Ponta Delgada Cruise Port: A Day on Sao Miguel

Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel in the Azores, is a favourite stop on transatlantic cruises. Ships dock right in the town centre, and the island’s crater lakes, hot springs and tea plantations are within an easy drive. Here’s how to spend a day ashore.

Quick answer: ships dock at the Portas do Mar terminal on the seafront, a few minutes’ walk from the old town. With a day, take a tour to the crater lakes of Sete Cidades, or to Furnas for hot springs and stew cooked in the ground. Or stay in town and visit a pineapple plantation. See Ponta Delgada shore excursions.

Why it’s a great port

Few cruise ports put you this close to the action. You walk off the ship onto the seafront promenade, and the old town starts across the road. Within an hour’s drive you can stand on the rim of a volcanic crater, swim in warm thermal water or walk through a tea plantation. Many ships call in spring and autumn on transatlantic crossings between Europe and the Caribbean or North America.

Arriving

• Portas do Mar: the terminal is part of a seafront complex with cafes, shops and a marina. The main seafront avenue is about five minutes’ walk away.
• Outer berth: when the port is busy, some ships tie up further out along the breakwater. The walk into town can then take 10 to 20 minutes.
• Taxis: wait near the terminal. Tour operators meet passengers there too.
• Money: Portugal uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small cafes.
• Clocks: the Azores are one hour behind mainland Portugal and Madeira. Ships sometimes keep a different time from the island, so check which clock your all-aboard time uses.

In Ponta Delgada

• The Portas da Cidade: the 18th-century city gates on the main square, the town’s best-known landmark.
• Black-and-white streets: wander the old town’s churches and mosaic pavements. The main church, the Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião, stands just behind the gates.
• Pineapple plantations: Azorean pineapples grown in greenhouses, a short taxi ride away in Fajã de Baixo. The century-old Arruda plantation there is free to visit. Each plant takes about two years to fruit.
• The market and seafront: the Mercado da Graça sells local fruit, cheese and fish, and the seafront promenade leads past the Forte de São Brás.
• Gruta do Carvão: a lava tube on the edge of the city, seen on short guided visits at set times. There’s a small fee, and booking ahead is wise.
• Time: two to three hours covers the centre on foot.

See things to do in Ponta Delgada.

Day trips from the ship

Sete Cidades

The famous twin blue and green crater lakes, about 30 to 40 minutes’ drive away. The views from the crater rim are spectacular on a clear day. Half-day tours usually stop at the Vista do Rei viewpoint and the village by the lakes, which fits easily into most port calls.

Furnas

About an hour away, with steaming fumaroles, hot springs and the Terra Nostra garden’s warm thermal pool. Try cozido das Furnas, a stew cooked underground in the volcanic heat. By the Furnas lake you can often watch the pots being lifted out of the ground before lunch. Bring a swimsuit and an old one for the iron-rich water. This is a full-day trip, so only choose it if your ship stays for at least seven or eight hours. See the Furnas guide.

Lagoa do Fogo

A wild crater lake in the island’s centre, with no buildings around it. The road up climbs into the clouds, so the view depends on the weather. It’s often combined with Furnas on a full-day tour. In peak summer, access to the viewpoints has in recent years been by shuttle bus only, so check the current rules if you go on your own. See Lagoa do Fogo.

Tea and whales

The Gorreana tea plantation on the north coast, where tea has been grown since the 19th century and you can taste it, or a whale-watching trip from Ponta Delgada marina, a short walk from the ship. See whale-watching trips. See Gorreana.

A tour is the easiest way to see them in a day. See Ponta Delgada tours.

Getting around on your own

• Hire car: there are rental offices in town, but book ahead for a cruise day and allow for slow traffic and busy car parks at the main viewpoints.
• Buses: local buses run from Ponta Delgada to Sete Cidades and Furnas, but services are infrequent, so they rarely fit a port call.
• On foot: the old town, the market and the marina are all within easy walking distance of the terminal.

Suggested plans

• Short call (under 6 hours): a half-day tour to Sete Cidades, then a walk around the old town.
• Full day (8 hours or more): Furnas with a cozido lunch, Lagoa do Fogo and a tea stop on the way back.
• On foot: the old town, the market and a whale-watching trip from the marina.

Food to try

• Cozido das Furnas: meats and vegetables slow-cooked in the ground.
• Azores pineapple: small, sweet and fragrant, also made into jam and liqueur.
• Queijadas da Vila: small sweet cheese tarts from Vila Franca do Campo.
• Local cheese and lapas: São Jorge cheese and limpets grilled with garlic.

Tips

• Weather changes fast: clouds can hide the crater lakes. Bring a waterproof.
• Taxis offer island tours at fixed prices; agree the price and return time in advance.
• Allow time to return from Furnas, and aim to be back at the ship at least an hour before all-aboard.
• Book whale watching early in the day, as sailings can be cancelled if the sea is rough.

FAQ

Can you walk from the cruise terminal into Ponta Delgada?

Yes. Portas do Mar is on the seafront, and the city gates and old town are a few minutes’ walk away. If your ship uses the outer berth, allow 10 to 20 minutes.

Can you see Sete Cidades and Furnas in one day?

Only on a long call. They are at opposite ends of the island, so doing both needs about eight hours ashore and a driver who knows the roads. Most people pick one.

Do you need a tour in Ponta Delgada?

Not for the town, which is easy on foot. For the crater lakes or Furnas, a tour or taxi is the simplest way to see them and get back on time, as buses are infrequent.

What is the time difference in the Azores?

The Azores are one hour behind mainland Portugal and Madeira all year round. Check whether your all-aboard time is in local time or ship’s time.

More: the São Miguel itinerary and Funchal’s cruise port.

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