Thermal spa in Ponta Delgada
Paid entryThere is an entry charge.
Hot spring pools in a lush fern-covered ravine on the slopes of the Lagoa do Fogo volcano, near Salto do Cabrito above Ribeira Grande on Sao Miguel. One of the most atmospheric thermal bathing spots in the Azores. It is a managed protected area, so entry is paid and timed rather than a free wild spring, but the fee is small for a guided thermal experience. Arrive early or late to dodge the midday crowds, and pair it with the free trail at Salto do Cabrito or a day around Lagoa das Sete Cidades from your base in Ponta Delgada.
Practical
Nearby
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
Caloura Harbour is a small fishing harbour on the south coast of Sao Miguel, near Lagoa, where the breakwater shelters a set of natural sea pools cut into the lava rock. Access is free, the water is calm, and it stays far quieter than the busier swimming spots closer to Ponta Delgada.
The largest public garden and open square in the historic core of Ponta Delgada, shaded by mature trees and a short walk from the seafront. Free to enter, peaceful most of the year, and a welcome green break in the middle of town.
Baroque parish church on the eastern edge of the Ponta Delgada old town, known for its carved gilded woodwork and blue-and-white azulejo panels. Free to enter and an easy add-on to the historic core walking circuit.
The main parish church of Ponta Delgada, the Igreja Matriz de Sao Sebastiao, sits on Largo da Matriz right beside the Portas da Cidade city gates in the historic core. A late-Gothic Manueline portal frames a baroque interior, and entry is free, which makes it one of the easiest stops to fit into a no-cost walk through the Azorean capital.
A small public garden in the São Sebastião quarter of Ponta Delgada, named after the nineteenth-century Azorean poet and philosopher Antero de Quental, who was born in the city. Entry is free, and the mature plantings, shaded benches, and calm atmosphere make it an easy stop for budget travellers walking between the old-town sights.
A small public garden in the centre of Ponta Delgada, free to enter and quiet enough to sit among subtropical plants for a while. It often serves as a meeting point for a local "Mysteries and Legends" walking tour, so it doubles as an easy landmark to find on foot.
Working out what Ponta Delgada costs?
The whole of Ponta Delgada