Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo
See the two calderas of São Miguel in one day from Ponta Delgada. The published itinerary starts at Lagoa do Fogo, then circles the Sete Cidades lagoons.
- Ponta Delgada
- 8 h in total
- English-speaking guide
Choose by time and conditions
Ponta Delgada English-speaking guide
Scenic day
Total duration: 8 h
Lagoa do Fogo and Sete Cidades in one day.
The listing says the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
Buggy through the caldera
Total duration: 4 h or 8 h
Both variants cover Sete Cidades.
Valid driving licence if you drive the buggy.
Vehicle deposit €500 per vehicle on a credit card
São Miguel in two days
Total duration: 2 days
8 h per day. Add Furnas and Gorreana to the lagoon circuit.
The listing says the tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Civitatis terms checked on . See reference prices and check dates.
Route from Ponta Delgada
Select a point to see the meeting place, planned visits and their sources.
- Total duration
- 8 h Full tour
- Main stops on the itinerary
- Ponta Delgada
- Lagoa do Fogo
- Sete Cidades
- Source and date
- Civitatis ·
Ponta Delgada
Save the location shown in your confirmation to find the meeting point.
- Meeting point
- Avenida João Bosco Mota Amaral s/n
- Transfer
- Includes an air-conditioned vehicle
Lagoa do Fogo
The programme starts at the viewpoints over this crater lake in the interior of São Miguel.
- On the itinerary
- Views of Lagoa do Fogo from several viewpoints
- On your own
- Check access and the shuttle on Visit Azores
Sete Cidades
After Lagoa do Fogo, the tour heads to the west of the island.
- Published stop
- Crossing the bridge between Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde
- After the visit
- Lunch and return to Ponta Delgada along the southwest coast
Scenic, buggy or two days
All three options leave from Ponta Delgada. The stops, the time you spend and the kind of effort change.
Scenic day. The most direct option if you want to combine Lagoa do Fogo and Sete Cidades in one guided day. See comparison
Buggy through the caldera. The 4-hour variant leaves part of the day free. Both that route and the 8-hour one focus on Sete Cidades. See comparison
São Miguel in two days. Spend one day on Furnas and Gorreana and another on the two lagoons. Both departures use Ponta Delgada as the base. See comparison
Scenic day
- Start
- Avenida João Bosco Mota Amaral, Ponta Delgada
- What you see
- Lagoa do Fogo viewpoints, the Sete Cidades caldera and the bridge crossing between the two lagoons.
- Effort
- Vehicle transfers and scenic stops. The published route focuses on the viewpoints.
- Listing terms
- Civitatis lists this departure as not wheelchair accessible. Confirm your access needs before booking.
Buggy through the caldera
- Start
- Rua Eng. Alberto Rodrigues, Ponta Delgada
- What you see
- Sete Cidades in 4 h. With 8 h you add stops such as Vista do Rei, Lagoa de Santiago and Cerrado das Freiras.
- Effort
- Buggy ride with stops. If you drive, your part is more active. You can also ride as a passenger.
- Listing terms
- To drive, the listing asks for a valid licence and a liability waiver. It states a €500 deposit per vehicle on a credit card.
São Miguel in two days
- Start
- Avenida João Bosco Mota Amaral, Ponta Delgada
- What you see
- Day 1 · Vila Franca do Campo, Furnas and Gorreana. Day 2 · Lagoa do Fogo and Sete Cidades.
- Effort
- Two 8-hour days with transfers and stops. Consider the total activity time across both days.
- Listing terms
- The listing marks the tour as not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Entry to the Furnas garden is paid separately.
Approximate effort based on the published route. Terms checked on .
Four ways to look
Pick the angle that interests you most. To add a viewpoint to a tour, check its stops first.
Vista do Rei
Get the whole picture at a glance from the southern rim of the caldera. The official PR3SMI trail starts here, follows the southwest slope and ends in the village of Sete Cidades.
Trilhos dos Açores · Vista do ReiCerrado das Freiras
Stop at this viewpoint beside the regional road to see the peninsula reaching into Lagoa Azul. It appears on the published route of the full-day buggy tour.
