The smell of sulphur and boiling, steaming hot springs make volcanic activity tangible in the Furnas Valley. The volcanic complex includes Lagoa das Furnas, fumarole fields, and mineral and thermal springs. It has been designated a Ramsar site since 2008 and is part of a Special Area of Conservation within the Natura 2000 network. The landscape thus brings together geothermal features, protected areas, gardens and trails.
Hot springs and regional cuisine
Poça da Dona Beija is a thermal bathing complex in the Vale das Furnas, built around an iron-rich spring that is naturally heated by volcanic activity. The five thermal pools vary in depth and temperature; their average temperature is 39°C. As bathing conditions may change, check the latest information before your visit.
Terra Nostra Park also combines water and plants: it features a thermal pool and more than 2,000 different trees. Termas das Furnas is another thermal centre, with around 30 types of water at different temperatures, as well as pavilions and a 19th-century thermal hospital. The sites offer different experiences: from the pool, to the variety of trees, to the history of the thermal centre.
Geothermal heat also shapes a regional dish. At the Furnas Caldeiras, traditional Cozido Ă Portuguesa is cooked using the internal heat of the Furnas volcano. This makes the Caldeiras a distinct stop alongside the springs and pools for anyone interested in the connection between the volcanic landscape and cuisine.
Trails, viewpoints and gardens
Two hiking trails offer different views of Furnas. The PRC06SMI reaches Pico do Milho, whose summit offers a view across the Furnas Valley. The PRC22 SMI Grená–Pico do Ferro trail starts at the Pico do Ferro viewpoint and offers views of the valley and the lagoon. The routes therefore differ both in their starting point or destination and in whether the view includes the lagoon.
Parque da Grená lies by Lagoa das Furnas and offers trails through diverse plant and animal life, as well as to waterfalls. The park also includes a ruined manor house and the first tree-top adventure park in the Azores, which it was converted into. Parque da Grená is open to visitors year-round according to a schedule and for an admission fee; check visiting hours in advance.
On the southern shore of Lagoa das Furnas, Mata-Jardim José do Canto includes Vale dos Fetos and the Salto do Rosal waterfall. Visits to the private José do Canto Garden are available according to a schedule and for an admission fee; it is partially accessible to people with reduced mobility. The gardens described therefore differ both in their landscape features and in the information provided about visiting them.
Parque D. Beatriz do Canto is a 19th-century romantic park with lawns, a plane-tree avenue, a lake and a suspension bridge. It was formerly called Parque das Murtas and lies in the bed of the Ribeira das Murtas stream, which runs through Furnas. The park’s house and garden are classified as an “Imóvel de Interesse Público” (Property of Public Interest).
Chapel, churches and interpretation
The Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias stands on the western shore of Lagoa das Furnas and is a unique neo-Gothic building in the Azores archipelago. José do Canto commissioned its construction in the late 19th century and is buried there. Construction of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Alegria also began in Furnas, in the early 20th century, in the neo-Romanesque Revival style.
The Furnas Environmental Interpretation Centre presents the history and development of the Furnas volcano. It uses exhibitions, interactive tools, multimedia platforms and guided tours; the lagoon ecosystem is also covered, alongside the volcano. OMIC – Observatório Microbiano dos Açores focuses on microorganisms and the microbial biodiversity of the Furnas thermal springs and the volcanic caves of the Azores. It is housed in the historic Casa de Banhos Termais building and offers permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as hands-on activities.
Discover more destinations: Urzelina, FajĂŁ Grande, Horta, Ginetes, Topo, SĂŁo Miguel, Mosteiros, Ponta Garca.
For the main travel overview: Azores.
