Sao Miguel Island Tour Review: A 2-Day Jaunt with a Tasty Add-on
So, you are thinking of going to Sao Miguel, the famed “Green Island” of the Azores? Possibly you are even pondering a guided tour to squeeze as much beauty and adventure as humanly possible into a brief visit? Actually, I had the chance to sample the “Sao Miguel Island 2 Day Guided Island Tour with Meal Add on,” and honestly, I feel eager to give you the lowdown, the inside scoop, my take, what I really think so you can figure out if it is the correct choice for you. Maybe this review will actually help.
Is this 2-Day Tour the Right Fit?
Before getting ahead of yourself into the details, first I suggest pondering who this trip is suitable for. Right? Possibly you’re a solo traveler trying to make some new buddies, maybe you’re a pair searching for a whirlwind escape, or arguably a smaller family with kids that are bit older? Yet, this tour definitely crams quite a bit in a rather short duration, very ideal for individuals who get restless rather easily and are looking for a really comprehensive summary of Sao Miguel’s famous places. As a matter of fact, that’s kind of the brilliance of it all. So it’s pretty action-packed.
Day 1: West Side Stories
Day one gets going with a bang, or rather, with amazing views. Seriously, first up is Sete Cidades, that breathtaking spot with twin lakes which happen to be so blue and so green which apparently everyone raves about. What’s particularly memorable happens to be the Vista do Rei viewpoint, giving you that iconic postcard view. Yet it wasn’t just gazing from afar. That’s the thing.
Afterward, the tour makes a turn, directing us down into the caldera. First of all, imagine experiencing that grandeur. In a way, that’s kind of the best part of this trip, right? You aren’t only glancing at the views from up high, rather you get proper close and wander the cute little streets of Sete Cidades town, really experiencing the ambiance. I think the guide shared intriguing tidbits relating to the legend of the princess and the shepherd (kind of sad actually), providing the landscape a deeper meaning. After that we went off towards another part of the isle.
We proceeded to go to places like the pineapple plantation (Arruda Pineapple Plantation), that, I should note is not included in this tour, where, in fact, we got to learn about this local specialty. Seriously, if you’ve never ever watched a pineapple grow, just the patience it involves could surprise you! It’s practically a mini-lesson in agriculture. Next, a stop at Ponta da Ferraria; basically, it is a spot in the ocean warmed by a volcano. However, because the tide has to be on your side to savor it correctly and properly, and ours alas, wasn’t, we had to, instead, visit Mosteiros viewpoint. What can you do? Although Ponta da Ferraria seemed attractive, Mosteiros with its cool rock formations proved to be very good indeed. As a matter of fact, you win some; you lose some.
Oh yes, the food. The meal option comes up at lunch on both days so you don’t need to be bringing a picnic if that’s not yout thing. The food was very okay! Typically, the restaurant selections offer up dishes with native flavour and really were well-timed during the day’s events. Very useful to stop any hunger pangs before they even occur.
Day 2: Eastward Bound
The second day shifts concentration to the eastern parts of the isle, in a way proving how diverse Sao Miguel really seems to be. Actually, first thing was a visit to the tea plantations! Think that’s a bit tame? No, the island boasts the oldest, and actually only, tea plantation around Europe and so it really is quite a unique sight. If one is a tea enthusiast, or even not so much really, the trip from bush to cup really turns out to be rather informative. Also? Free tea tasting. Yes!
Next on the list is the delightful Furnas Valley. Imagine, the tour plunges right down into a volcanic crater, an area filled with bubbling caldrons and a pretty palpable sulphuric aroma. Oh boy. Here, something I certainly never predicted, we watched as they unearthed “cozido das Furnas,” basically it’s a stew prepared making use of the geothermal heat underground. Afterward we had this as part of our dinner; a true farm to table experience. I reckon so.
Terra Nostra Garden warrants its own paragraph since it really is pretty impressive. Seriously, it’s that green space with therapeutic warm springs and a fantastic collection of vegetation from all around our world. We got some downtime here to wander around. Yet I propose taking into consideration; the thermal water will stain light-colored swimwear. In case you don’t want that, wearing something dark could prove worthwhile! By the way.
Last, the day rounds up with some viewpoint visits (because is that truly an Azores tour if this does not occur) with panoramic sights of the shoreline and mountains before returning to Ponta Delgada. Now, after this part, is that you just call it a day?
Food, Glorious Food: The Meal Add-On
Therefore, let’s discuss the meal add-on option, what do you say? So, is it something you would recommend or can you leave it? Seriously, it genuinely comes down to what kind of vacationer you are. Do you prefer ease over frugality? Maybe the joy of local flavor beats trying to find a very good and affordable restaurant while also dealing with being pushed for time. Very arguably, that’s the real advantage to opting-in.
As I stated, meals normally spotlight regional flavors. Yet it is more regarding the practical element than a fine dining indulgence, right? You will discover that lunch will probably be a three-course meal that does offer up enough choices and satisfies your belly without actually blowing the mind. Now you decide! So do weigh the time you might rescue vs how much you could spend at, I reckon, independent eateries.
The Tour Guides: Are They Good?
Really, the effectiveness of a tour depends substantially on the one leading the show. That, as they say, is quite an important consideration. In our experience, the guides definitely are local, that are enthusiastic, and actually packed with know-how regarding Sao Miguel’s past, culture, and plant life. Really, this gives depths to what one experiences. Do be that annoying tourist who poses 50 million questions, right? They appeared ready to solve virtually any query, big or little, and handled every logistics very effortlessly.
What I really appreciated about them will be their love for their home isle. Obviously, it goes a very long way in building connections. What makes that kind of dedication so infectious really, eh?
What May be Improved on this Tour
Alright, no experience proves flawless, does it? Yet I must say I had zero complains. Seriously, I think the pacing tends to be rather quick for any person hoping to remain longer at particular places. So a lot more “free time” might certainly be appreciated by some. Another matter is the weather; Sao Miguel is rather infamous for the ever-shifting conditions and actually sometimes rain will ruin perfect photo opportunities. Even so, that part really lies outside of everyone’s hand though, surely.
This tour might benefit from much more tailored experiences to focus on the personal taste of certain tourists. But maybe this is not for everybody, who knows.
Key Takeaways From My Visit
- Extensive Coverage: In two days you basically experience all the best sights across Sao Miguel.
- Local Know-How: Tour guides happen to be truly knowledgeable, presenting understanding that exceeds every guidebook.
- Convenient Meal Option: Incorporating the meal add-on happens to be efficient, if perhaps not exactly for culinary enthusiasts.
- Pace: Get ready for a rather hectic tempo; appropriate if perhaps you appreciate observing several sites with minimum wasting of time.
- Weather-Reliant: Aspects of the experience may differ substantially influenced by current climate on that particular day.