PONTA DELGADA HIKING FIELD GUIDE
A day of markets, chefs and steaming lagoons: Furnas - Chefe por um dia
A full‑day culinary and landscape outing at Lagoa das Furnas that combines a market run, chef‑led lunch preparation, a lakeside walk and the chance to bathe in thermal waters, useful for planning logistics and expectations.
A day of markets, chefs and steaming lagoons: Furnas - Chefe por um dia.
At Lagoa das Furnas the day unfolds around food and steam: you begin by sourcing fresh ingredients in a local market, watch chefs assemble a regional lunch cooked amid volcanic caldeiras, walk the easy path around the lagoon and can pause to soak in thermal waters before returning to Ponta Delgada.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Market to table: buying ingredients and watching the chefs
The day starts at Mercado da Graça to collect fish, vegetables, regional wine and bread; later, chefs demonstrate their skill preparing the lunch that will be unearthed beside the lagoon.
A gentle circuit around Lagoa das Furnas
After the kitchen work is done, the group walks a very easy path around the Lagoa das Furnas, finishing in the parish of Furnas and taking in the caldeiras and picnic areas where the meal is served.
Soak and steam: Poça da Dona Beija and the caldeiras
The itinerary includes the possibility of a bath in the thermal waters of Poça da Dona Beija and stops at the caldeiras and the acidic waters (águas azedas) around the Furnas basin.
What the day feels like
What the day feels like
This is a composed, full‑day experience that threads practical food gathering, hands‑on culinary theatre and low‑effort exploration of Furnas’ volcanic landscape — a rhythm of market bustle, chef demonstrations, an easy lakeside walk, thermal water pauses and a communal meal served at the picnic area before a scenic return along the north coast.
THE CULINARY
Market to table: buying ingredients and watching the chefs
The day starts at Mercado da Graça to collect fish, vegetables, regional wine and bread; later, chefs demonstrate their skill preparing the lunch that will be unearthed beside the lagoon.
THE ROUTE
A gentle circuit around Lagoa das Furnas
After the kitchen work is done, the group walks a very easy path around the Lagoa das Furnas, finishing in the parish of Furnas and taking in the caldeiras and picnic areas where the meal is served.
THE THERMAL
Soak and steam: Poça da Dona Beija and the caldeiras
The itinerary includes the possibility of a bath in the thermal waters of Poça da Dona Beija and stops at the caldeiras and the acidic waters (águas azedas) around the Furnas basin.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this experience suits — and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The full experience lasts 8 horas; pickup from the hotel is scheduled at 07:45.
Included: pick‑up/drop‑off (free in P. Delgada or on the route; fees may apply outside the route), insurance, a guide and lunch. Excluded: park and museum entrance fees and any supplements not mentioned in the program.
The itinerary notes the possibility of a bath in the thermal waters of Poça da Dona Beija and visits to the caldeiras and águas azedas.
Published prices: Adulto (11+) €100; Criança (4–10) €45; Infantil (0–3) free.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
What time is the pickup?
Pickup at the hotel is at 07:45.
How long is the activity?
The trip duration is 8 horas.
What is included in the price?
Included are pick‑up/drop‑off (free in P. Delgada or on the route; fees may apply outside the route), insurance, a guide and lunch.
Are entrance fees to parks and museums included?
No. Entry to parks and museums and any supplements not mentioned in the program are excluded.
What are the prices by age group?
Adulto 11+ costs €100; Criança 4–10 costs €45; Infantil 0–3 is free.
Will there be a chance to bathe in thermal waters?
The itinerary includes the possibility of a bath at Poça da Dona Beija.