Sete Cidades Tour – West Volcano Lagoons & Natural Pools, São Miguel Azores
Visit Sete Cidades Volcano and its many lakes: Green & Blue, Canário and Santiago. Short hike to Boca do Inferno viewpoint atop the volcano, Vista do Rei and the abandoned hotel. Enjoy a typical regional lunch, all included. On the afternoon, enjoy the unique natural pools of basaltic rock on Mosteiros. Sete Cidades full-day tour, Azores.
A vast amount of volcanos and lagoons
As a local, I’ve driven the road up to Sete Cidades hundreds of times and it still amazes me. The moment the caldera opens up, you see the largest lagoon in the Azores, also known as the green and blue or twin lakes, the village just there, the whole scene cupped inside a dormant volcano… nobody in the van says a word, just stares and gasps. That moment is why I built this Sete Cidades tour at São Miguel.
Our West Coast Tour goes where most tourists reach and never reach, stop at four viewpoints including Vista do Rei, where the abandoned hotel, Monte Palace Hotel, stands above the green and blue lagoons, Boca do Inferno atop the volcano’s rim among others. Descend into the caldera for a local Azorean lunch, where the locals go, and a walk around the blue lagoon after, to let all that food go down smoothly. Small group, no rush, your own rhythm.
We’ll finish the afternoon at Mosteiros, the westernmost village of São Miguel, a dramatic coastline, where black lava rock meets the Atlantic. Natural pools form right along the shore, optional swim if conditions allow. Full day tour, pickup from Ponta Delgada and Lagoa included, Departure at 09:00, be back by 16:30.
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Certificate n.º 63/2025 R.R.A.A.T.
What’s Our Guests Feedback?
“IVO WILL TAKE YOU TO PARADISE… No Kidding. If you ever question whether or not to take a full day, guided tour, or rent a car on your own & with a guidebook, tour this island paradise on your own…well, I’m here to tell you that you could have no better time than if you booked a tour & spent the day with IVO. Forget the fact that he knows the island like the back of his hand, or that he is an intelligent, courteous & respectful person…he knows EVERYTHING there is to know about his homeland & by the end of the day…you will too!” – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ David Hurwitz on Google Reviews
“The West Coast Tour with Wildscape Azores Tours was absolutely fantastic! Everything was perfectly organized, our guide was super friendly and knowledgeable, and the coastal landscapes were breathtaking. You can truly feel the passion and love for the Azores in every detail. Highly recommended – an unforgettable experience!” – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jens-Uwe Hälsig on Google Reviews
Duration
09:00 – 16:30
(9:00am – 4:30pm)
Exclusives included
-Local Azorean Lunch
-Short Hikes & Ocean Swim (conditions apply)
Main locations
Sete Cidades
Mosteiros
Prices
Adult = 70€
Children (up to 11y.o)= 55€
(+ transaction fees)
Your Itinerary At Sete Cidades, Azores
Disclaimer: WildScape Azores Tours (us) doesn’t assume responsibility or liability for any accidents, injuries or death that might occur during hiking and swimming activities, we only provide these opportunities assuming participants (you) are physically and mentally fit and capable of partaking in these activities and assume all responsibility for your actions during these activities. These are optional and you’ll only partake in them if you wish to by your free will.
Hiking activities are only suggested in the officially defined trails deemed safe by the Government of the Azores and swimming activities are only suggested in bathing areas with lifeguard supervision.
“Wildscape is the ONLY tour company on Sao Miguel we would ever use! Ivo is amazing! We have done the Mystic tour twice and each time it has lived up to and surpassed all of our expectations. In Furnas we plunged in the thermal baths of Poça da Dona Beija and of course, ate the Cozido das Furnas.This second time, Ivo went out of his way to work with us to make it a private tour which even included our toddler who he was wonderful to! Ivo is so knowledgeable and was up to answering our long list of questions! Ivo is so knowledgeable, but is also kind and funny, he felt like he was part of our family by the end of the day! We are definitely only using Ivo as a tour guide in Sao Miguel!” – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kirsten Botelho on Google Reviews
INCLUSIONS
EXCLUSIONS
PICKUP AND DROP-OFF AT PONTA DELGADA & LAGOA
Pickup at your accommodation or meeting point in Ponta Delgada or Lagoa between 09:00-09:15 (9:00am – 9:15pm). Drop-off will be at the same location between 16:30-16:45 (4:30pm – 4:45pm). Please be ready at 09:00am so we can avoid delays.
