Fans of a wonderful atmosphere and good rest should definitely visit the island of San Miguel. This piece of land combines the rich diversity of Portuguese culture and a we alth of natural we alth. As for the impressions, the rest in this place will definitely be remembered for a long time.
So, let's take a closer look at the main features of San Miguel Island, as well as what kind of reviews Russian tourists leave after staying on it.
General information
As for the general information available about the island in question, it is quite interesting. It should immediately be noted that Russian tourists know very little about this geographical object, but in vain. However, those who have already been here often plan to organize their return to this truly paradise.
Translated into Russian, the full name of the island of San Miguel sounds like the island of St. Michael. It should be noted that a large number of geographical objects are named after this saint, most of which are located on the territory of Latin America.
The discoverer of the island in question is the navigator Diogo Silves, who, at the time of an important event, was heading for another previously discovered island - Madeira. This event took place in 1427.
Geographic data
Sao Miguel Island belongs to the group of the famous Azores, which are located in the Atlantic Ocean, not far from Portugal. With regard to its importance in the said archipelago, the island is the largest and most densely populated of all land areas that make up the general composition. It is located in the eastern part.
The island under consideration has an elongated shape, the bend of which runs from west to east. Its total length is 64 km in length, and in width - from 8 to 14 (marks differ in different regions). Almost all of its territory is covered with the greenery of tropical forests, which is why many geographers call the object the "green island".
As for the origin, the territory of the resort object was formed after a major volcanic eruption. In this regard, a mountainous surface can be observed on the territory of the skeleton. The highest point of Sao Miguel (Azores) is Mount Pico da Vara (1103 m.). Special attention of tourists who prefer to visit this region is attracted by the extraordinary beauty of the lake located in the inner part of the island - Lagoa do Kongru. In addition to it, on the island you can find three more beautiful objects that are reservoirs (Lagoa das Sete Cidades, Santiago, and Lagoa do Fogo).
Total areathe island in question is almost 747 sq. km. km. A fairly large number of people live in such a territory - about 138,000 people (as of 2017). The most important place here is the settlement called Ponta Delgada. This city is the capital. About 40,000 people live here. The main infrastructure facilities are concentrated in the village, and there is also a port here.
How to get there
Russian tourists who wish to visit Sao Miguel Island in Portugal often ask questions about how to get there. As experienced tourists, as well as many operators who are representatives of travel agencies, note, the most convenient starting point when moving towards the island in question is Lisbon airport - this is where almost all the routes of tourists from Russia lead. A large number of flights (from 6 to 10) depart from Lisbon to Sao Miguel Airport (Portugal) every day. This is quite convenient, since tourists do not face an urgent need to adapt to a certain time of a single departure. As for the duration of the flight, from Lisbon to the airport of Sao Miguel (Azores) by air can be reached in less than 2.5 hours. The price of the flight is relatively small - depending on the carrier and conditions of comfort, it can vary from 40 to 200 dollars per person. Many more experienced tourists recommend booking tickets in advance for flights of interest, soas among the representatives of the European population, this holiday destination is very popular, and therefore it often happens that there are simply no tickets for the desired flight.
Climatic conditions
Speaking of San Miguel, you should definitely consider what weather conditions are typical for this island. Tourists from around the world, including from Russia, say that they are attracted to this resort area by the mild climate, in which only slight temperature changes can be observed. In summer, the air temperature reaches 23 degrees, and in winter it can drop to 13. As for the water temperature, despite the state of the air, it warms up very well and retains heat for quite a long time. Thus, the average water temperature along the coast of the island is about 17-24 degrees, depending on the season. Travelers also note that the best months to visit San Miguel are August and July.
One of the features of the island is the diversity of the weather forecast for Sao Miguel. So, if in the southern part in the east the sun almost always stands and there is no cloudiness, then in the west almost every day you need to be prepared for cloudiness. Moreover, after lunch, precipitation in the form of rain is often observed here.
Where to stay
Often, tourists who wish to relax on the island in question ask questions about where they should stay. For several years, tourists from differentregions of the world have formed a kind of list of the most favorable settlements for recreation, which have excellent infrastructure, as well as recreational features that make staying at the resort more comfortable. The most popular cities include Lagoa, Ponta Delgada and Ribeira Grande.
First of all, of course, you should pay attention to the capital city of the island - Ponta Delgado. As mentioned above, the main infrastructure is concentrated on its territory, as well as a huge number of entertainment places that will appeal to all fans of active and vibrant recreation. However, for those who want to taste all the features of pure outdoor recreation, which, by the way, is simply beautiful on the island, it is not recommended to stay here: in the city you can constantly observe traffic jams and perpetual active traffic that does not stop even at night.
