City gates of the principality of Ponta Delgada, the large arch (not really a gate since always…read more'open') acted as a nice landmark for our self walking tour of the city during our stop on our transatlantic cruise. It contains a small merry-go-round and had been decorated for the Christmas season. It acted as a meeting place for tourists and there was always people milling around as we passed by it multiple times.

Oh my God they ripped tours off. Be careful when you go in there. They will run your credit card…read morewithout telling you the bill you have to ask for the receipt two beers some bread olive and a little bit of cheese was €25. Staff is obnoxious.

Lagoa de Fogo remains one of my favorite places that we visited on Sao Miguel. The view from the…read moreoverlook was just simply stunning! There's a short hike that you can take to go down to the bottom of the lake. Even though it started raining halfway through our hike, the mist and the rain just added to the overall beauty of the place. Pro tip: you need to come here on a sunny day to see the view. There are webcams stationed throughout the island so be sure to check those as the weather can change quickly during the day.

Fogo (Lagoon of Fire, opa!) is a crater lake within the Água de Pau Massif stratovolcano on the…read moreeast side of the Azores island. It's so beautiful, but you should try to go on a clear day, because the excessive clouds may not allow you to see the whole thing! But if you do hit the clouds, fear not; they clear up eventually and hopefully, you have better visibility. There are waterfalls and hot springs nearby, where you can enjoy a dip, so plan the two activities together, either with your tour or solo in your car. Either way, Fogo is a breathtaking landscape that is not to be missed!

It was amazing to see the little volcanos everywhere. Amazing to see the water boiling at the top…read moreof them. We also had sweet corn that they boil in the water of the volcanos and it was delicious. It's a pretty big area to walk around with beautiful view all around. Be prepared to walk. The volcanic smell is pretty tough and it's all around but you get used to it. There's a fountain that you can drink the water and they say it's miraculous water. I tried both waters, they are a little rough to swallow with a weird flavor but definitely something to experience. The local reataraunts are also amazing. Def suggest experiencing this area if you are in Azores.

Another stunning setting on Sao Miguel that presents nature at its most compelling. Lake Furnas is…read moreso clean and round, as it is formed at the very center of the long extinct volcano. Come here to go on long walks, take beautiful photos atop the lookout point, and see the tranquil lagoon in its fullest. I couldn't take my eyes off of this view and its vivid colors - I promise it'll take your breath away. There are also hikes you can do all around, where you'll venture through fields and dirt roads and narrow ferny paths. Seems like the hike has a little of everything! If you're interested in geothermal cooking, there are restaurants nearby that offer it! How cool to be able to eat meals that were cooked in volcano holes. It takes eight hours to cook a pot, and if you time it correctly, you can go to this lake/geothermal area around noon to watch the restaurant staff pull their pots out of the buried holes in the ground. The whole area has boiling water and sulfur venting from the earth next to a beautiful lake, which makes for an iconic picture. You can then follow the food to the restaurant and be served this amazing dish. Put Furnas on your to-do list! Can't miss it when you're there!

These ruins are so cool. First things first, if you go after it rains, make sure you have…read morewaterproof shoes. It would be nice to have a headlight too, as some parts of the hotel are very dark. It's so cool to walk around this deserted hotel. You can go up all the floors, and most rooms have amazing art inside of them. You can also go to the roof and get amazing views!

Amazing place to visit. It's extremely rare to find geothermal ocean water. But, here at this…read moreplace, the volcanic activity heats the ocean. At low tide, it's quite hot. We visited 2 times - once a few hours after low tide and once at high tide. If you want it to be warm, aim for nearer to low tide or when high tide is fading out. The first visit was really awesome. Like sitting in an ocean hot tub. It was really hot and you could see steam rising from the water. Loved it! The second visit was more of a slightly warmer ocean. Not hot. But, kids loved the tide activity. If it was just us adults, I'd prefer only the warm times of day. So, be aware. Looked like they built a new parking area and the road was freshly paved. So, not hard to access. Also, they have decent changing areas and restrooms. If you take a taxi (as we did), make sure you set up your return time since it's kind of remote. Ps: At night, the sunset is stunning as well. Overall: Do not miss this place if you visit. Awesome.

This place is so cool! At the bottom of a very windy hill you'll find a parking lot. This place is…read morenot very accessible, so be careful if you can't walk on uneven ground and hilly areas. There is a structure which turns into a spa during the the summer months. We went exploring and saw a bunch of brave souls getting into the water, but it looked super choppy so be careful!

The service was wonderful. I had a fantastic tour guide Christina. We got free samples of liquor…read moreand pineapple jam.

A near-surreal highlight of our trip to the Azores, Ilhéu de Vila Franco is a volcanic crater…read moreturned beach islet in the middle of the Atlantic, reachable only by sanctioned ferry. Driving along the southern coast of São Miguel, it appears as a curious formation jutting just above sea level, enveloping some secret hideaway. Aerial views - via drones or quick Google image searches - show a perfect natural circle of a pool outlined by green plantlife and rocky beach. It feels almost too imaginative to be real, as if it were from a Pixar landscape or a Game of Thrones backdrop. In other words, I had to go. The round-trip ferry ticket is only eight euro, but the excursion really costs your time and effort. During the height of summer, expect a lengthy queue to build well in advance of the first ferry at 10a.* We arrived just before 8a and were poised to be on that initial trip out (the boat holds 40), until we saw another line forming near the docks. I quickly figured out that those soon-to-be passengers were able to purchase tickets online, something I had attempted to do before my visit, only to find out that you needed a Portuguese bank account to book, a clever way for the Azores to prioritize their citizens get first dibs to the ilhéu. Thankfully, when there's the demand (and on our mid-August adventure, there most certainly was), they ditch the hourly ferry schedule, and shuttle everyone back and forth accordingly. Even with waiting on line for the tickets, and then waiting on a second line for the ferry, we managed to make it out there by 1030a. After you take the short ten-minute boat ride, you're dropped into a miniature paradise, where visitors can choose to strip down and sunbathe, or explore the circumference of the small islet, a trail that spans skinny, slippery rock splash zones and hikeable viewpoints alike. And then, of course, you can swim in - no exaggeration - the brim of a salt-water filled volcano. We imagined we'd spend thirty minutes or so there just to check it out. We stayed for probably four hours. I like to think of myself as pretty well-traveled, and I can confidently say I've never been anyplace like Ilhéu de Vila Franco. The process could be smoother, the wait time could be shorter, but then perhaps the payoff wouldn't be as sweet. Though, with a place this unique and otherworldly and fantastic, somehow, I doubt it. It must be seen to be believed. *In the meantime, there are nearby breakfast spots and bathrooms along the port to help weather the wait. Just make sure your travel buddy holds your place in line.

I would say this is one of the most beautiful spots on the entire island. I've been to São Miguel…read morealmost every summer for 15 years as my family is from here. Every summer I make it my mission to visit Ilheu/islet de Vila Franca at least once every time! The islet is surreal- a perfect circular crater, perfect for swimming, snorkeling and sun bathing. There's a variety of ocean life to see in the water, and much to explore on land. There are lifeguards and bathrooms on the islet as well. As expected, there are no stores or cafes on the islet so be sure to bring your own cooler with water and snacks! To get to the island there is a small boat that makes trips all day to and from the island for less than €10 round trip. The ticket booth is located at the Marina De Vila do Campo, follow signs for islet/ilhéu tickets. Be sure to get to the ticket booth early in the morning if you plan to spend all day on the island, as extremely long lines form usually around 9am on days with nice weather! A must see if visiting São Miguel!