Parques Naturais dos Açores · Cerrado das FreirasGrota do Inferno
This angle takes in several lagoons and slopes inside the caldera. If you add it on your own, respect the marked perimeter. Parques Naturais put up a fence to protect the vegetation.
Parques Naturais dos Açores · Grota do InfernoLagoa do Fogo
The scenery belongs to a different caldera. To look down on the water, start with the roadside viewpoints. For a hike, check the official trail page and its access separately.
Visit Azores · Lagoa do Fogo and shuttleBefore leaving Ponta Delgada
Save the departure address and check the two lagoons separately. With low cloud, the harbour can have very different weather from the viewpoints.
Plan the departure
The scenic tour and the two-day tour leave from Avenida João Bosco Mota Amaral. The buggy meets at Rua Eng. Alberto Rodrigues. Use the address in your confirmation to get to the right spot.
On your own, treat the two accesses separately. At Sete Cidades you can combine a high viewpoint with the village. For Lagoa do Fogo, check road access and the shuttle Visit Azores announces for the area.
Visit Azores · Lagoa do Fogo and shuttleRead the visibility
Compare the forecast with the webcams just before you leave. If clouds cover one caldera and you are travelling on your own, you can start at the village of Sete Cidades and check the viewpoint again later. On a tour, ask the guide about the plan for the day.
If you want to hike
Looking at the lagoon from the road and doing the Praia–Lagoa do Fogo trail are different plans. For the trail, check the official status and starting point, work out the round trip and pack hiking gear.
Trilhos dos Açores · Praia to Lagoa do FogoWhat to bring
Sources checked on . Official map of São Miguel.
Options and prices
Prices on Fajanda are dated references. Open the Civitatis listing to see availability, price and conditions for your departure.
São MiguelSete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo
Two volcanic calderas in one day from Ponta Delgada.
Details and link
Civitatis reviews as of .
https://www.civitatis.com/en/ponta-delgada/sete-cidades-lagoa-fogo/?aid=10795&cmp=fajanda-en-lugarSão MiguelBuggy tour of São Miguel
A buggy outing with half-day and full-day options.
Details and link
Civitatis reviews as of .
https://www.civitatis.com/en/ponta-delgada/buggy-tour/?aid=10795&cmp=fajanda-en-lugarSão MiguelSão Miguel in 2 days
One day out to Furnas and another for Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo.
Details and link
Civitatis reviews as of .
https://www.civitatis.com/en/ponta-delgada/2-day-tour/?aid=10795&cmp=fajanda-en-lugarFrequently asked questions
In what order are Lagoa do Fogo and Sete Cidades visited?
The published itinerary leaves Ponta Delgada, stops first at the Lagoa do Fogo viewpoints and then at Sete Cidades. Check the schedule for your date before you go.
Does the São Miguel buggy also visit Lagoa do Fogo?
The 4-hour and 8-hour buggy tours in this selection focus on Sete Cidades. The 8-hour scenic tour is the one that combines Lagoa do Fogo and Sete Cidades.
Do I need a driving licence to ride in the buggy?
You need a valid licence if you drive. You can also ride as a passenger.
How much is the buggy deposit in São Miguel?
The Civitatis listing states a €500 deposit per vehicle on a credit card for the Sete Cidades buggy in this comparison.
What does the two-day São Miguel tour add?
Add a day covering Vila Franca do Campo, Furnas and Gorreana. The second day visits Lagoa do Fogo and Sete Cidades.
Where does the scenic tour meet in Ponta Delgada?
The listing gives Avenida João Bosco Mota Amaral. Save the exact point from your confirmation before leaving. The buggy uses a different address.
How do I know if there will be visibility at the viewpoints?
Check the IPMA forecast and compare the Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo webcams shortly before you leave. Each webcam shows conditions at one spot at that moment.
Can I walk to Lagoa do Fogo from a viewpoint?
The certified Praia–Lagoa do Fogo route has its own access and trail page. To hike, check the trail status and arrange transport separately.