Fans of a quiet and relaxing holiday can visit the small town of Lagoa, which looks more like a village. It is here, according to most travelers, that you can truly see all the features of the local nature and enjoy the beautiful views offered by San Miguel. It is always quiet and very calm in this town, even despite the fact that there are always a lot of tourists on its territory. From this town it will not be difficult to get to any part of the island - transport links are well developed here, in addition, it should be noted thatthe village is equally removed from the two ends of the geographical feature. The town also has a beautiful beach, which is often visited even by those tourists who live in other regions.
Ribeira Grande is a town that, like Lagoa, is located in the central part of the island. However, in appearance it is very different from the above. Although Ribeira Grande is another great option for a tourist getaway, it receives far fewer travelers than, for example, Lagoa or Ponta Delgada. Perhaps this is due to the fact that it is located somewhat to the north, and therefore cloudy weather is often observed on the territory of the settlement.
Best Hotels
Tourists who want to relax on the island in question will certainly be interested in what hotels and hotels are recognized as the best in this region. Immediately it should be noted that throughout the island you can find places to relax, which is very convenient. However, of all the regions presented, the southern and eastern parts of the island are considered the most popular for accommodation - this is due to the climate. So, which hotels in the reviews of tourists are recognized as the best and worthy of attention? Consider the most popular of them below.
Vista Do Vale is a hotel located in the quiet and picturesque village of Furnas. Most tourists note that it is here that excellent conditions for recreation are provided. Based on the reviews left by travelers, the hotel has a very high rating. The hotel offers comfortablerooms decorated in a simple style, in a combination of neutral tones. Here, all apartments provide excellent furniture and technical equipment, as well as work areas. Vista Do Vale (Sao Miguel Island, Portugal) is close to the botanical garden, beach, and golf courses. The daily cost of living in standard category rooms costs about 5,000 rubles.
Furnas Boutique Hotel is considered by most travelers to be the best hotel on the island. For the most part, tourists leave only positive reviews about it, which is the most striking indicator of the level of service and comfort of living conditions at the resort. The hotel offers tourists individual catering establishments, an excellent spa area with 10 treatment rooms, swimming pools, as well as beautiful gardens right on its territory. Here, sightseeing trips to various interesting regions of the island are constantly organized for tourists. The cost of a daily stay in a hotel room is about 11,000 rubles.
In the village of Furnas there is another amazing hotel that attracts travelers from different regions of the world with its wonderful conditions, conducive to a pleasant pastime. Its name is Terra Nostra Garden Hotel. A day of living in this place costs about 9,500 rubles, which many tourists consider to be quite an acceptable price for round-the-clock high-class service, accessibility to the most interesting places and entertainment, as well as an amazing atmosphere created inrooms. Terra Nostra Garden Hotel is surrounded by a large number of thermal springs, the waters of which have healing properties. Within walking distance from here are the famous volcanic beaches, as well as forests.
Casual City Apartment is a hotel in San Miguel that offers vacationers the best conditions for the best pastime. It is located in the city of Ponte Delgada, within walking distance from the clean and picturesque coast, as well as many of the island's attractions (Nossa Señora da Esperanza Monastery, Portas da Cidade city gates, pineapple plantations). All apartments of this hotel offer tourists ideal living conditions and are equipped not only with all the necessary furniture and appliances, but also kitchenettes with dishwashers and washing machines. The cost of living in a room in such a hotel is 12,000 rubles per day.
Move around the island
Some questions of tourists, as a rule, are connected with the peculiarities of movement around the island. Vehicles are in great demand here, as there are many attractions on the island of San Miguel, you want to see each of them while on vacation. In addition, tourists are attracted by the local nature, which varies somewhat in each region. So, what types of transport are available in the resort area in question and what is the best way to use it?
It should be noted that the most requested service in San Miguel is car rental. It is available everywhere, howevermost travelers recommend renting a vehicle at the airport upon arrival. A large number of points where you can rent a vehicle are marked on the map of Ponta Delgada. Instead of a car, you can also rent a scooter or a bicycle, but these modes of transport are not very in demand, due to the changeable nature of the weather - most travelers notice that even at low speeds, even in light rain, it is not very pleasant to travel on them.
As for public transport, it is available on the island, but tourists rarely use this method of transportation. This is due to the fact that in fact there are a small number of bus routes on the island and there is a large interval between them. Travelers also note that flight schedules are not always convenient.
Attractions
One of the main attractions for tourists who rest on the island in question is visiting local attractions. It should immediately be noted that this can be done both independently, as by ordering an excursion tour. One of the main sightseeing destinations is natural objects, the beauty of which the island is famous for. In particular, natural sites such as Sete Cidades Lake, Miradouro da Vista do Rei, Hot Ocean, Mosteiros Beach, and Lagoa do Fogo Lake are very popular among travelers from different regions of the world. It should be noted that visiting reservoirs and viewing platforms is best planned on a clear andsunny weather, as on cloudy days most of the objects will be hidden by fog.
The natural park Caldeira Velha, located in the center of the island, not far from the famous lake Lagoa do Fogo, attracts special attention of travelers. Its territory has the status of a protected area and a national treasure. The park has a paid admission regime. The area of this attraction of San Miguel is small - its entire territory can be explored in just half an hour.
