Budget Friendly Travel Guide to São Miguel, Azores

Everywhere I looked there were flowers , sea and mountains!

​So our last post of 10 Reasons why your next trip should be to the Azores has convinced you and you are now ready to start planning your vacation. I knew it! Now all you need is the information neatly packaged in one place to start planning right? Well, you’re in the right place because here is our budget friendly travel guide to São Miguel, the biggest island of the Azores, and our first stop on our European Adventure!

One of the two marinas of Ponta Delgada

​The Azores are an archipelago made up of nine islands and located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, around the same meridian line as Lisbon in mainland Portugal. It is still rather undiscovered in the tourism industry as many people have never heard of it, but tourism is growing very rapidly as flights and travel expenses are becoming more and more affordable.
 
Although it is part of the country of Portugal, the islands are autonomous and have a feel very different from Portugal mainland. Maybe it’s the small size of them; or perhaps it’s the Jurassic Park impression of the scenery, but the Azores feel like an entire different country!

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BUDGET FRIENDLY TRAVEL GUIDE TO SÃO MIGUEL, AZORES

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​When to go
Being in the middle of the Atlantic, Azoreans get to enjoy a mild weather system year round. It never gets too cold, never gets too warm. They have the warmest winters in Europe with daytime highs exceeding 10˚C on the coldest months, and summertime is not too shabby as well with highs around 25˚C to 30˚C.
 
The best time to visit will depend on your ideal vacation. If you want to suntan on the beach, go swimming and diving, or go kayaking on the ocean, then the summer months of July to mid September are what you should aim for. On the opposite, if you prefer to hike your way across the islands and want a more comfortable temperature, then I would avoid those summer months, as it tends to get very hot in daytime when the sun is at its peak.
 
Other things to note, if you’re looking to explore more than São Miguel, the ferries to the other islands are not all operational year round. Check out the Atlantico Line website for more information. For the animal lovers, whale-watching season is especially at its peak around the month of April. A whale watching tour guide told me that in April 2017 they saw a pod of what would have been close to 200 orcas migrating!

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The city gates of Ponta Delgada

Things to do and see

• Sete Cidades is without a doubt the most popular landmark of the Azores. Google Azores and you will be inundated of photos from the Here legend has it that two star-crossed lovers cried themselves into adjacent lakes in the giant crater turning their waters blue and green respectively. I recommend a hike around the crater if you’re in good physical shape and wanting to get the most of the views. Be aware that some inclines are very steep so be sure to bring all the necessary hiking equipment such as shoes, water and food.
• The Abandoned hotel called Miradouro da Vista do Rei has become a very popular stop for a lot of people, either before or after exploring Sete Cidades since it is close by. Get a refill of water or snacks here and make sure to climb up the eerie abandoned building to get a good view of the lakes. This is where the blue and green coloring of the lakes was the most evident the day I visited, and I got some awesome pictures.
• Visit Lagoa do Fogo on a clear day for a view of the entire island! The sunrise here is incredible and you can even see Santa Maria island on a really clear day! Do try the Cozido das Furnas, a meat stew cooked in volcanic holes.
• The hot springs of Furnas is an experience straight out of Jurassic Park. Enjoy a steaming hot bath surrounded by the luscious greenery of the island.

The crater of Sete Cidades

• The islet of Vila Franco do Campo is a tiny little island on the south side of São Miguel. Great for snorkelling, bathing and swimming, it’s a must-see stop on your Azorean escape! Book a tour in advance or make sure to arrive early though as there is a limited number of people allowed on the islet daily.
• I had a fun little adventure visiting the pineapple farm. Don’t worry about spending money on a tour here, grab a bus schedule from the tourist office in Ponta Delgada and for a couple of Euros you will get around easily and have money to enjoy some pineapple ice cream at the farm. Or better yet, a pineapple mojito!
• Water activities around the island such as kayak or paddle board are widespread and a great way to spend a few hours. Whether you want to do so in the Ocean or in one of the lakes, vendors are plentiful for board or kayak rentals.
• Whale watching tours are the one thing I decided to splurge on and forgo the do it yourself style. Honestly, I didn’t look into a solo/cheaper way at all and instead went straight to a reputable company. I recommend you do the same! Although we didn’t get to see any whales (August and September are not the best time for whale watching), we saw lots of dolphin pods and the half-day on the water was not wasted!
• You will find tons of other tours from companies based mostly in Ponta Delgada for any kind of traveler and adventurer. From sea fishing tours in the deep see to jeep tours around the island, I’m sure you will find something to satisfy everyone’s curiosity!

