São Miguel: Vulcanic Experience in Furnas (W/ thermal pools)

From beginning to the end, our guide Andreas was amazing !! Andreas was polite, helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and funny ! All the things you’d want in a guide. While I don’t think this is every time but we benefited from a private tour! Andreas walked us through the tea factory/plantation, recommended a wonderful blended tea and happily offered to take instagram worthy photos of myself and my family ! We visited several breathtaking panoramic sightseeing locations where we learned more about San Miguel, followed by an incredible experience at the thermal spa, which surpassed all my expectations. We left feeling relaxed and inspired by the beauty of the island and all of its many offerings !! Andreas continued the tour to several other beautiful stops where we learned about the hot springs, sampled natural sparkling waters and learned about history and saw an amazing gothic church on the edge of a beautiful lake ! The cap off the tour, he receded a wonderful restaurant close to the port where we had a delicious lunch (A Tasca). Thanks for helping us have such a memorable and enjoyable visit to your absolutely stunning island !! 10/10 recommend!

Another great experience with the wonderful guide João! Everything was perfect, highly recommended 👍😁

After our amazing first day with João from Azores Hidden Tours, we booked his Furnas thermal pools tour for the evening — and once again, he delivered an exceptional experience. João began by taking us to the shores of Furnas Lake, where the iconic Cozido das Furnas is slow‑cooked underground in the natural geothermal pits. Watching the steam rise from the earth and seeing the traditional cooking sites up close was fascinating — a true Azorean tradition brought to life. From there, he guided us through the town of Furnas, showing us the bubbling hot springs and steaming thermal vents. It felt like walking through a living volcanic landscape. João’s passion for the island and its culture came through at every stop; he made sure we understood what we were seeing and that we didn’t miss a single detail. The night ended at Poça da Dona Beija, the beautiful thermal spa in Furnas. The pools were stunning under the evening lights, and the warm volcanic waters were incredibly relaxing. Everyone loved it. Even when a few issues came up at the spa, João handled everything smoothly and made the process effortless for us. He then brought us to a great local restaurant where we enjoyed the famous Cozido das Furnas along with a few drinks. We spent the evening laughing, joking, and enjoying his company — he made the entire experience feel personal and special for all seven of us. It was a memorable, meaningful evening from start to finish. João is exceptional at what he does, and both tours were true highlights of our time on São Miguel.

My time in Furnas was truly remarkable and stands out as a deeply memorable part of my Azores trip. The day was beautifully paced and layered, combining nature, culture, food, and relaxation in a way that felt immersive rather than rushed. We began at a tea plantation, which set a peaceful tone for the day with sweeping green fields and ocean views. From there we explored the botanical park and waterfalls, which were lush and beautiful, though a bit physically demanding at times with walking and inclines. Doing this portion first actually worked perfectly — it felt active and energizing. Afterward, experiencing the traditional Furnas stew — cooked underground using volcanic heat — was fascinating, and tasting it made the cultural connection even deeper. The meal felt rich, comforting, and very rooted in place. Ending the day in the hot springs was ideal. Soaking in the warm, mineral-rich water after the walking earlier felt incredibly restorative and deeply relaxing, surrounded by dense greenery and natural beauty. We even had a chance to stop at a local pastry factory, which was a fun and authentic way to close out the experience. Overall, Furnas felt like a complete sensory journey — geothermal earth, healing water, vibrant vegetation, and traditional food all woven together. It was beautifully balanced between adventure and relaxation, and absolutely a must-do in São Miguel.

We had a very nice trip with João! He was super friendly and gave a lot of information and interesting facts about the island(s) as well as answered all of our questions. He is a safe driver and was very punctual. Since there were no other people we were lucky to get a private tour! We enjoyed the time at the thermal baths very much and would absolutely book a tour with him again!

Comfortable vehicle. Dynamic visit with pleasant explanations. Excellent food. And a great dynamizing Joao! Shapes, tea plantation and more

From airport pick up to the very end all was perfect. João was patient, kind and professional. He shared valuable information and was a wonderful personal photographer. Recommend!

This was the most magical experience we had on our trip to the Azores! João was an excellent tour guide, providing a lot of fascinating insights on the island and its history and ensuring the entire trip was seamless for us. He is also a professional photographer and helped us take some of the best pictures I have ever taken. The thermal springs were incredible and the entire adventure was unlike anything I have ever experienced. I highly recommend this experience!

The tour was great and the tour guides were very friendly and explained everything very good. The tour was very well organized.

Very nice time. Joao was fantastic. I would absolutely recommend this experience. It was a blast and I would do it again.