São Miguel

• 🌍 Ponta Delgada is the capital city of São Miguel, the economic heart of the island, and the administrative capital of the Azores region. Containing the island chain's major airport and the only major cruise ship terminal, many visitors to the region pass through Ponta Delgada before continuing to other destinations in the archipelago. The historic centre and most tourist attractions are located along the coastal Avenida Infante D. Henrique, which extends from the fort of São Brás in the southwest of the city to Clube Naval and the southeast Marina, and includes Campo de São Francisco, the Igreja Matriz (main church), the "Portas da Cidade" (City Gates) and the new "Portas do Mar" development.
• 🌍 Sete Cidades is a parish covering the western part of the island, including the famous twin crater lakes, Lagoa Azul (Blue Lake) and Lagoa Verde (Green Lake).
• 🌍 Lagoa
• 🌍 Nordeste, the northeastern section of São Miguel, contains many beautiful landscapes. Peppered with mountain peaks, forests, and river valleys, it is a popular spot for canyoning and other outdoor adventures.
• 🌍 Povoação
• 🌍 Furnas, the largest parish on the island, is famous for its geothermal activity. Hot springs and geysers are prevalent, and traditional meals are cooked via thermal energy in pots buried in the ground.
• 🌍 Ribeira Grande, the second largest city (pop. 32,112 in 2011), is the gateway to the north and 20 minutes away from Ponta Delgada. It is known for its beautiful historic centre, its northern beaches for windsurfing, as well as being one of better access points to Lagoa do Fogo crater lake.
• 🌍 Vila Franca de Campo is located on the southern coast of the island, further east than Ponta Delgada. Vila Franca was the original capital city of the Azores before a violent earthquake and subsequent landslide in 1522 destroyed much of the city and forced the capital to relocate to Ponta Delgada. A volcanic crater off the coast created a perfectly circular islet which is a protected nature sanctuary and a popular place for snorkeling. An hourly ferry carries snorkelers to and from the islet.

The most common entry point to the island is at Ponta Delgada, the island's capital, which is accessible by boat and plane.

Although São Miguel (SUHNW mee-GEHL, /ˈsɐ̃w mi.ˈgɛɫ/) is the largest of the Azores Islands in area, the vast majority of the island's 138,000 inhabitants live in the capital city of Ponta Delgada, which as of 2011 had a population of just under 69,000, with the rest of the population clustered in a handful of cities and towns. Cities are a quaint mix of modern and traditional architecture, with beautiful old churches, windmills, and cobblestone streets existing beside more contemporary development.

The rest of the island is a showcase to its spectacular natural landscape, with rolling hills, green forests, picturesque waterfalls and beautiful ocean views. Like most of the Azores, São Miguel has volcanic origins, and the remnants of several dormant volcanic cones create much of the island's scenic attractions, including the twin lakes of the Sete Cidades, Lagoa de Fogo (Fire Lake), and the popular snorkeling islet off the coast of Villa Franca de Campo. The island is geothermically active, especially in the Furnas area; bathing in natural hot springs is a popular activity and traditional meals are cooked in pots inside active vents.

Those who enjoy outdoors adventure will love the island's numerous hiking trails and opportunities for kayaking, cycling, canyoning, surfing, and diving. Whale watching is also a popular activity in the summer months, as a diverse range of whale species can be found near the island. Although there are beaches of the black, volcanic, sand variety, most of the coastline is rocky and the surf and currents dangerous so it is not the ideal location for a traditional laid-back island beach vacation. However, for those who love the outdoors and a bit of adventure, São Miguel has a lot to offer.

Some of the best sights can be found on foot, and hiking is a popular activity on the island. Trail maps can be found at Trails Azores and the phone app, HikeMe Portugal is useful for on-the-go navigation.

• 🌍 Casa Maria de Deus, Rua III Visconde Botelho 4, Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, Povoação, ☏ +351 296 559 076, maria@casamariadedeus.com. Casa Maria de Deus has been a home for many people travelling to the area for 25 years. A comfortable place to stay in a small village and experience village life of times past. 

There is very little crime on the island. Most crimes are drug-related and are generally localized to Ponta Delgada and Ribeira Grande. However, petty theft from vehicles does occur, so it is prudent to lock your car and not leave any valuables in sight, especially when parking at trail heads for an extended hike.

Exercise caution driving as roads are often narrow, with blind curves and steep inclines. Wandering livestock and poor lighting are also potential hazards. Pay close attention to any warning signs regarding inclines and avoid dirt or poorly designated roads that are unfamiliar as their conditions may deteriorate at a point in which it is too late to turn back and can cause serious damage to your vehicle. Some deteriorated roads are populated by thieves looking to pilfer from broken-down vehicles.

On the beaches, watch out for large waves and strong undertow currents and obey any lifeguards or warning flags which may be present. Unsurprisingly, the Azores, including São Miguel, contain one of the world's largest populations of the venomous Portuguese Man 'o War. The largest concentration of the jellyfish-like creatures appear in the spring, and they can be windswept into sheltered areas. Swimmers should be vigilant for plastic-bottle looking "floats" which may be tinged purple or blue, and be very wary of what lies below the ocean's surface as their tentacles extend an average of 8 feet away from the float, but can be as long as 46 m (156 feet). Their tentacles cause an extremely painful sting, even if the Man 'o War is dead. Never touch a Portuguese Man 'o War, even if it is washed up on the shore, and beware of tentacles hidden beneath the sand. If you are stung, do not touch the tentacles but apply ocean water to remove them from the skin. Do not apply fresh cold water and do not urinate on the stung area, as this will cause the sting to worsen. Also do not use an EpiPen as this can cause a dangerous reaction. Soaking the affected area in hot water mixed with Epsom salts is recommended, and if a severe envenomation is observed, such as difficulty breathing, disorientation, dizziness, or extreme pain, seek medical attention immediately.

Santa Maria, nicknamed "The Sun Island," is the southeasternmost island in the Azores. With white sand beaches and protected natural tidal pools, Santa Maria is one of the more popular islands for swimming. The small island is a thirty-minute flight or a three-hour boat ride from Ponta Delgada. Interisland flights can be booked on SATA Air Açores. Atlanticoline runs seasonal ferry service between Ponta Delgada and Vila do Porto, Santa Maria's marina, during the summer months.

Terceira, nicknamed "The Lilac Island," is a six-hour boat ride or 45-minute flight from Ponta Delgada. Unlike Santa Maria and São Miguel, which are rather spread out, Terceira is part of the Central Group of islands in the archipelago, along with Pico, Faial, São Jorge and Graciosa, which are closer together and easier to travel between.