São Miguel and Madeira: island-hopping in the Atlantic

'Welcome aboard your flight to Ponta Delgada!' As you hear the flight attendant make the announcement, it all sinks in at once: your Azores adventure is finally about to begin. Then you finally set foot on Azorean soil – more precisely, on São Miguel, the largest island in the Azores. You pick up your hire car straight away and speed off towards the lush green expanses.
You follow the winding roads between gently rolling hills and meadows, where cows curiously stretch their heads toward your passing car, until you reach the northern coast. There lies your accommodation for the next few nights, nestled in an interplay of fresh Atlantic breeze and restful tranquillity. Practically hypnotised, you gaze at the deep blue ocean and your plans for the rest of the day are already made: listening to the waves as you enjoy a well-earned drink!

You lace up your hiking boots, hop in the driver's seat and head off towards Lagoa do Canário! When you arrive, you get a taste of the Azorean lakes' magic: the scent of the mystical forest, choruses of frogs and idyllic tranquillity. Filled with inspiration, you continue on to one of the island's biggest highlights: the twin lakes of Sete Cidades. Here, you hike up the green slopes and along the towering edges of the crater, where you're rewarded with a fantastic sight. You grab your camera and do everything you can to capture the view of the lakes – one vivid blue and the other a gorgeous shade of turquoise. And now it's time to discover another side of the island: the rugged coastline. At the Miradouro da Ponta do Escalvado, you stand at the top of the cliffs as the surf roars beneath you and consider a refreshing dip. Just around the corner lies the former fishing village of Mosteiros, where small natural pools called Piscinas Naturais Caneiros have formed in the barren rock along its shore. The big question now: will you take the plunge?

Do you prefer coffee or tea in the morning? If it's the latter, then you should definitely make a stop at the Chá Gorreana tea factory today. It's home to the only tea plantation in Europe and undoubtedly worth a visit (optional, payable on site)! Once you've stocked up on your favourite varieties, get back on the road and head to the day's highlight, the Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park. Its winding paths that cut through the evergreen forest are sure to awaken the explorer in you and tempt you on a little adventure. Follow the trails past colourful flowers as you near your destination: splashing waterfalls that create an atmosphere of paradise as the sun reflects through droplets of water and fills the air with rainbow colours. Then continue on towards Nordeste, where each viewpoint outshines the next. Make a stop at the Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego or the Miradouro da Ponta da Madrugada and be enchanted by the lush green cliffs and the beautiful sea of flowers right on the Atlantic Ocean.
It's hard to tear yourself away, but the last stage of your day is calling: your accommodation in Nordeste, where you fall into bed, exhausted and happy.

The steam escaping your hot morning coffee foreshadows today's destination: the hot springs! So you grab your keys and jet off to Terra Nostra Park in the Vale das Furnas. Immersed in a world of colourful plants, you marvel at the clouds of vapour billowing from the calderas – the island's boiling springs – with the chance to kick back and float in warm thermal baths that reach up to 40 °C. The smell of sulphur, the creaking ground and the swirling mist almost make you think there's a dragon inside this volcano. And to make things even more interesting, you've also got the chance to see the second-largest lake on the island, because it's right here in Furnas.
The tranquil atmosphere at Lagoa das Furnas invites you to linger for a while, and the beautiful hiking trails lined with huge trees that lead around the lake offer the perfect end to your day before heading back for the night.
Have a seat in one of the many fish restaurants around and order a heaping plate of 'polvo guisado em vinho de cheiro' (octopus in wine sauce). Then enjoy it with a sunset view of the Atlantic – the perfect end to your day!