
A pod of dolphins swimming close together just below the surface of deep blue water

Swimming with Dolphins on São Miguel: What the Tour Promises

Understand what an open-ocean dolphin-swimming trip involves, who it suits and why a wildlife encounter can never be guaranteed.

Read the guide →
Aerial view of the ring-shaped volcanic islet of Vila Franca do Campo with its turquoise lagoon and a boat wake

Vila Franca Islet: Boat Trip, Snorkelling or E-Boat?

Compare three ways to experience Vila Franca do Campo Islet, including what goes around it, what may include snorkelling and what access limits mean.

Read the guide →
Two people in helmets and wetsuits standing in a pool below a forest waterfall

Canyoning in Ribeira dos Caldeirões: How Hard Is It?

Compare the main Ribeira dos Caldeirões canyoning trips by format and price, and learn what to confirm about jumps, fitness and equipment.

Read the guide →
The blue crater lake of Lagoa do Fogo below green volcanic slopes and drifting cloud

Lagoa do Fogo: Hike or Viewpoints by Tour?

Compare hiking to Lagoa do Fogo with a guided viewpoint tour, including access, effort, weather risk and the best fit for a São Miguel day.

Read the guide →
Dolphins surfacing in blue water beneath a red cliff coast, with a cloud-capped volcanic cone behind

Pico: Whale Watching from Lajes or Climbing the Volcano?

Choose between whale watching from Lajes do Pico and a guided Pico Mountain climb by comparing effort, weather exposure, timing and who each suits.

Read the guide →
Passengers looking through viewing panels into clear Atlantic water from a small boat near São Miguel

Glass-Bottom Boat and Snorkelling at the Vila Franca Islet

What the São Miguel glass-bottom boat adds, who will enjoy the snorkelling stop and what to check before booking the two-hour trip.

Read the guide →
A green crater lake ringed by forested hills and pasture, seen past flowering bushes with the sea on the horizon

Tea, Pineapples and Thermal Baths: São Miguel without a Boat

Plan a land-based São Miguel day around tea, pineapple culture and thermal water, with realistic choices between a guided tour and separate visits.

Read the guide →

Volcanoes & lakes from €70 · available today

Check availability