About this tour
Sete Cidades sits inside a 3-mile-wide caldera on the west of São Miguel. Clouds often sit on the crater rim in the morning and lift within an hour, which is why a private tour makes such a difference here: we watch the webcams and arrive at the viewpoints when they are clear, rather than at a fixed bus-tour time.
Along the way you'll hear the legend of the blue-eyed princess and green-eyed shepherd, learn how the crater formed and see the abandoned Monte Palace Hotel from the outside.
Itinerary
- Hotel pickup in Ponta DelgadaDrive west through pastures and cryptomeria forest.
- Lagoa do Canário & Boca do InfernoA short forest walk to the most spectacular viewpoint over the crater lakes.
- Vista do ReiThe classic postcard view of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde.
- Sete Cidades villageWalk the bridge between the blue and green lakes and visit the little church of São Nicolau.
- Mosteiros & Ponta da Ferraria (full day)Sea stacks, black-sand beach, seafood lunch and a dip where hot springs meet the Atlantic.
What's included
- Private vehicle and licensed local guide
- Pickup and drop-off in Ponta Delgada (hotel, cruise terminal or airport)
- Bottled water and local snacks
- Not included: lunch, entrance to Ponta da Ferraria facilities
Good to know
Bring layers: it can be about 9°F cooler on the crater rim than in Ponta Delgada. Walking is light (just over a mile in total) and every viewpoint can also be reached by car. Swimwear is useful on the full-day tour.
FAQ
Why is one lake blue and the other green?
Both lakes are in the same volcanic crater and joined by a narrow bridge. The difference comes mainly from depth, the plants and algae in each lake and how they reflect the sky. Local legend says they were formed by the tears of a princess with blue eyes and a shepherd with green eyes.
How long is the Sete Cidades private tour?
The half-day tour lasts about 4 hours from Ponta Delgada. The full-day version (about 7 hours) adds Mosteiros, a long lunch and a swim at the Ponta da Ferraria ocean hot springs.
Want more? Combine this with our Furnas private tour for the perfect one-day overview of São Miguel.