furnas

JenniferH48216

Make sure you have an opportunity to eat the regional food slowly cooked in underground cauldrons. The meal contains chicken, pork, beef, sausage, kale, cabbage, carrot, potato, yam and sweet potato.

amc158

Yes, this is a HT hut, belonging to the local electricity company.Unusual architecture draws the attention of passers by.

Korylea

It was great to wander around this town and discover the little natural treasures - hot steam billowing from the earth, pits of bubbling mud. Some could even be seen in people's backyards. Most were in public areas, and were safely and adequately labeled. Great food at Tony's, and at the Cantina near the entrance to the Poca da Dona Beija

JWoods92

This is one of the most spectacularly beautiful towns I've ever seen. The architecture is very classic European, but it definitely has its own character to it as well.Furnas is known for its iron-rich hot springs (a must if you visit) as well as the tradition of cooking large stews in pots underground by means of volcanic steam. This stew of meats and vegetables was absolutely delicious! Go on a tour if you can, the tour guides know the best way to make sure you get to experience everything that this town has to offer. I recommend Futurismo Tours (www.futurismo.pt) if you're staying in Ponta Delgada - experienced staff with a wide range of linguistic abilities.This town is a hidden gem if there ever was one - how many people can say they've visited a town that's sitting on top of a volcano? Spectacular scenery ties everything together. Visit this town if you're in the Azores!

HeatherL316

Mountains that give views of the ocean on either side of the island surround this little village in a crater. Geothermal hoy springs are all over. Bubbling, sulfurous, steaming, hissing....its primordial and awesome!There are many, many pipes that run with different kinds of natural waters. Bring your water. Bottle and fill it up with your favorite. My favorite had a slight, natural effervescence. The town has a sulfurish smell, but it is not off putting. There are constant steam clouds. And where else can you cook your dinner in the magma heated earth?The Terra Nostra Gardens are a must see. Plan to spend the whole day there as it is truly a magical place and deserves to be thoroughly explored!Don't forget to walk around Furnas Lake while you are there. You will see where and how the local stews are cooked in the ground, and on the other side is a fairy tale like forest complete with wizards carved out of trees, pink houses, odd cubes in an obvious but unidentifiable pattern and an amazing chapel that is covered in moss and ferns and even small trees that is being taken back by nature.

FinnogL-L

Enjoy the the Furnas Volcano steam comming out o the earth. The village is interesting "sitting on top" of a volcano. Two places in the city where you can see and smell (Uhf) the inside of our mother earth.

954tp

the hot spring were very relaxing, wear something old as the sulfer will ruin it. witnessed the cooking of the "cozido" in the earth, and also enjoyed eating it afterward, at O Miroma

205ruthr

Four things to know before going to the hot springs: 1) The entry fee is 2 euro. 2) Bring a towel or they will charge you a fee to rent one. 3) Don't wear a bathing suit you care about because the orange iron in the water might affect the color. 4) Don't listen to the guards who suggest putting the orange iron on your face and hair. It will dry you out.

needles4ewe

A quiet village, easy to walk around and lots to see. The highlight is the Terra Nostra Botanical Park with its outdoor thermal swimming pool. With your park entrance fee you can swim there or it is free if staying at the hotel. Take an old bathing suit...it might get ruined! You can see the hot springs, or drive out to Lake Furnas to see the springs where they cook the Cozido for the local restaurants. There are lots of good restaurants so, come here to relax. There are many scenic drives to go on from here.

JuliaM302

Quaint and charming village nestled among hot springs in a crater. There are a couple of places that you can enjoy the hot springs, and the center of town has the different springs marked. Really fun to experience.

447SandraA

Have just returned from a cruise on the P&O Adonia, from Southampton to Lisbon, then to the Azores before crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Excellent cruise. Spent 1 day in Sao Miguel so decided on an island tour. Friends recommended a lady taxi driver `Isabel Rego` who they had used before and having fought off several other drivers we found her. She really loves her Island and took us to many interesting places off the beaten track. One which really impressed us was the Caldeiras at Lagoa das Furnas. Boiling hot sulphur-smelling water bubbling up through natural holes in the ground which the locals use for cooking a speciality stew. We found the island really delightful and it was made even better due to her knowledge and friendliness. Remember her name if you visit this island - ISOBEL REGO

lcsugarfarm

It's hard to believe that people would build their homes next to bubbling, steaming springs. Around the most active, they put up Christmas decorations! The red roofs tucked into the valley surrounded by green, green fields was extremely picturesque and relaxing. I want to take my husband back here.

RosemaryS80

We loved Furnas. So much to see. We enjoyed the thermal baths. So relaxing. Then we saw the cozida being pulled from the ground and then went to a great restaurant to eat the cozida for lunch. It was fun walking around the town seeing all the steam rising from the ground. Also interesting to sample the water fountains with drinking water that was delicious. Part of the town was like stepping back in time. We really enjoyed our day there.

22garylee

Not much to see in the town, I had the food from the Furnas but the other restaurants were better.The lake and hot water coming out of the ground are a must see.

Mark_Dornoch

This is a lovely way to spend a day. Driving from the south there is a car park on the right hand side of the road just as you reach Lagoa das Furnas. You have to pay on departure but it is cheap. Park there and then walk clockwise around the Lagoa. The research and monitoring station is worth a visit, the staff and displays are very informative. You then walk past a number of sculptures, including the Lock Ness Monster (much to our amusement) and then arrive at the 'kitchen' area where the food is cooked in the ground. Plenty of geothermal activity there. You can take a detour to a large waterfall to your left if you have time, alternatively complete your walk around the Lagoa and collect your car. Then drive into the town of Furnas and visit the Terra Nostra Gardens (see separate review). We then walked into the centre of town and had lunch at Tony's (see separate review) and then onto Poca da Dona Beija (see separate review) before driving back to Ponta Delgada.There are plenty of trails if you want to do more walking.A lovely day out.