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Azores guide and tour: Caldeiros at Furnas, east of Sao Miguel
 Caldeiros at Furnas, east of Sao Miguel, Azores Caldeiros are the bubbling hot volcanic springs for which the Furnas area is famous. These are amazing and well worth a visit. Steam gushes out of them and everywhere the ground is bubbling. In the middle of the village are many parks, the most famous of which is Parque Terra Nostra (Terra Nostra Botanical Gardens), where you can swim in the hot lake, geothermically heated by the earth's core, just beneath the surface of the ground. There is a hotel in the grounds here, the Hotel Terra Nostra and in other restaurants in the village you can eat stew cooked geothermically in the hot ground. OK, that's the information bit: what I haven't told you yet, is that Furnas is LOVELY! I visited it 3 times in 2 weeks. MORE... |
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Caldeiros at Furnas, east of Sao Miguel, Azores Caldeiros are the bubbling hot volcanic springs for which the Furnas area is famous. These are amazing and well worth a visit. Steam gushes out of them and everywhere the ground is bubbling. In the middle of the village are many parks, the most famous of which is Parque Terra Nostra (Terra Nostra Botanical Gardens), where you can swim in the hot lake, geothermically heated by the earth's core, just beneath the surface of the ground. There is a hotel in the grounds here, the Hotel Terra Nostra and in other restaurants in the village you can eat stew cooked geothermically in the hot ground. OK, that's the information bit: what I haven't told you yet, is that Furnas is LOVELY! I visited it 3 times in 2 weeks. First time I found it a nightmare to find my way around and nothing much to look at (admittedly from the car). Second time, I found it a night mare to drive around, but could admit that it might be worth a closer look. Third time (armed with a map supplied by some kind Italian friends) it was still a nightmare to drive around. So I parked (nightmare number 4) and walked. Suddenly it was all different. The ancient parks were visible from my eye over the walls and fences. I could see where I wanted to be and once I got in there - WOW! Terra Nostra is a huge park and the hot lake (40degrees c) is rightly very popular, but in only nano seconds, you can walk alone under the shade of impossibly exotic plants, with only the birds for company. It is delightful; at every turn there are pools, fountains, streams and gardens. All framed by the sky scraping mountains around the valley. And for your 4 euros entrance fee, you can come and go as often as you like during the day. You can't eat in here, unless you take a picnic, you can't even get a coffee, though the entrance kiosk did sell icecreams. But outside, in the village, there are lots of cafes, snack bars and restaurants to choose from. I even found (and this was first in the whole of the island) - gift shops! Normally I'd steer away from such places, but here I went in, just for the novelty value. And if you want a bliss overdose, go home via the Salto do Cavalo. So beautiful it could bring tears to your eyes. P.S. Oh yes, and as if all this wasn't enough, just ten minutes down the road from Furnas, is Ribeira Quiente. A fabulous sandy beach and a thriving little fishing port with a life-guarded beach, toilets and showers, a large carpark and a good stock of cafes. No pano, I'm afraid. We just didn't have time. I even went back a second time, but it was dull and cloudy whilst I was there so I didn't bother with a photo. It was lovely though, honest. Caldeiros at Furnas, east of Sao Miguel - The Azores. Review by Corinne. Summer 2008. NEXT -> Hotels in the Azores 5 Day, 10 Day, 15 Day long range weather forecast and current conditions for Caldeiros at Furnas, east of Sao Miguel, Azores
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