You'll have to split your time between the peaks and the museums in Sao Miguel. Those with Sao Miguel vacation rentals in Ponta Delgada will find it easy to delve into the medley of gun batteries, half-crumbled forts and naval relics at the Military Museum of the Azores. The Carlos Machado Museum is more famous, offering tales of Azorean history and botanical specimens from the island's backcountry. Those done, the famous Lagoa das Sete Cidades beckon on the massifs above, steeped in legends and laurel forests _ it's not to be missed.
Sao Miguel is a perfect destination for budding adventurers. The island's rugged volcanic heart is a place where huge massifs of grass-topped stone crash down to lagoons and craters, creating a veritable playground for hikers through the blooms of rhododendrons and natural hot-spring spas that pockmark the landscape. Out at sea, it's about marine safaris. Brave the waves there to wonder at fin whales, blue whales, humpbacks and bottlenose dolphins, all under the gaze of Sao Miguel's sheer-cut coastal cliffs.
Summer runs from June to August and see the hottest days with average temperatures regularly around the 70s. Booking Sao Miguel vacation rentals then will mean getting the top hiking and sightseeing conditions for sure. The spring _ in April and May _ is often touted by whale watching organizers as the prime season, thanks largely to the huge numbers of creatures in the surrounding waters. Winter is bound to be quieter, but be ready for chilly winds and lots of rain.
Sao Miguel's a green island, rising from the Atlantic Ocean more than 930 miles from the coast of mainland Portugal. Its backcountry was forged by ancient volcanic eruptions that built up deep craters now dressed in misty laurel forests and grassy pastures. It's there that the chiseled calderas of the Agua de Pau Massif and the Sete Cidades hide their glistening lakes, surrounded by rhododendron blooms and beautiful wildflower meadows. The coast is a rugged affair, complete with black-sand beaches topped with mighty cliffs. Whales and dolphins are common in the waters.
Our 2021 property listings offer a large selection of 668 vacation rentals around Sao Miguel Island. From 48 villa rentals to 423 house rentals, find a unique house rental for you to enjoy a memorable holiday or a weekend with your family and friends.