Places to Visit in Povoação – São Miguel Island

Povoação is a municipality and town on São Miguel Island, divided into six parishes. This village is rich not only in natural beauty but also in historical and cultural heritage.

In Povoação, visitors can enjoy therapeutic baths in thermal waters, explore various hiking trails through lush vegetation, swim at warm-water beaches, see spectacular cold-water waterfalls, or observe the abundant flora and fauna. There are numerous ideal spots for ecotourism and connecting with nature.

Here are the main points not to miss in Povoação during your stay on São Miguel Island:

Furnas Caldeiras

The Furnas Caldeiras are small rainwater lagoons formed in the craters of an extinct volcano. They are created when, after an eruption, the top of the volcano’s cone collapses. Over time, rainwater accumulates, and the volcanic activity below causes the water to bubble, reaching high temperatures.

Some of these caldeiras also emit vapors mixed with gases, known as fumaroles.

Furnas Lake

Furnas Lake is located inside the ancient crater of the Furnas Volcano. On one side of the lake, there are caldeiras with temperatures between 66 and 93 degrees Celsius, some with mud and others with clear water. Although there is no water eruption, they are in constant boiling motion.

The entire lake can be explored on foot, with bubbling fumaroles on one side and the Chapel of Our Lady of Victories, the Furnas Monitoring and Research Center, and the Furnas Lake Garden on the other. Walking along the lake, surrounded by flowers and greenery, is an unforgettable experience.

Caldeiras of Furnas Lake

As mentioned above, near Furnas Lake is the largest volcanic manifestation on São Miguel Island, with numerous caldeiras, fumaroles, and the smell of sulfur. It is also where the famous and traditional Furnas stew is prepared.

Around noon, restaurant staff go to the fumaroles to dig up their pots of traditional stew. This process begins early in the morning when the pots are buried in earth pits. Learn more about how Furnas stew is prepared here.

Furnas Lake Monitoring and Interpretation Center

The Furnas Lake Monitoring and Research Center (CMIF) is located on the southern shore of Furnas Lake and was inaugurated in 2011 to share efforts to restore the water and ecosystem of Furnas Lake.

The center features an interactive exhibit space and an auditorium for workshops and seminars. Its outdoor area includes a picnic area, restrooms, and lush green space with a privileged view of the lake.

Hours

November 1 to March 31:
Tuesday to Sunday | Holidays: 10 am to 5 pm
Closed: Monday

April 1 to October 31:
Daily from 10 am to 6 pm

Guided Tour Schedule:
By appointment
Tour duration: 30 minutes
Group size per tour: 4 – 25 people

Price

• Children (0 – 6 years): Free
• Junior (7 – 14 years): €1.50
• Adult (15 – 64 years): €3.00
• Senior (+65 years): €1.50
• Family (2 adults and children up to 14): €6.00
• Residents of the Azores*: Free

*With ID presentation. Children up to 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Chapel of Our Lady of Victories

Chapel of Our Lady of Victories is a beautiful example of neo-Gothic style located on the western shore of Furnas Lake. It was commissioned in the late 19th century by intellectual José do Canto, as a promise for his wife’s recovery from illness.

Both José do Canto and his wife are buried here. Learn more about the Chapel of Our Lady of Victories >

José do Canto Forest Garden

The José do Canto Forest Garden was planted in the early 19th century, originally covering around 600 hectares. After the founder’s death, the property was divided among heirs, but it still covers 120 hectares south of Furnas Lake.

The garden boasts an impressive collection of camellias along its paths, as well as many trees, some native and others from temperate and subtropical regions. A short trail through the oak trees offers a unique view of the lake.

Terra Nostra Park

Terra Nostra Park is an 18th-century botanical garden located in the Furnas Valley and adjacent to the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel. This park has one of the world’s largest collections of camellias (over 600 different species and cultivars) and the largest collection of Cycadales in Europe.

In this lovely space, visitors can find endemic Azorean flora and plants from other countries. The park features scenic paths lined with ponds and plants in various growth stages.