The Cascata do S alto do Cabrito waterfall is another place loved by tourists from Russia - the beauty of this natural site is mentioned in many comments left by them on social networks. In many photos of the island of San Miguel, it can be seen very often, since Cascata do S alto do Cabrito is one of the main natural attractions of the region. The waterfall is located near the village of Caldeiras de Ribeira Grande, which is located in the central part of the island. To get to the waterfall, you need to move along the mountain river, on the banks of which another attraction of the island is built - an old hydroelectric power station.
Lovers of quiet walks, staying in San Miguel (Portugal, Azores), should definitely visit the Terra Nostra park, which is located in the eastern region of the resort. A visit to this facility is also paid - the cost is 8 euros per person (about 600 rubles). On the territory of such an attraction, you can observe a huge number of unique plants - in total, there are more than 2000 species. Experiencedtravelers recommend taking a map at the entrance to the park, which the employee will offer - it will be easier to navigate. On the territory of Terra Nostra there is a huge thermal spring, the waters of which have healing properties - they have a high content of iron.
Best beaches
Among tourists who prefer to relax in an exotic atmosphere, there are a considerable number of fans of a beach holiday. It is they who are interested in which beaches of San Miguel are the best and most in demand. Travelers from all over the world very often mark with positive comments such holiday destinations as Praia das Milicias, Mosteiros, and Praia dos Moinhos. All of these beaches have one thing in common: they are shallow, and also on their territory there is no light and soft sandy coating familiar to tourists - instead of it, you can observe volcanic rocks that make up the entire island. However, as noted by many experts, the minerals contained in dark grains of sand have healing properties and are incredibly beneficial to the human body.
The most popular among travelers on the island of Sao Miguel is Vila Franca Beach. It is located right in the crater of a long-extinct volcano. The coastal part of the bottom has a predominantly rocky surface, which is pleasant for many vacationers. The peculiarity of such a beach is that in the area where it is formed, there are no waves and winds at all, as a place to relax from all over the world.sides are surrounded by rock formations - the remains of a volcano.
Moinhos is another very popular beach in Sao Miguel (Azores), which is located near the village of Porto Formoso. The coast of a huge recreation area, as well as the coastal part, is covered with dark and coarse sand. Moinhos has a well-developed infrastructure: here you can have fun in a small restaurant or in a club. Toilets, showers, and changing cabins are equipped along the coastline. Near the Moinhos beach there are hotels that offer excellent conditions for accommodation. The rental price of a room in them is from 200 dollars (about 18,500 rubles) per day.
Praia das Milicias is a beach that captivates guests of Sao Miguel (Azores, Portugal) with its picturesque view alone. The conditions of this place for recreation are ideal for families with children: the water is constantly warm here, the coast is rather shallow. The coast and the bottom are covered with coarse sand, and beautiful waves can be constantly observed on the ocean surface.
Lombo Gordo Beach is located in the eastern part of San Miguel (Azores), where excellent climatic conditions reign all year round. The coast, strewn with dark volcanic sand, was once created artificially and ennobled by the hands of local residents. Currently, Lombo Gordo is one of the most favorite beaches of both locals and foreigners who prefer to relax in San Miguel (Azores). A big disadvantage of this area for recreation, many tourists consider itinaccessibility - public transport practically finds itself here, and therefore only those tourists who rent vehicles at special rental points become visitors. There are also no hotels in the area of the beach in question - the nearest of them are located a couple of kilometers away.
What to see in San Miguel? There is one very beautiful natural site - Mosteiros Beach, where you can come to relax on the ocean, while enjoying its natural beauty. In the oceanic surface, here you can observe protruding blocks of rocks, which give a special look to the entire landscape. They also protect the coast well from the winds, which makes tourists very happy. The coastline of the beach is covered with a mixture of stones and dark, pleasant to the touch sand. Surrounded by the beach, there are only expensive places to stay and stay. The cost of renting apartments in hotels ranges from 200 to 600 dollars per day (about 12,500-38,000 rubles). Perhaps that is why Mosteiros tends to be visited by we althy foreign tourists.
Cost of tours
Knowing what to see in San Miguel and what features are typical for this island, many tourists want to visit this exotic resort. A considerable number of tourists are interested in questions about how much a tour to this place costs? It should be noted that the package price directly depends on the region in which the traveler wants to relax and what conditions he wants to be surrounded by.
So, the cost of tours to this resort region,offered by Russian operators starts from $650 (about 37,000 rubles). This price includes only a weekly rental of rooms in a hotel with the condition of living for two. As for the flight and transfer from the airport of San Miguel (Portugal), the transport costs are calculated separately. On average, for tourists who plan to fly from the capital's airports, the price of a flight is about 25,000 rubles (per person).
If desired, tourists can include excursions in their tour package, which are organized on a paid basis. Their price will depend on the destinations, as well as on the conditions of the trip.
