Sete Cidades, Sao Miguel: Viewpoints, Walks and Tips

Sete Cidades is the Azores’ most iconic view: twin lakes, one blue and one green, lying in a giant volcanic crater on São Miguel. Here’s how to visit, the best viewpoints and the walks around the crater rim.

Quick answer: Sete Cidades is about 30 to 40 minutes’ drive from Ponta Delgada. The best views are from the Vista do Rei viewpoint and the short walk to the Boca do Inferno viewpoint. Check the webcams for cloud before you go, and come back another day if the crater is fogged in. See Sete Cidades tours.

Why go

The crater (caldeira) is about 5km across, with steep green walls covered in forest and lined with hydrangeas. On its floor sit the lakes, a small village and fields of grazing cows. Together the twin lakes form the largest freshwater lake in the Azores. On a clear day it’s one of the great views in Portugal, and you can see it from the road, on a short walk or on a half-day hike.

The lakes

Lagoa Azul (blue) and Lagoa Verde (green) are joined by a narrow channel under a bridge. Their colours come from the depth and the reflections. A local legend says they were formed by the tears of a princess and a shepherd who were forbidden to marry: her blue eyes and his green. The crater also holds the smaller Lagoa de Santiago and Lagoa Rasa, and Lagoa do Canário lies in the forest just outside the rim.

The best viewpoints

• Miradouro da Boca do Inferno: the most spectacular view, over all the lakes. Park near Lagoa do Canário and walk about 10 to 20 minutes uphill on a wide track.
• Vista do Rei: the classic view of the twin lakes and the village, right by the road. It’s named after the visit of King Carlos and Queen Amélia in 1901.
• Lagoa de Santiago viewpoint: a quieter lake in a deep green bowl, a short stop off the road down into the crater.
• The bridge: in the village, stand on the bridge between the lakes to see the two colours side by side.

The viewpoints and the village have no entry fee at the time of writing. Rules at busy Azores beauty spots have been changing, so follow local signs for parking and any new charges.

Things to do

• Walk the crater rim: the official PR3 SMI trail starts at Vista do Rei and follows the western rim, with the lakes on one side and the coast on the other. It’s about 7.5km and takes around 2 hours. It’s officially rated easy, though one stretch on the way down is steep and can be slippery. The trail is linear and ends in the village by the church of São Nicolau, so arrange a taxi or a lift back to your car.
• Kayak or cycle: you can usually hire kayaks and bikes by the lakes in the warmer months.
• Visit the village: on the crater floor, with the neo-Gothic church of São Nicolau at the end of a tree-lined avenue, and a few cafés.
• Lagoa do Canário: a small, quiet lake in the forest just outside the rim, worth a short stroll on the way to Boca do Inferno.
• Mosteiros: head down to the coast for black-sand beaches, rock pools and sea stacks, and one of the island’s best sunsets.

Getting there

• Car: the easiest option. The drive from Ponta Delgada takes 30 to 40 minutes on winding roads. Parking at the viewpoints is roadside and fills up around midday in summer.
• Bus: local buses run from Ponta Delgada to the village, but only a few times a day and the trip takes about an hour. Check the return time before you go.
• Tour: half-day and full-day tours often add Lagoa do Fogo or a tea plantation. See the best Azores tours.

How long to spend

Allow 2 to 3 hours for the viewpoints and the village by car. Add a morning for the rim walk, and an hour or two for Mosteiros.

A half-day route

1. Drive from Ponta Delgada to Vista do Rei early, when the crater is most often clear.
2. Walk to Boca do Inferno from the Lagoa do Canário car park.
3. Stop at the Lagoa de Santiago viewpoint, then drive down to the village and the bridge.
4. Finish with lunch and the rock pools at Mosteiros, or loop back to Ponta Delgada.

Food

The village has simple cafés and restaurants serving grilled fish, local beef and soups. Try the island’s sweet bolo lêvedo bread and the small, fragrant Azores pineapples, grown in greenhouses near Ponta Delgada. If you’re walking, a picnic from a supermarket in town is a good idea.

When to go

The weather here changes fast at any time of year. Late spring to early autumn usually gives the best chance of clear views and dry paths, and the hydrangeas along the roads are at their best in early summer. Winter is quieter and greener, but cloud and rain are more common. See the best time to visit the Azores.

Tips

• Clouds: the crater is often hidden in mist. Mornings can be clearer, and conditions change fast. Look at the live webcams before you set off.
• Trail rules: fees and access rules for some Azores sites have been changing. Check the official Azores trails website (trails.visitazores.com) before walking.
• Shoes and layers: paths can be muddy, and it’s cooler and windier on the rim than in Ponta Delgada.
• Car: essential unless you take a tour. See the best Azores tours.
• Cruise passengers: see Ponta Delgada’s cruise port.

FAQ

Is there a fee to visit Sete Cidades?

There’s no entry fee for the viewpoints or the village at the time of writing. You pay only for extras such as kayak or bike hire and tours, and it’s worth following local signs for parking.

How long is the walk to Boca do Inferno?

About 10 to 20 minutes each way, uphill on a wide track from the car park near Lagoa do Canário.

What is the best time of day to see the lakes?

Early morning often gives the clearest views before cloud builds, but conditions change fast. Check the webcams, and be ready to come back another day.

Can you visit Sete Cidades without a car?

Yes, but it takes planning, as buses from Ponta Delgada to the village run only a few times a day. A half-day tour is the easiest way to see the viewpoints without driving.

More: the São Miguel itinerary, the Furnas guide, Lagoa do Fogo and São Miguel hotels.

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