Sete Cidades
Sete Cidades Private Tour
Twin blue and green crater lakes, Vista do Rei and Boca do Inferno viewpoints, and the ocean hot springs of Ponta da Ferraria.
Azores · São Miguel Island
Private Tours in São Miguel, Azores
Explore the Green Island with a licensed local guide and nobody else in the car. Crater lakes, hot springs, tea plantations and waterfalls, on your schedule, with hotel pickup in Ponta Delgada.
- Quick replies on WhatsApp
- Private: your group only
- Licensed local guides
- Since 2022
- Hotel, airport & cruise pickup
Our private tours
Private tours across São Miguel Island
Every tour is private and fully flexible. Prices shown are for 2 people (half day / full day); larger groups are priced on request. Pick a classic route below, combine two into a full day, or ask us to design a custom tour around hiking, photography, food or whale watching.
Furnas
Furnas Private Tour
Boiling fumaroles, cozido stew cooked underground, Terra Nostra thermal pool, Furnas Lake and a tea plantation stop.
Lagoa do Fogo
Lagoa do Fogo Private Tour
The wild "Lake of Fire", a warm-water soak at Caldeira Velha, Ribeira Grande and Gorreana tea plantation.
Nordeste
Nordeste Private Tour
The island's quietest corner: hydrangea-lined roads, Ponta do Sossego and Ponta da Madrugada gardens and the Salto do Prego waterfall.
Cruise tours
Arriving in Ponta Delgada on a cruise ship?
Skip the crowded ship coach. Your private guide meets you at the Portas do Mar cruise terminal, takes you to Sete Cidades or Furnas, and has you back on board well before all-aboard. Half-day cruise tours are €200 for 2 people.
See private cruise tours
Why choose a private tour
Why a private tour is the best way to see the Azores
São Miguel's weather can change from one valley to the next. Large bus tours stick to a fixed timetable; a private guide moves with the clouds so you reach each crater lake when the view is clear.
Weather-smart routes
We check live webcams before and during the tour and reorder stops to catch the best views.
Just your group
Comfortable private vehicle for couples, families and larger groups. No strangers, no waiting, stop wherever you like.
Local Azorean guides
Stories, history and hidden viewpoints that only locals know, all in fluent English.
Real local food
Cozido das Furnas, fresh fish in Mosteiros, queijadas in Vila Franca. We book the right table for you.
Cruise-friendly timing
Pickup at the Ponta Delgada cruise terminal and a tour planned around your all-aboard time. See cruise tours.
For every traveler
Child seats, slower-paced options and viewpoints with no hiking for travelers with reduced mobility.
Plan your trip
How to see São Miguel Island: our local advice
1 day on São Miguel
Combine Sete Cidades in the morning with Furnas in the afternoon. It is a long but unforgettable day, ideal for cruise passengers and short stopovers.
2 days
Day 1: Sete Cidades and the west coast. Day 2: Furnas, with a stop at Lagoa do Fogo on the way if the sky is clear.
3–4 days
Add a Lagoa do Fogo & tea plantation half day and a full day on the Nordeste coast. Leave a morning free for whale watching from Ponta Delgada.
Best time to visit
May to October brings the warmest weather (mostly 68–79°F) and hydrangeas in bloom from June to August. Winter is mild (around 55–63°F), green and quiet, and the hot springs are at their best.
Getting here from the US
São Miguel is one of the easiest European escapes from the East Coast: Azores Airlines flies nonstop from Boston in about 4.5 hours, and seasonal nonstops also run from the New York area. You land in Ponta Delgada, usually 4 hours ahead of New York time, and we can meet you at the airport.
Tour photo
About us
Private tours in São Miguel since 2022
São Miguel Private Tours has been showing visitors the island since 2022. We're a licensed tour operator in the Azores regional register (RRAAT 2025/090), working with a trusted team of experienced local guides who know every viewpoint, back road and family-run restaurant on the island.
Each tour is matched with the right guide for the day and the kind of trip you want, whether that's photography, hiking, food or an easy-paced day with the family. The standard never changes: a private vehicle, just your group, and a route that adapts to the weather.
- Licensed tour operator (RRAAT 2025/090)
- Running private tours since 2022
- Experienced English-speaking local guides
- Every tour can be customized
Guest reviews
What our guests say
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FAQ
Private tours in São Miguel: frequently asked questions
What is the best private tour in São Miguel, Azores?
For a first visit, most travelers book two private days: a Sete Cidades tour for the twin blue and green crater lakes on the west of the island, and a Furnas tour for hot springs, fumaroles and cozido stew cooked in volcanic ground. With a private tour the guide adjusts the order to the weather, which on São Miguel changes quickly, so you see the viewpoints when they are clear.
How much does a private tour in São Miguel cost?
Private half-day tours of Sete Cidades or Furnas cost €200 for 2 people, and private full-day tours of Sete Cidades, Furnas or Nordeste cost €300 for 2 people, including hotel pickup in Ponta Delgada, a licensed local guide and transport. Prices for larger groups are on request. Every tour can be customized, and the price depends on each request.
Do you offer hotel or cruise ship pickup?
Yes. Pickup is included from any hotel or guesthouse in Ponta Delgada, from the cruise terminal (Portas do Mar) and from João Paulo II Airport. Pickup elsewhere on the island is available on request. Cruise passengers can book private shore excursions planned around their ship's all-aboard time.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Azores weather is very local: it can be cloudy at Sete Cidades and sunny in Furnas at the same moment. Because the tour is private, your guide checks live webcams and reshuffles the route to find the clearest viewpoints. If conditions are unsafe, we'll contact you to find the best solution.
Is a private tour better than a group tour in the Azores?
A private tour means only your party is in the vehicle, so you choose the pace, the stops and the lunch spot, and the guide can avoid crowded viewpoints. It suits families, couples, photographers, cruise passengers with limited time and travelers with reduced mobility.
How many days do I need to see São Miguel?
Three to four days lets you see the main highlights comfortably: Sete Cidades, Furnas, Lagoa do Fogo with Caldeira Velha and the tea plantations, and the wild Nordeste coast. With one day only, a combined full-day private tour of Sete Cidades and Furnas is the best option.
How do I get to São Miguel from the United States?
São Miguel is one of the easiest European destinations to reach from the US East Coast. Azores Airlines flies nonstop from Boston in about 4.5 hours, and seasonal nonstop flights also run from the New York area. All flights land at João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada, where we can pick you up. The Azores are usually 4 hours ahead of New York.
How do I book a private tour?
The fastest way is WhatsApp: message +351 913 961 694 with your dates, group size and hotel and you'll get a reply with availability and a personalized itinerary, usually within a few hours. WhatsApp is free to use from the US over Wi-Fi or data.
Book your private tour
Book on WhatsApp: the fastest way
Send your dates, group size and hotel (or cruise ship) on WhatsApp. You'll get a reply with availability, a personalized itinerary and the price, usually within a few hours.
Message us on WhatsApp
+351 913 961 694 · Free from the US over Wi-Fi or data. No international calling charges.
- Email: [email protected]
- Based in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores
- Licensed tour operator, RRAAT 2025/090