General view of São Miguel (click to enlarge):
Places of interest, attractions and more:
The island's main attraction is its spectacular and, above all, extremely varied landscape, which spans several vegetation zones, is always green and fertile, and always has something in bloom. There are also waterfalls, small lakes, heathland, jungle, cedar forests, cliffs, sandy beaches, active vulcanism with thermal springs, magnificent botanical gardens and leisure parks, and small rest areas with brick barbecues everywhere, often even with toilets and/or running water. The best way to explore the landscape is to park your car at a viewpoint or hiking trail and then continue on foot.
Cycling is possible, but there is no signposted cycle route network. Those who enjoy tackling paved or unpaved roads with gradients of 20% or more will find what they are looking for in the immediate vicinity of Casa Sillanova. However, caution is advised, as Azorean farmers are not used to encountering bicycles on their way to the pasture (for milking). Unpaved hiking trails should generally be avoided to prevent erosion of the mostly laboriously constructed paths. In winter, heavy rainfall occasionally leads to landslides.
Whale watching tours are offered in Vila Franca do Campo, Ponta Delgada, and Mosteiros, which, depending on the boat, can be a sporting challenge. You will always see dolphins, but you need a bit of luck to see large whales. In Vila Franca do Campo, you can also rent kayaks and go on snorkeling tours around the nearby crater island. For experienced divers, full-day diving tours to the manta ray and whale shark areas, about 40 km away, also depart from there from July to September.
In São Miguel, there are many providers of guided hiking tours, canyoning, quad biking and horse riding excursions, but even without a tour operator, you can easily find the most beautiful spots on the island in the brochures and maps available at Casa Sillanova.
There are several museums that focus primarily on the settlement and harsh life on the islands, churches worth seeing, many original villages, and in summer there are a plethora of concerts and festivals.
Bird lovers can observe the endemic Priolo (Azores bullfinch) in the east of the island, and amateur astronomers appreciate the unobstructed view of the Milky Way thanks to the lack of light pollution. In addition, the now unfortunately very crowded Gorreana tea plantation, where tea is produced commercially using 19th-century machines, and the smaller but prettier Porto Formoso plantation are definitely worth a visit.
All in all, you will notice that there is an almost overwhelming variety of different landscapes in a small area and that there is something new to discover around every corner.
Signposted trails with description in less than 45 min driving distance from the Casa Sillanova:
Of course, there are even more tours on »Trails Azores«, which are located west of the depicted section. You can reach all of them by car within a good hour since the island's overall length is only 62 km / 39 mi.
Furthermore, there are several newly located hiking trails, especially in the northeast-region. Descriptions and maps are not available in the internet, but at tourist information points in Nordeste or Ribeira dos Caldeirões (Achada) or in the Casa Sillanova.