Colorful avenues with exotic flowers enchant visitors, and new projects are constantly underway to ensure the preservation of this unique and beautiful park.

It is also home to the famous large hot thermal water pool and smaller jacuzzi areas with equally warm thermal waters.

Poça da Dona Beija

Poça da Dona Beija is a unique leisure and relaxation space with hot thermal waters from an iron-rich spring. It is one of the most visited spots, formerly known as the Youth Pool.

The water reaches nearly 40 degrees Celsius, and the pools were built in the early 21st century. There are currently five pools of varying depths and average temperatures, named Ribeira, Serena, Mística, Convívio Thermae, and Meditação.

The name comes from a Brazilian soap opera in which the main character, “Dona Beija,” bathed in a waterfall.

Furnas Forest Park

The Furnas Forest Park is a large green space with many oaks, chestnuts, and a significant population of Japanese cedar. The park has an aquaculture station for raising rainbow trout, later released to repopulate other lakes and streams on the island.

Visitors can see various tanks with trout at different growth stages and spot deer, peacocks, and pheasants.

Wheat Museum

Due to its long tradition of wheat production, Povoação earned the nickname “Island Granary.” The Wheat Museum was created in 2004 through the restoration of an old water mill between Lomba do Alcaide and Lomba do Loução.

The building dates to the mid-19th century and has not operated for over thirty years. The museum preserves the memory of traditional crafts, where visitors can see the tools used in wheat harvesting and a permanent exhibition with panels depicting cereal cultivation on the island.

Hours

Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm
Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays from 11 am to 4 pm

Ribeira Quente

Ribeira Quente is a parish in Povoação located almost at sea level, divided into two residential clusters: Ribeira and Fogo, each with unique features for visitors.

The name comes from its stream with warm waters. Visitors will also find a beautiful thermal waterfall, the Ribeira Quente Waterfall.

Praia do Fogo – Ribeira Quente

Praia do Fogo is located on the southern coast of Ribeira Quente, about 7 kilometers from Furnas. The beach lies along a bay with several underwater thermal springs.

As a result, the water is warm (hence the name) and popular with visitors. The beach is surrounded by a stunning natural landscape, with green mountains in the background, making it a perfect spot for summer days.

See also: The Best Beaches on São Miguel Island >

Faial da Terra

Faial da Terra is one of Povoação’s parishes, with just over 300 inhabitants. The parish offers a rich variety of handicrafts, including lace, embroidery, wicker baskets, and wood artifacts.

Faial da Terra is filled with nature and places to visit, such as the Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Lourdes, Water Mills, Miradouro da Ermida, the Former Whale Fishing Port, Sanguinho Village, and the Salto do Prego Waterfall.

Sanguinho / Salto do Prego – Faial da Terra

Sanguinho is a small village in Faial da Terra, often called the lost village of Sanguinho. It is being repopulated after years of abandonment.

The village features traditional Azorean architecture, old buildings, a small farm, and a beautiful panoramic view of Faial da Terra.

Continuing through the forest, you’ll reach the Salto do Prego Waterfall, known for its cold, clear waters. The rustic hiking trail is well-marked, allowing visitors to complete it without a guide.

Água Retorta

Água Retorta is a small parish in Povoação with fewer than 500 residents, surrounded by green mountains and pastures with a beautiful sea view. Its name comes from a winding stream that flows through it.

The parish includes the Church of Nossa Senhora da Penha de França, built in the 19th century using the bell tower of a 17th-century chapel.

Visitors can enjoy a charming forest park, a scenic viewpoint with a panoramic view of the parish, nearby villages, and the sea, a public garden, and rich architectural heritage, including the parish church.

Povoação is surrounded by incredible and lush vegetation, with abundant wildlife, making it an ideal spot for those seeking tranquility in nature. Its points of interest offer something for everyone, given the variety of experiences available.

See also: Places to Visit on São Miguel Island >