Azores – Warm, warmer… Hot! (Furnas and Caldeira Velha)

Surprisingly, the title of this post does not refer to the air temperature. This one, sadly or unfortunately, is relatively constant here. However, if you are chilly, there are very hot attractions waiting for you on the island of São Miguel.

For us, the temperature and humidity in the Azores is ideal. Not too warm, not too cold. For this, high humidity is also ideal. Besides, we won’t even look at it, and we are already tanned, even if there were clouds (not a problem in the Azores). If I had to cling (but cling so much), I would have liked fewer clouds, but they also come in handy, and they make for beautiful views when they wrap around hills or loom złover the ocean.

The Azores is not a place where we will benefit from swimming in the ocean. The exception is natural pools, which we mentioned here. This does not mean, however, that you can save space in your luggage by not taking items for bathing. What it isn’t. To the Azores, it is CONSTANTLY necessary to bring a swimsuit, as there are several opportunities to jump into the water. But one step at a time.

Furnas

In Furnas is, in our opinion, the most interesting and beautiful place when it comes to swimming in the water.

Parque Terra Nostra

The place is called Parque Terra Nostra, and it’s basically more of a botanical garden with a large pool of sulfur water. Entrance costs €8, toddlers up to two years old splash for free. The place is a local summer resort with a spa, where blissful relaxation is sought by both Azorean residents and tourists arriving in increasing numbers.

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Before entering the pool, however, it’s worth taking a walk through the park and the organized space here, because there’s plenty to see. Here you will find a very impressive collection of trees and flowers (including palm trees, sequoias, azaleas, magnolias and many, many more).

Walking around the park you can get lost, but it will make you feel like you are in the jungle at times, even more so if you move away from the pool and go where a lot of people don’t go. Once again in the Azores, we are once again struck by the beautiful, intense greenery combined with the intense scent of flowers.

The entire park is created to resemble a romantic place, with benches, streams, bridges over numerous ponds and even a cave. One could probably spend and half a day walking the alleys, but since we are not big fans and experts in botany we decided to direct our steps to the pool.

A swimming pool in the Azores, a must-see thing :)

The pool is warm (the water temperature reaches up to 40 degrees and is constantly heated by volcanic lava!) and has a distinctive orange-brown hue, due to the high concentration of minerals. Also, you can thank these minerals for the orange tarnish on your skin and bathing suit after getting out of the water ;-) Advice to you: don’t wear the prettiest and outgoing swimwear, let alone precious jewelry ;)

The pool is about 1.5 meters deep, it’s warm, and it’s a pleasure to sit in, especially during the rain, as we could see. Children can also enter the water. Next to the pool are changing rooms, toilets and showers.

Now we know that to be in the Azores and not take advantage of the hot pools is a sin :)

Fumarole, or how to cook dinner :)

If we are already in Furnas, it is a must here to try a local specialty – a dish cooked (or should we better say stewed?) underground – cozido das Furnas. Locals have been using hot springs (known as fumaroles) to prepare food since ancient times: various types of meat are put into a pot, which is wrapped in a thick cloth and lowered down so that it is heated from the steaming springs. Then a mound is piled above it with the number or name of the restaurant to which it belongs.

We tried the Denmark in the center of Furnas – it was ok, but you have to keep in mind that it is a very large portion (quietly for two people) and very fatty.

In the Furnas area, you can also see the aforementioned fumaroles, which are gases and steam escaping through cracks in the earth’s crust. They are located right on Furnas Lake(Lagoa Furnas) – you will see (or feel) them from afar. There are wooden footbridges for visitors, so you can get pretty close to the bubbling springs.

And a small panorama:

Here you will find the aforementioned mounds with the names of restaurants. What surprised us here was 1) Paid parking per person – pennies, but we did not expect such a solution, 2) numerous cats and fowl. We haven’t seen as many cats on the entire island as here.

Caldeira Velha

Another place that deserves attention is Caldeira Velha. We had no luck with him. The first time it was rainy and late, and the second time it was only rainy, so we decided to take a chance ;)

Entrance is cheap – it costs €2 per person, so even in bad weather you can take a chance. To get to the hot water you have to walk a piece along a prepared path. A light drizzle and tall, imposing trees made us feel like we were in the rainforest once again.

At the first fork there is a mini command center – there is an information desk, a small exhibition and boards with the history of the site and the plant and animal species found here. For us, this place served mainly as a shelter from the rain ;) Next to it are toilets and changing rooms, because this is the moment when you should jump into a bathing suit.

Just next door is a small pool with hot water, but it is very crowded, at times there was no chance to take a seat. Walking a bit uphill, we come to a waterfall and another place to bathe with warm water. Here you can see the characteristic coloring of the rocks from the mineral water.

This is a very different place from the aforementioned pool in Furnas. It is closer to nature, but unfortunately it is more crowded and tighter. We also saw a few paths that you can probably take to some interesting places, but for unknown reasons they were closed to the public.

Did you expect warm, natural pools in the Azores?

No, neither did we :)

As you can see, it’s a good idea to bring a bathing suit with you to Sao Miguel. You can soak in the cold or warm ocean or get into the hot mineral waters. While the natural pools and Furnas are conducive to spending a longer amount of time, Caldeira Velha is a place where you get in the water and go back to your car, as there is no place to evenzła blanket (there are only benches).

Remember, if you’re going to the Azores, pack a swimsuit! :)

See also: Azores – where to stay overnight and how much does it cost?