Thinking of summer half term in Sao Miguel, Azores…good choice?

[Irishwelshetal]

I thought it looked stunning and had some lovely outdoors to explore.

if you’ve been, did you like it and what would you recommend - is it worth going to more than one island? Thinking of 5-6 days

We stayed there in 1994. The island is stunning. We hired a car and drove all over, but didn't visit any other islands as we found a lot to see and do on Sao Miguel. The weather will be mild, averaging between 16 and 19 degrees (I assume you mean the May spring bank holiday half term?), and a lot cooler away from the coast. You would need to take warm clothes and coats for exploring inland and higher up. We were there in the August and it was warm, not hot by the coast, but definitely jumper weather inland.

One of the most beautiful places we visited was Sete Cidades - see photo, and must not be missed.

Loved it, we were based in Furnas which was excellent at Octant Furnas. Pools with hot springs though kids had restrictions on entry times below certain age, 24/7 for adults. Worth hiring a car and exploring. Very scenic. Amazing food. Some of the other islands look amazing too.

We travelled around São Miguel last summer - it's was absolutely wonderful! We stayed there for 12 days, and we did not really have time to visit other islands (but we really wanted to!).

I would probably not go in the summer, though, because it can get a bit crowded, and it's quite humid, too.

Oh thank you - yes love the look of Fumas. Do you think it’s worth dividing up where you stay - to stay in other parts of the island? If so, where?

Fab! What did you do during your time and what did you enjoy the most? We have a 13 year old boy with us - did you stay in one place?

The flights aren’t cheap! Well, they are cheaper if you don’t mind spending hours on connecting flights. Going direct is infrequent and ££

We had flights with Ryanair from Stansted but they are Mondays only so we flew back via Porto with Ryanair staying overnight. I loved Furnas (Octant Furnas hotel) and would have happily stayed there whole time but price there varies - when we went was around £150 a night for 2 (included champagne, private pool, 3 swimming pools, spa general area, breakfast which was superb) - the private pool was a free upgrade and that is adults only area but rest takes children. I think certain ages of children are restricted hours in pool, maybe under 12s so worth checking. If you have a hire car the island isn't that big - roughly an hour each way so one base is fine and Furnas is a good one. I would go there again.

I would love to visit the other islands too though - think hotels in those are sometimes more basic and a bit trickier to get to. There are dolphin boat trips but not sure what time of year starts.

Yeah, I will prob get an air bnb rather than a hotel - for budget reasons. Where did you go that you liked? Excursions, places of interest etc?

We just hired a car and generally drove round. The whole island is like a giant botanical garden. It was in March so weather was meh - that's Furnas and hotel, hotel pool with hot springs in background (think you can also go to hotel pools which are 37C for the day), waterfall, and typical house / coast. We were just there two nights with a third in Porto but saw most of the island quickly then.

pics look great! Do you think a week is too long?

No. There is a lot to see. We hired a car and drove all over. I'm not sure if the hydrangeas are in flower in May, but when we went in August they were. All the hedges on the island are hydrangeas and look so pretty. Seeing the fumaroles billowing from the hillsides is not a sight we are used to seeing and is an interesting sight.

The weather can be very different inland from the coast, which is why you need to take layers and waterproof coats. It can be bright and sunny in Ponta Delgada and cloudy in Furnas. We drove to see Lago do Forgo, but the cloud was so low we saw nothing.

Ponta Delagada itself has attractive buildings and some fantatsic patisserie shops.

When we went it was a two centre holiday, so we had a week in Lisbon, which we loved, and a week in Ponta Delgada.

This thread is amking me want to go back.

I think a week is fine - we were just short on DHs annual leave. The weather in March was quite mixed so half the time we were in hotel's swimming pools which were 37C from hot springs and half out in car exploring.

When we went in March there were beautiful pink flowers all over the island. You can see them in the waterfall and hotel photos, they are everywhere in March, like a giant whole island botanical gardens.

This is one 7 day itinerary:

https://www.kimkim.com/c/best-of-the-azores-2017-7-day-itinerary

That’s a great itinerary!

I was thinking about splitting where we stay - - few days in Furnas, rest near Porto D

thoughts?

