PortugalNovember 2, 2026, by Demi Passier

São Miguel: the Azores Island – also known as the Hawaii of Portugal

Portugal, November 2, 2026, by Demi Passier

São Miguel: the Azores Island – also known as the Hawaii of Portugal

After a 4,5-hour flight from Amsterdam, you land on this enormous tropical island: São Miguel, the largest island of the Azores, with deep green craters, ocean cliffs, and clouds of steam in the sky from the thermal craters found all over the island. The Azores are nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and São Miguel is also known as, not without reason, Ilha Verde: the green island. You look left, you look right, and you see a sea of flowers all around you. Cows graze everywhere in vast green fields, beautiful birds fly by, and the car rides from A to B feel like you've landed on another planet. Is this real? We had to pinch ourselves. Yes, the Azores are also known as the Hawaii of Portugal. So you don't have to go that far! Put them on your bucketlist..

You sleep at Octant Furnas

Octant has two hotels on São Miguel, and that is exactly what you want. This way, you can explore both sides of the island without spending hours in the car every day. Our tip: start in Furnas (40 min. from the airport) and end in Ponta Delgada (5 min. from the airport). So, you will stay at Octant Furnas ligt Located in the middle of a bizarrely beautiful nature reserve between the botanical gardens. Where you will probably spend the most time here is the spa: you can swim in thermal baths both indoors and outdoors, heated by the island's natural springs. For the sporty types among us, there is also a gym, and you can book all kinds of spa treatments. The rooms overlook the gardens, and we spent a leisurely hour and a half at breakfast – everything here is delicious.

And we haven't even mentioned the restaurant for dinner yet: it is absolutely top-notch. Tip: sit at the bar so you can see everything coming out of the pizza oven and grill. Be sure to book the cozido workshop as well. Cozido is the traditional stew of the island, and you make it yourself here. With chef Alessandro (full good vibe(and stories of his travels around the world) you take the pan to Lake Furnas, where volcanic ovens sit in the ground. The earth does the rest, and in the evening you eat your own stew in it. A full circle.

What do you do regarding Furnas?

Actually, too much to mention. A great tip is Ponta do Sossego Viewpoint: with botanical gardens overlooking the east coast and the North Atlantic Ocean. The idyllic village is also nearby. Northeast, which is also called the most beautiful village on the island. Where we ourselves spent the most time is the more from FurnasThis lake is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. You can go kayaking here and take the most beautiful walks around the lake, through the woods. We also went to ourselves. Azores TreeTop Park, to feel 10 years old again for a moment and to zipline and climb through the trees. You won't find more beautiful nature around you than at this climbing park. Oh, and if you want to eat out: we also highly recommend Queijaria Furnense, a farm-to-table restaurant where you will eat one of the best steaks of your life. The cows roam freely in the nearby pasture, and you can really taste that in the meat. A cheese board and the passion fruit cheesecake are also highly recommended here.

Octant Ponta Delgada

For the second half, you drive to the other side of the island, closer to the airport: Octant Ponta Delgada, by the harbor. From here, you discover yet another completely different part of São Miguel. There is also a lovely spa here, with a sauna, steam baths, a swimming pool, and a tropical rain shower with oil in the spray. The rooms look directly out over the harbor, and the sun sets on this side, so the sky bar with a view over the boats is the place for a sunset drink.

In terms of food, the restaurant was perhaps the highlight of our stay. Definitely order the squid black rice and the T-bone steak. The service is top: the experience manager books all your activities, from horseback riding and the pineapple plantations to a boat trip to spot whales and dolphins. Do you want to eat outside the hotel? Go to Petiscaria O Calheta: super hip, no reservations, and very good wines and fish.

A few more fun facts: the oldest tea plantation in Europe is located here, and a huge number of pineapples grow here, which you will find everywhere: even on your plate. Every restaurant has its own twist on pineapple, whether it's a liqueur, dessert, or jam. Good to know: thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, the weather here is mild all year round, although it can feel like four seasons in one day. Fortunately, we Dutch are used to being well prepared: layering it is.

Hiking: Vista do Rei - Sete Cidades

And then last but not least: if you do one thing from Ponta Delgada, Then hike from Vista do Rei to the village of Sete Cidades. You start along the rim of the volcano's crater, then walk through meadows full of cows, through a small village, and return via the forest. Set aside a whole day for it, because the village is super cozy to walk through and you can also kayak on the lake. We went for lunch ourselves at Carioca Breezy, where you can eat delicious açaí and Brazilian pastries, perfect for after a hike. You place your order at the yellow submarine bar with a sunflower from the garden. The owner has taken 'making the most of your life' very seriously, and you can take a seat in all sorts of corners of the garden. After the hike, you sink into the spa to unwind.

Practical

In short: we spent five days in the Azores ourselves and are far from seeing everything. So a second visit is already on the list, and we are fans!

To fly: from Lisbon in 2,5 hours, from Schiphol directly with Transavia in approximately 4,5 hours (not daily)
To sleep: Octant Furnas en Octant Ponta Delgada
Tip: Combine both hotels, start in Furnas and end in Ponta Delgada, close to the airport.
How long: Count on at least five days, and believe us, you'll actually want to stay longer.

São Miguel: the Azores Island – also known as the Hawaii of Portugal