Furnas is a village in the Azores archipelago on the island of São Miguel, and was home to 1,450 people in 2011. It is famous for its geothermal activity. Hot springs and geysers are prevalent, and traditional meals are cooked via thermal energy in pots buried in the ground.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Get in
[edit | edit source]From Ponta Delgada take bus C318 or C110 for €4.65 (Jan 2024). It takes about 1 hr 20 min. There are multiple bus stops in the village.
Get around
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The village can be easily explored on foot.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Lagoa das Furnas. A peaceful lake over an active caldera, with many birds, trees, and scenic views. You can sometimes see bubbles coming up from geothermal vents in the lake. There is a trail around the lake: the south and west side of the trail has many stops (an old church, environmental center, statues, etc.). At the north side, you can see some fumaroles and earth ovens where locals and local restaurants cook food in earth ovens. The east side of the trail is right next to the road. South parking lot free, north parking lot €3.
- 2 Casa Invertida, Av. Victor Manuel Rodrigues. A house that is upside down.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Poça da Dona Beija, Lomba Das Barracas 1. Hot springs facility featuring thermal pools, tropical landscaping, showers & a gift shop. €8.
- 2 Terra Nosta Botanical Garden (Parque Terra Nostra), Largo Marquês da Praia e Monfort. A 200-year-old park featuring local flora and fauna, as well as outdoor mineral baths. Bring an old swimsuit since the iron in the water might stain it. The lockers require you to use an app on your phone, so make sure you have data/signal, and be prepared to bring your phone with you to the baths after locking up. €17 for baths and garden, €5 more for a locker.
Buy
[edit | edit source]Eat
[edit | edit source]Many restaurants serve the local specialty cozido, a stew cooked for 8 hours in a volcanic vent. Some of the more popular restaurants recommend a reservation to guarantee a spot.
Budget
[edit | edit source]- 1 Tony's Snack-Bar, Rua Padre Afonso Arruda de Quental.
- 2 Café Atlântida, R. Pᵃ José Jacinto Botelho 64.
- 3 Snack Bar 2020, R. de Santana.
- 4 Summer Breeze, Largo da estrela 18.
- 5 Queijaria Furnense, R. Caminho Novo 3.
Mid-range
[edit | edit source]- 6 Restaurante Vale Das Furnas (Parque De Campismo), Sítio das Queimadas.
- 7 À Terra Furnas, Avenida Dr. Manuel de Arriaga.
- 8 Restaurante Tony´s, Rua Largo Teatro.
Splurge
[edit | edit source]- 9 Restaurante Terra Nostra (Terra Nostra Garden Hotel), Rua Padre José Jacinto Botelho 5.
- 10 Casino Terra Nostra (Terra Nostra Garden Hotel), Rua Padre José Jacinto Botelho 32.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]Go next
[edit | edit source]- Ponta Delgada, Sete Cidades and the other towns of São Miguel

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