Accommodation pickups and drop-off’s at Ponta Delgada and Lagoa are included for this tour.
For pickups at accommodations in Ribeira Grande we’ll charge an extra fee of 10€ euros (for booking, NOT for person) at the end of the tour, paid in cash. This fee is due to the extra mileage and the added working time to assure we maintain the activities time on schedule. Thank you for your understanding.
If you wish to skip on this fee we can meet at the “Estátua do Emigrante” or “Portas da Cidade” in Ponta Delgada and/or “Continente” supermarket at Lagoa . We’ll define your chosen meeting point when we reach out to you to confirm booking details.
Frequently Asked Questions – Sete Cidades Tour, West Coast, São Miguel
If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d be happy to help.
Without question! Sete Cidades owns some of the most impressive landscape and views on São Miguel, one of the most photographed places in all of Azores. The twin lagoons inside a dormant volcano caldera are unlike anything else in Europe.
The question isn’t whether to visit or not, this is definitely on the must list, it’s whether to go on your own or with a local who knows where best views are, navigate the busy tourist roads, escape the mainstream route and reach the most popular eating places for locals.
A definitely must are comfortable shoes, those high heels will look good on you for the photos but you’ll probably miss some of the fun walking to more off-track places or be more prone to injuries. Uneven terrain is expected throughout our tours.
Light and breathable clothing for summer, waterproof and warmer for winter. Swimwear, towel, sunscreen and water shoes, if you’re planning to go for a swim in Mosteiros natural pools.
Main Attractions
Vista do Rei (the King’s View) is one of the most iconic viewpoints in São Miguel, Azores, where the entire Sete Cidades caldera opens up beneath you: twin lagoons, secondary volcanic craters, the small village and the ruins of the Monte Palace Hotel in the foreground, all surrounded by collapsed volcanic walls. It’s the angle everyone coming to the Azores aim for Yes, it’s an important stop on the West Coast Tour and your local guide will make sure to get you the perfect angle without the crowds and with them.
Yes, the West Coast Tour includes accommodation or meeting point pickups in Ponta Delgada and Lagoa, at no extra cost. Pickup starts at 09:00 (9:00am) and drop-off is around 16:30 (4:30pm). For guests staying in Ribeira Grande, pickup is available for a small additional fee. No rental car, no parking stress and no figuring out which roads are safe and open to drive.
The legend tells of a princess and a shepherd who fell in love, a forbidden love at that time, after a successful time of dating in secrecy eventually it was forbidden. The family of the girl wanted not her to relate with a lower-class boy and the family of the boy were terrified about the possible consequences. The bridge represents this division and being also the last place, they met to bid farewell, after their last kiss, they departed each other and with their tears they filled both the blue and green lagoons. Here they remain side by side ever since. This story is elaborated by your guide at sight, visualizing it makes a lot more special.
Difficulty Level
The wildlife around São Miguel is pretty friendly: you won’t find any snakes, venomous spiders, coyotes, foxes, wolfes, bears or any sort of predatory species. Usual the problem is at sea with the medusas or when getting too close to some birds’ nests.
Walking is light to moderate throughout. At short durations of 30 – 60 minutes, mostly on gravel and dirt paths. Only a section of Boca do Inferno stands at a moderate level due to its inclination, but this is optional, the tour it’s still enjoyable and rich without that section. The walk after lunch is flat and easy, the pace you define it. Mosteiros involves walking at the beach or through lava rock floors, can be uneven, so comfortable walking shoes are essential. No hiking shoes needed, flip-flops not a good idea. The tour is suitable for most fitness levels.
Most of Sete Cidades tours go on the same route: one or two viewpoints, a quick photo stop, be back on the bus in 10 minutes. This Sete Cidades tour takes detours from the mainstream route, ones that only locals know about and sometimes are not too fond to share, to avoid crowding our hidden gems. Descend into the caldera village for a proper relaxed Azorean meal, where locals go. Explore the insides of the crater with time. Continue west to Mosteiros, a coastline many day tours skip and prioritize Lagoa do Fogo, because it’s easier. We cover each side of the island a step at a time, without rush. Small group, guided by born and raised locals, flexible pace.
