Whether the rain pours or the sun shines, a hot shower in the Azores is always a good idea!
One of the things I love the most about São Miguel Island is that, whether it’s a rainy or a sunny day, this island is always the perfect destination! I have visited in the Summer and also in the rainy season, but still, on the most cloudy rainy days, the island can’t cease to amaze me with all its natural beauty. One of my favorite things about it is that, even in the winter, I can always carry my bikini on my bag and I always find some hot waters to relax in, whether they’re on parks, thermal pools, volcanic calderas or even in the ocean! I will leave you below my favorite places to relax in São Miguel Island.
Terra nostra Park
Location: Furnas / Opening hours: from 10h to 18h all year / Price: 8,00€/adult
The Terra Nostra Park is located in Furnas Valley, which is, nothing less than a crater of a volcano that has been sleeping since 1630. On the way to the Valley, if you make a quick stop on Pico do Ferro belvedere, you can understand that the entire Furnas village is located inside this massive crater! The park was created in the 18th century when the thermal waters started to gain fame due to their therapeutic properties. Nowadays the park has a huge variety of Azorean native flora and in the middle of it, you can find the famous hot water pool, which water has a temperature of 40ºC (104ºF).
The pool area has changing and shower rooms where you can have a shower and change your clothes after you use the pool. Tip: if your hair is dyed do not dive on the water, since, due to the high concentrations of sulfur, the hair can get yellowish tones and it only comes out after several washes.
Poça da Dona Beija
Location: Furnas / Opening Hours: 07h às 23h everyday / Price: 6€/adul
This is an excellent place to visit if you’re planning a journey to the Furnas area. The big advantage of this place is that its ticket is daily so you can visit it in the morning and come back later on without paying more. There are several pools inside, changing and shower rooms and lockers. When you enter you have to leave 20€ as a caution that will be returned to you in the end.
The waters are rich in therapeutic properties and clays! It’s the perfect place to relax!
Caldeira Velha
Location: Ribeira Grande Opening Hours:09h to 17h from November to February / 09h to 20h30 from June to September / 10 to 18h in the remaining months Price: 8€/adult
Located in the Fogo Volcano crater, this caldera is one of my favorite spots! Being inside a natural park, its environment is much more authentic than in other places and you can have a shower literally in the middle of nature! Besides that, its main caldera has a small waterfall, making the space even more special. You can enjoy not only the caldera waters but also more two hot pools and they all have different temperatures that vary between the 25ºC and the 38ºC (77ºF and 100ºF), making this place perfect to everybody! For the ones interested in geology and all the volcanic activity of the island, at the entrance, there is an environmental interpretation center where you can get to know better all the geological story of Azores.
Ponta da Ferraria
Location: Ginetes / Opening Hours: nonexisting / Free entrance
This is, without any doubt, one of the most unique places to enjoy hot waters! Here, in the middle of the ocean, you can find some natural pools created by the contact between the hot lava and the ocean’s cold. Entering the water there are some ropes you can hold on to and you can enjoy 30ºC (86ºF) water temperatures in the middle of the sea! As you swim away from the rocks or on the wavy area, the water gets colder, so the best time to go to the water is when the tide is not too high or too low, otherwise, the water can be too hot or too cold!
If you wish to have specialized treatments related to the thermal water’s properties you can do it at Termas da Ferraria, located before the natural pools. Here you can enjoy their spa or do any treatment.
Some information and tips
To go to these waters is always better to wear and older swimwear or of dark colors, since the minerals on these waters can damage or stain the clothes. Regarding the hair, if your one is dyed, don’t dive it on the water! The use of nail polish and jewelry is also not advised for the same reasons! These rules are especially important to the more yellow/orange water (like Park Terra Nostra and Poça da Dona Beija) since they have more minerals.
There are many other amazing areas where you can go for a swim on the island, but the waters are not so warm. That post will be for another time!
I hope you enjoy this post and that you can get inspired for your next trip to the Azores!
Don’t forget to share it with your travel lovers’ friends and with the ones that are planning a trip to the Azores and keep your journey to the green with sustainable actions on your routines and travels!
Travelling to the Green