That's a good idea, then you can explore each half of the island without having to spend all day in the car.

Yes - exactly - I know it’s a small island but there doesn’t seem any point in schlepping back and forth to the same place all week

You could do, only issue will be on day change over its often check out at 10am then can get from 3pm (check times) and if you can't get direct flights you might get overnight stops in Porto or Lisbon one of the ways. Think its about 40 minutes drive from Ponta Delgada to Furnas but its personal preference really. I think either would be fine, just plan round it. We spent a night in Porto as were nervous to rely on Ryanair but all flights were on time. Though Porto was lovely for a night too.

I would love to visit some of the other islands but looks complicated to get there and more like would be a longer summer trip. Seems to only be flights to Ponta Delgada from UK and the ferry doesn't go from that island. Having said that they all look very scenic.

I love the Azores. I spent a week there and was based in Furnas - easy enough to get around with a car and I’m not sure I’d split the time between two bases. As well as all the recommendations from PPs, I’d recommend whale watching - we had an amazing whale watching trip and had humpbacks with babies literally within touching distance from the small boat we were on.

Oh! Edited to add we enjoyed the tea plantation - interesting to wander around and it’s quite cute because they have goats all over the place - the goats eat everything but the tea so keep the weeds under control. https://gorreana.pt/en/

We also went to a pineapple farm just in passing (while we were driving around the island) which was good to - maybe not worth going all the way to but if you’re going past it.

Its mild and can be quite rainy weather in the Azores so just be aware of that - it didn’t bother us but it’s definitely not guaranteed hot and sunny.

This is interesting, never considered Sao Miguel but looks beautiful.

Would it be interesting/fun for a 13 year old boy? can't tell by the activities/excursions?

I would say it would depend on the 13 year old boy. In summer there are more activities - mid June to mid September is the main season but if interested in certain activities check dates. Activities are things like whale and dolphin watching, swimming with dolphins, canoeing, biking, mountain climbing, canyoning, waterfalls, hot springs, botanical gardens. Our son who is asd would love it but someone who wants to spend their time with lots of other kids, on phone, on beach etc maybe not. We went end of March and pretty empty. There was a motor rally race there and pilgrims going round the island all dressed in costume with walking sticks then. Scenery was amazing and we were in a hot spring pool hotel but it did seem to be adults or adults plus babies at that time there.

You can also island hop but its quite tricky from UK and easiest in summer. Direct flights from UK are just to Ponta Delgada and the ferry to other islands as far as I know does not go there, goes to central island group and group furthest from Portugal. There are also flights between islands. 9 islands in all. The ferry looks cheap but the flights would start to add up quickly esp if a group of you.

I think going in either Easter or half term summer prohibits a lot of swimming activities...which is a shame for a teen. I'd love to swim with dolphins but the weather might still be very choppy then.

So hard to know how to please a teen!

We went summer 2022 and really enjoyed it. But even in July the weather was a bit damp and cloudy a lot of the time (apparently that was worse than average, but I think typically dry sunny weather there only lasts two months). We did a week on San Miguel with our 18 and 20 year old, then a second week (we had to fly) on Terceira just us. We probably preferred Terceira - we thought the main town was nicer - but there are probably more activities on San Miguel.

Accommodation and food are really good value. If I could find inexpensive, convenient flights (for Terceira in particular) I'd definitely had back for a inexpensive, active but relaxing, beautiful, not too hot, summer week again.

We did lots of things with the (grown-up) kids: Canyoning, whale/dolphin watching, obviously the hot springs at Furnas, walking near Sete Cidades, beaches - including this amazing place where the hot water goes into the ocean so you get a kind of outdoor hot tub, a volcanic larvae tube underground, furnas volcanoe museum, kayaking, some great walks: we particularly enjoyed an unusual walk at Rota da Agua with some quite scary tunnels!

I think it is a great place with a 13 year old boy if he is likes outdoors stuff.

It says on here May to October for swimming with dolphins so May half term might be possible but not Easter. Though would always book for start of week incase need to reschedule. Maybe check reviews though or Tripadviser forum for local views.

https://www.azoreswhalewatch.com/swim-with-dolphins-tours/

I think the weather when we want to go is probably an issue