2. Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park — Waterfalls, Mills, and Mossy Stillness
On the eastern side of the island, where tourism thins into sleepy villages and terraced hillsides, Ribeira dos Caldeirões waits quietly. Even from the parking area, you can hear the river working its way through the valley—long before you see it.
Old stone watermills stand along the riverbanks, relics from a time when the island pulsed with rural industry. Some have been restored, their wooden gears and millstones now decorative, but they still exude the feeling of a working past.
The main waterfall pours down a wall of green, framed by ferns and dripping moss. November’s rains strengthen its flow, turning it into a white ribbon cutting through the dark rock. Smaller cascades trickle down nearby slopes, creating an orchestra of water layered across the park.
Wandering the paths feels like stepping into an Azorean Eden—lush, quiet, and humbly beautiful.

3. Miradouro do Salto do Cavalo — A Vast, Untouched Panorama
When the more famous viewpoints are wrapped in fog or crowded with late-season visitors, Salto do Cavalo remains serenely empty. Perched high above the town of Povoação, it offers one of the most expansive views on the island, yet somehow it’s rarely discussed.
The road up climbs through twisting switchbacks, passing dairy farms, stone walls, and highland pastures. As you ascend, the air grows cooler, carrying the earthy scent of wet grass and eucalyptus.
From the viewpoint, the landscape opens in a sweeping panorama: rolling green mountains folding into one another, deep valleys shaped by centuries of volcanic force, and the ocean stretching far beyond. On clear November afternoons, light filters through shifting clouds, illuminating different sections of the valley in slow-moving beams.
It’s the sort of place where you exhale without realizing you were holding your breath.

4. Poço Azul via the Sanguinho Trail — A Walk Through a Forgotten Village
The trail to Poço Azul begins in Faial da Terra, a quiet village where roosters crow and laundry flutters on balconies. The path leads upward past old stone steps and into the ghost village of Sanguinho.
Sanguinho is small—just a cluster of traditional houses built from dark volcanic rock. Many were abandoned decades ago when life in the valley grew too difficult, but some have recently been restored. Walking among them feels like moving through a chapter of Azorean history, one of hardship, migration, and resilience.
Beyond the village, the trail plunges into dense forest, where tree trunks twist like sculptures and the air is cool and damp. The sound of distant water grows louder until Poço Azul appears—a clear, blue pool nestled among moss-covered stones.
In November, the forest is especially lush, and mist clings to the branches. Almost no one else is here. It feels like a discovery, even though the trail has existed for generations.

5. Farol do Arnel & the Cliffside Road — A Descent to the Edge of the Atlantic
Far on São Miguel’s northeastern tip stands the island’s oldest lighthouse, Farol do Arnel. Most visitors snap a photo from above and move on. Few choose to walk the steep, narrow road that descends to the lighthouse—and fewer still visit in late autumn.
But the walk is worth every step.
The road clings to the cliffs in dramatic fashion, plunging toward the ocean in tight curves. Along the way, small fishermen’s cottages dot the hillside, painted white against the dark basalt rocks. The air is thick with the scent of sea spray and wild fennel.
At the bottom, the lighthouse stands quiet and dignified, surrounded by the roar of Atlantic waves. November brings stronger swells, sending water crashing against the volcanic shoreline in explosions of white foam.
Down here, with the cliffs towering overhead and the sea stretching endlessly outward, you feel the raw power of the island more intensely than almost anywhere else.

Wandering through São Miguel’s lesser-known wonders is one of the island’s greatest pleasures—but reaching these remote spots isn’t always simple. Narrow roads twist through foggy highlands, hidden trails begin where bus routes end, and the most rewarding views often lie far from the main tourist paths.
That’s where Ponta Delgada Transfers becomes an invaluable part of the journey. Whether you’re heading to a secluded waterfall, a quiet crater lake, or a cliff-top lighthouse, their reliable, local drivers ensure you arrive comfortably and stress-free. No guesswork, no navigating unfamiliar roads—just smooth, safe travel from one unforgettable location to the next.
With flexible schedules, door-to-door service, and the reassuring knowledge that someone experienced knows the island better than any map, Ponta Delgada Transfers lets you focus entirely on the beauty around you. So as you set out to discover São Miguel’s hidden gems, you can do it the easy way—with calm journeys, friendly guidance, and transportation that’s always ready when you need it.

You definitely cannot miss one of the island’s most beautiful attractions represented by the incredible Lagoa de Sete Cidades, which is situated in the Western part of the island. Considered one of the great natural wonders of the Azores archipelago, the mesmerizing 7 cities lake is the largest freshwater lake in the Azores and in fact consists of two lagoons: Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul, whose formation and beauty could be explained by a famous legend, which states they are the tears of star-crossed lovers, a green-eyed princess and a blue-eyed shepherd.

Hidden in the centre of Sao Miguel’s island, Lagoa de Fogo or “Lake of Fire” is one of the most picturesque lakes of Sao Miguel which rests in the central caldera of the Água de Pau Massif, the youngest volcano on the island. The Lake of Fire represents a protected nature reservation and the crater’s walls are covered with a multitude of endemic plant species. You can easily spend an entire day here, admiring the beauties of this marvellous place and indulging yourself with an invigorating mineral bath while exploring Caldeira Grande.

Another popular destination which is definitely worth visiting is Furnas Valley, which represents the center of Sao Miguel’s unique geothermal activity. The entire Furnas valley is a giant volcanic crater which last erupted in 1630. The volcano is now dormant, but it can be admired through its thermal pools, steam holes and hot springs.
After you have admired the steaming geysers, you can dip into one of the hot springs or try the local specialty dish Cozida das Furnas in one of the Furnas restaurants.

The mesmerizing Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões is simply glourious by its setting in the Nordeste region, the varying vegetation, its waterfalls and watermills (some are still functional while some now house the craft shop and the tourist office), its fountains, walking trails and the most amazing views.

The Islet of Vila Franca do Campo, situated just off the south shore of Sao Miguel is just a heavenly place, surrounded by a magical landscape accompanied by dramatic cliffs and the ocean’s sapphire water. In addition to its overflowing beauty, this unique place also houses a variety of bird species, rich marine life, towering cliffs and thick endemic vegetation.

You can always count on Ponta Delgada Transfers for the best sightseeing tours and transfer services with excellent conditions.
Discover these enchanting places and meet nature in its purest state in Sao Miguel with your family and friends, living the most beautiful moments at their fullest and enjoying an unforgettable holiday!