The colorful streets of São Miguel

​Where to eat
Eating on the Azores was not very cheap. Comparatively, it amounts to about the same prices as what you could find in North America, starting around 8 to 15 Euros per plate in cheap to mid range restaurants. I don’t like to recommend specific restaurants, I find that people have too different tastes and I wouldn’t want to stop you from discovering your own little foodie’s paradise. But here are a few tips for your trip.
 
To stay on budget, try exploring side streets instead of sticking to the busy and touristy main streets of the island. Although the main streets are often more appealing to the eye, side streets are less busy and mean smaller prices. I found also that in general, the smaller the restaurant, the cheaper the price! Another option is to visit the grocery store. I like to do this in any case to get snacks and also get a feel of how locals eat, but it is a great way to save money!
 
Other than staying on budget though, food is about experiencing a new culture and you would be missing out if you didn’t try a few of the delicacies of the Azores. Cheese lovers rejoice, the cheese plates are to die for! Be sure to try the local cheese of the islands, my favourite was the hard cheese of São Jorge.
 
Another food staple not to miss is the seafood of course. Ocean proximity is always a good probability of freshness and the fish and shellfish are particularly good here.

Whale watching tour by São Miguel island

​Where to stay
I stayed at two different places on São Miguel and would highly recommend both.
 
My first place was at City’s Hostel, a new hostel in the center of Ponta Delgada. Aside from being in a super convenient location, walking distance to all the main attractions of Ponta Delgada, the hostel is well designed and encourages conversation between travelers with a cozy outdoor area, great big breakfast table and a seating corner.
 
As a rule of thumb, if I’m going to stay in a hostel, I always book in the smallest female dorm possible (sorry guys, less snoring this way!) to ensure the highest possibilities of a good night’s sleep.
 
My second resting spot was the Neat Hotel Avenida. As I was on the island for two weeks at that point, I wanted some privacy to make my last few days relaxed and private. Although much more expensive than the hostel, the Neat Hotel was one of the cheapest on Ponta Delgada’s main strip. The older style of décor doesn’t take away the fact that this hotel was very clean and comfortable, with very attentive staff members.
 
Your choice of accommodations will always depend on budget, but your best bet in making sure that you book a comfortable yet practical sleeping place is by reading reviews and ensuring that the location is easily accessible. 

Beautiful view of Lagoa do Fogo

How to get around
For a budget approach, you can definitely access each of the main attractions and landmarks of São Miguel by the bus system. There are three different lines, with most of them departing from practically in front of the tourist office located next to the city doors square.
 
Drop in that same tourist office for a map and schedule and plan accordingly. Keep in mind that buses do not run that often and you will need to keep in mind your departure time to make sure you make it back in time. Prices depend on bus line and destination. I paid from 1 to 7 Euros each ways depending on how far I was going, with Sete Cidades being at the highest end of the scale.
 
Another option for getting around is by renting a scooter or a car. Scooters are cheaper of course, but keep in mind that you are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, where rain happens regularly and sometimes unexpectedly. If you are renting anything a small car is a wise choice. Do book in advance, supply is limited on the island and prices go up very much the more you wait.
 
Taxis and tour companies are also there to offer their services to get you around as you need, but prices are considerably higher.

The typical blues of Portugal are found everywhere on the island

What to pack
A mild weather system means that it will never get super warm or super cold. But it does mean that when it comes to packing you will require a bit more layering clothes to stay comfortable. Summer weather means hot shorts and tanks type of temperatures in the daytime and sweaters and jeans in the evening. Winters you will want to layer up your sweaters, but could still get rather warm in the daytime.
 
Items you should not forget are trekking shoes, rain jacket and a trekking daypack.
 
All in all, São Miguel has been a dream destination for an inexperienced female solo traveler such as I was, and whether you go alone, in a couple or with friends or family, I am sure that you will enjoy it as well. This budget friendly travel guide to São Miguel encompasses all the research I did prior to my trip, and what I learned during that time.
 
Like to know anything else? Don’t be shy, let us know in the comments section below!

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