Azores Hot Springs: Where Nature Heals and Adventure Begins

Your Trip to the Azores is incomplete until you visit the Azores hot springs. These places are an ideal escape from your daily life to help your mind and body get some relaxation and experience tranquility. Imagine finding bubbling springs in the forest. You can see steam rising from the water. Minerals and medicinal elements in the water relieve aches and pains. 

In this guide, we’ll be giving you a rundown of the São Miguel hot springs, the thermal sights of Furnas, and even a couple of bonus hot springs thrown in too to help you plan your Azores hot spring tours Adventure. Let’s go!

Before we start, there are a few things you should know about these hot springs.

The first and possibly best hot spring is in Furnas, Furnas Valley. The village smells like sulfur because water bubbles in the caldeiras around it due to volcanic activity.  

The mother of all thermal pools is in the magnificent Terra Nostra Gardens.

The seas are full of minerals and seem orange. They stain everything they touch, even you and your swimwear. But the orange color is not a big deal since the hot water and the way your skin feels smooth from the healing effects.

There are many hotter thermal spas a short walk from the main pool, concealed among the trees. It feels like you're in a hot tub in the jungle when you step into their milky blue mineral water surrounded by lush green plants. There are showers and changing facilities near the hot springs, so you may wash off and then walk about the grounds. Book your Furnas hot springs ticket in advance. But don't forget to bring your towel, because they won't give you one.

Caldera Velha, the Azores' most famous relaxing hot water pools. Tall tree ferns, hot fumaroles, and a flowing waterfall make this location feel like a tropical rainforest paradise. There are 4 hot pools at 38ºC, but the most beautiful is the thermal waterfall; however, it is frigid at 24ºC.

Visitors can buy Azores hot springs tickets at the entrance if they're available or book online one day in advance. Tickets grant access to a 1½ hour session for bathing and exploring the center, including the exhibition center. Each slot can accommodate up to 100 people, making the area congested.

Try taking photos between slots when you'll have 5-10 minutes to yourself, or just relax in the pools and chat.

Dona Beija is an undervalued Portuguese island hot spring. A tiny but lovely hot spring park west of Furnas town with soothing infinity pools and waving papyrus and banana trees. The facility features four 39ºC pools and a 28ºC thermal river in the center of the gardens. The cave where hot thermal water flows can also be visited.

The longest opening hours in Furnas make this spa ideal for early morning or late-night soaks. Each ticket provides a 1½ bathing period in the pools, which are open until 11 pm with last access at 9:30 pm.

This spa resort in the Azores has the highest iron concentration of any Azores hot spring, so resting against the pool walls or floors may stain your skin and swimwear, but you'll benefit from the minerals! Free cold showers and €1 hot showers are available, as are changing rooms and lockers. Before leaving, browse the gift shop for Azorean volcanic stone jewelry.

The two hot springs at Ponta da Ferraria—the fee-paying spa/restaurant/bar and the free ocean-side pools a short walk away—are combined here.

The Termas da Ferraria spa offers massages and spa treatments with access to the solitary outdoor hot pool for a few hours, five days a week. Due to its isolated location and high cost, this property is mostly used as a bar and restaurant rather than a spa.

The free hot springs at Ponta da Ferraria are a natural wonder. The black lava rocks contain a hot volcanic center that heats sea water, creating steam and a natural bathing wonder with water temperatures ranging from 18ºC to 28ºC. A ladder and rope allow access and wave protection.

Plan your visit because this pool is only open two hours before and after high tide. In winter, when the Atlantic is ferocious, the pool is unsafe to use and has too many hot spring safety tips; we saw someone fall in and nearly break his skull on the rocks trying to enter in wavy conditions, so visit in summer.

Termas das Caldeiras is the cheapest Azores hot springs spa in Furnas. It is very near Poca da Dona Beija. For four euros, you can use one 39-degree hot pool. You can use three different pools if you book a treatment at the spa, which sounds like the best way to calm down and rest your mind and body.

The hotel is open until 10 p.m., so people can take late-night baths and relax. This pool is more popular with locals because it is cheaper and not as nice to look at as some of the other pools on this list. But if you want a peaceful place to swim on a budget, this pool might be just what you need.

Octant · Furnas is a prominent natural hot spring in the Azores, offering boutique hotels, great restaurants, thermal waters, and a luxurious experience. Book your Furnas hot springs ticket in advance.

The hotel's spa is fueled by the iron-rich Quente das Quenturas spring, which flows at 59ºC and is cooled to a more comfortable bathing temperature of 30ºC to 40ºC. Azores hot springs hotels have indoor and outdoor thermal pools, a thermal circuit, and a typical spa for massages, cleanses, and treatments. Unlike the hotel pools, which are only for guests, the thermal circuit uses pools, saunas, and baths to provide hydrotherapy for €40 for 2h30 min.

Tourists typically miss the Termas Do Carapcho on Graciosa, the only thermal pool in the spa resorts in the Azores that isn't on São Miguel island. It's free.

You don't have to reserve ahead of time or fight for the best spot for a selfie. Just come up and get a ticket for a half-hour session. The number of people in the pool will determine how many spots are available. The pool can fit up to 10 bathers at a time.

A thermal spring feeds the outdoor pool, and seawater is added to make the water warm enough to swim in. There are only two pools. You can use this pool 24/7. In addition, the harbor allows for Azores hot springs swimming in the clear Atlantic Ocean.

You must bring your towel, flip-flops, and cap, but you can buy one there. Site lockers and changing rooms are available.

The Azores Islands are an ideal destination for travelers to explore adventures and hiking. The Azores Hot Springs are the most terrific spot to rejuvenate and relax allowing the tepid, mineral-rich water to embrace your body.

It will help your tired muscles feel better and give you energy. There are natural thermal water healing properties in these hot springs that will put you in a state of blissful relaxation. The views will leave you speechless.

The Azores Holidays is not just a travel company, but we are your travel partners. Book the Best hot springs in the Azores with us and make every moment of your trip unforgettable. 

The Ferraria Thermal Baths, Terra Nostra Park, and Poça da Dona Beija near Furnas are some of the most prominent hot springs in the Azores. 

Yes, it is considered safe to swim in the hot springs. However, temperatures can change, so it's important to read safety guidelines and follow them.

Don't forget to pack a towel, some drinks, sunscreen, clothing, and flip-flops.

You can go to the Azores all year round. But be careful to check the hours of operation before of time, as they may change with the seasons. 

You can usually just walk into most hot springs, but do check if Terra Nostra and Poça da Dona Beija require reservations, as they do get crowded. The simplest way to avoid being late is to have a booking.