Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo - Combi jeep tour

Spring is in the air in the Azores!

As the seasons change we see the landscapes of the Azorean islands transform. Spring is the time that the islands are the most beautiful, as it is now that the flowers bloom and cover the fields and mountain slopes in a rainbow of colours. Right now the pink azaleas are blooming and we can see many of them scattered especially around the lakes of Sete Cidades. During the past two days we were able to enjoy this beautiful sight in Sete Cidades combined with the impressive mountainous landscapes of Lagoa do Fogo on our combi jeep tour. 

Futurismo's full day combi tour is the best way to see the regions of both Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo in one day. It is the perfect choice for people who do not have time to see both regions on separate days. Today we were very lucky with the weather throughout the whole day. The sun followed us and the clouds seemed to part in just the right places for us to enjoy all of the magnificent viewpoints in both regions. We started in the volcanic complex of Sete Cidades where we had several stops to enjoy the different views of the crater as well as the lakeside at the bottom. The lunch that is included in the trip was traditional Azorean food in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we explored the region of Lagoa do Fogo, with stops at the viewpoints over Fogo lake and the nature reserve of Caldeira Velha. We had a perfect end of the day with a visit to the liquor factory in Ribeira Grande where all the traditional liquors are made and can be tasted and bought.

A perfect start to the morning with a rainbow just after leaving Ponta Delgada

Pico do Carvão viewpoint

Aquaduct remains - used to transport water from the lakes to Ponta Delgada during the 17th-18th Centuries

Vista do Rei viewpoint

The most famous viewpoint for photography

Vista do Rei means King's viewpoint. Named so because after the King of Portugal visited in 1901

Pink azaleas - one of the many beautiful flowers that grows all over the island

The west of São Miguel island

White azaleas

Driving around the blue lake of Sete Cidades

Two of Futurismo's nature guides - Irene and Nuno

View from halfway up Lagoa do Fogo mountain down to Ponta Delgada

View of Lagoa do Fogo from the road

Lagoa do Fogo - Fogo lake

On top of the world

Caldeira Velha natural reserve

Naturally heated bathing pool in Caldeira Velha. Here you can enjoy a soak in water of about 37-38ºC

Lagoa do Fogo half-day Jeep tour

This afternoon we visited Lagoa do Fogo (Lake of Fire) on a half-day Jeep tour. The lake is situated in the crater of the Agua de Pau volcano. The view of the lake was absolutely spectacular, and we picked a nice day to view it. The volcano beneath the lake and the area around it is still dormant, and the Caldeira Velha hot springs nearby prove this. We visited the hot springs after we soaked in enough of the view of Lagoa do Fogo. Some of the clients took a dip in the warm 35°C fresh water pools, which are heated by the magma underneath (but close to the surface of) the Earths crust. One of the pools was extremely hot, boiling temperatures at above 100°C - there was no swimming to be had in this one! As well as the warm pools, Caldeira Velha is a really scenic place to visit with an almost Jurassic feel to it. A much recommended place to spend an afternoon.

After resting and relaxing in the hot springs, we journeyed on to Ribeira Grande to where local liquors are made. We walked round the factory seeing the huge wooden casks in which the liquor was kept to mature. Afterwards we were allowed to try samples of the liquor and was also able to buy some to take home!

Laden with goods, we headed home. Such a nice way to spend the afternoon, São Miguel really does have some beautiful scenery.

Stunning views of Lagoa do Fogo

The waterfall at Caldeira Velha

Bathing in the hot springs

You can see the steam rising from the hot springs

Plenty of frogs thrive in the warm water. You can constantly hear them croaking to one another

Our activities of the last days

23/5/2013

Walking tour to "Sete Cidades" 

Walking around the lakes of "Sete Cidades" (in the back The Blue Lake - Lagoa Azul) with our german clients

"Frogwatching"

Taking a bath in the warm water of the natural swimming pool in "Ferraria", the place of the last eruption on the island

24/5/2013

Jeep tour to "Lagoa do Fogo" - The Fire Lake



Our view to the Fire Lake

The beautiful flower of passion fruit seen in the front of the liquer factory "Mulher da capote" in Ribeira Grande, the second biggest city on the island

 28/5/2013

Full-day jeep tour to "Furnas"

Explanation about the green tea in the "Gorreana" tea factory by one of our guides - André

The workers of the "Gorreana" tea factory

Explanation about Furnas Lake and  Furnas Valley by one of our guides from the viewpoint of the "Pico do Ferro"- The Iron Peak

Removing the speciality food of  the "Furnas" - "cozido" from the ground

Walking tour to Lagoa do Fogo with Futurismo

Today we accomplished a full-day walking tour to „Lagoa do Fogo“ (The Fire Lake) which got this name after the last very explosive eruption that had occured in 1564 and was visible even from the Island of Terceira in the central group of the Azores archipelago. The difficulty-rating of this walking trail is "medium "because of its steep slope at the beginning, which is followed by enjoyable walking through the forest passing by "levada" (the water channel which brings water  from the mountain to the lower places of the island). From the beginning we had pleasant weather and in the end we had nice views to the "Lagoa do Fogo" lake which was not hidden in the fog this time. Today's walking tour rounded up with a visit to the natural monument of  "Caldeira Velha" which is the place with natural boiling water and also, with the bathing place where our clients can have a warm bath if they wish.

"Levada"

Blossoming hydrangea

Caldeira Velha

Half day on the sea and half day Lagoa do Fogo

After a wonderful whale watching in the morning with fin whales and dolphins (read more about the morning whale watching HERE) we set of to Lagoa to eat a wonderful lunch before visiting Lagoa do Fogo, Caldeira Velha and the liquor factory in Ribeira Grande. Full day of wonderful experiences.


Photos from a jeep safari to Lagoa do Fogo in the afternoon:

Lagoa do Fogo walking tour

Yesterday we had a walking tour to Lagoa do Fogo, one of São Miguels volcanos with a wonderful lake in the crater. On this particular tour we eat lunch down by the lake and then we walk back, overlooking the lake and vegetation. After the walking, of 6 km up and 6 km down, we travel around by van or jeep and stop at a few viewpoints both over the lake at Lagoa do Fogo, the Atlantic ocean and Vila Franca do Campo with the Islet. Our grand final was a pause at Caldeira Velha where we had a nice swim in the waterfall before returning to Ponta Delgada. Photos from the trip:

Stopping at one view point before the walk

Watch this video and listen to the bird song 

On the way we stopped and looked at several plant species, 

some endemic to Azores, others coming from far like this Eucalyptus from Australia

On our way to Lagoa do Fogo lake (from South)

View over Lagoa do Fogo

One of our clients picking up rubbish by the lake. Good job!

Lunch by the lake

Leaving the lake

View point on the way back

A short break and resting the legs on the way back

Vila Franca Islet

We took the cars to this view point on the other side of the lake (North side)

A nice warm swim at Caldeira Velha

Natural boiling water at Caldeira Velha