No one is able to remain indifferent to the natural spectacle that the region of Furnas on the island of São Miguel offers: boiling calderas, boiling water geysers, thermal springs, and endless reasons for visiting one of the many treasures of this island! And what is it like to live next to these fumaroles? For its inhabitants, it is one of the most natural things in the world, having advantages that outweigh all possible dangers.
The route starts right at the Furnas Monitoring and Investigation Centre, a space where you will be able to understand the history and evolution of the Furnas Volcano, and which raises awareness for the importance of safeguarding geodiversity, biodiversity and, of course, local culture.
We continue the route to explore the Caldeira do Vulcão das Furnas, a large volcanic edifice formed by numerous eruptions over the last 800,000 years. This caldera encompasses significant geodiversity, notably Lagoa das Furnas, a site rich in fauna and flora, as well as several small volcanoes, fumarolic fields, and a wide variety of water springs. This is the most internationally significant terrestrial geosite in the Azores, renowned for its considerable scientific, educational, and touristic value.
We continue to the campo fumarólico das Furnas, an area notable for its concentration of thermal springs and various geothermal manifestations.
This is the ideal place to understand the remarkable way in which our ancestors harnessed volcanic phenomena to their advantage. Here, visitors can experience various long-standing geocultural traditions deeply rooted in the local population, now shared with visitors and tourists. This includes the Cozido das Furnas (cooked in the heat of the volcanic soil), thermal baths in natural pools or swimming areas, the use of volcanic mud in various treatments, and the use of waters with different mineral and medicinal properties, including the well-known “acidic waters.” Don’t forget to reserve your Cozido das Furnas at one of the local restaurants.
After lunch, we suggest one of two options:
• Visit the Observatório Microbiano dos Açores, located in the former Thermal Baths building, and discover the microbial life forms of planet Earth, with a special focus on the microbial biodiversity found in the thermal springs and volcanic cavities of the Azores. Accompanied by an OMIC specialist, learn more about geophenomena and local culture on a scientific and cultural route that will leave you amazed by the richness of Furnas. You will also have the opportunity to taste some local products, prepared right in the heart of Furnas. End the day at Terra Nostra Park, built between the 18th and 19th centuries, take a dip in its geothermal pool at around 40ºC, and visit its magnificent botanical garden, filled with exotic species from all over the world. Let yourself fall in love.
• Discover the Parque Grená,
built in the 1950s by a former British consul who fell in love with the island. Explore the various walking trails the park offers and be amazed by the spectacle of nature, with its surprising lush green corners.
End the day at the famous Poça da Dona Beija, renowned not only as a place for leisure and relaxation but also for the therapeutic properties of its thermal waters and volcanic stone treatments. An unforgettable way to end the day.
