The hidden gem of São Miguel Island, the Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande, are vibrant hot springs that reveal current volcanic activity. This secret refuge, surrounded by lush vegetation, offers a unique experience of direct contact with nature, away from the tourist hustle.
This tiny village shows the volcanic activity still present on the Green Island. Between intimate hot springs, cute typical houses, and fumaroles, discover this off-the-beaten-path spot where Mother Nature shows its power away from the crowd.
What is Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande
Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande is a quiet town where peace and nature reign together. The vegetation around the public areas makes it a great place to have a picnic at the barbecue area. There, you will certainly enjoy the volcanic wonders of the Azores.
Indeed, in addition to displaying interesting geological features like fumaroles, boilers, and different water springs, it is mostly known by locals to be a relaxing hot springs spot. Also, people go there for its potholes to cook meals under the ground.
Geology & Volcanology
Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande is located on the North flank of Fogo Volcano, one of the three active volcanoes on the island. And you can truly see the living volcanic activity in this village.
If you are easily amazed by our planet’s curiosities, then Caldeiras has some fascinating stuff to show you.
Although this place is less famous than the big ‘geological theme park’ of Furnas, its fumaroles are just as impressive, and its hot springs just as warm and welcoming.
Due to the strong geological phenomena, CO2 measurement sensors were installed in 2012. This allows to monitor the air quality and ensures safety. When the values exceed the recommended limit, the authorities receive an alert to provide better ventilation in the buildings of the town, as it is located inside a valley surrounded by trees.
History & Geography
It doesn’t seem like it, but if you look closely, Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande is a place full of History.
Did you know
Some say that king D Carlos and queen D Amélia visited the town when they traveled to the Azores back in 1901.
It is also here where the oldest stone pool is located. The pool once belonged to the Moreira family, in their house built in 1803. It was then integrated into the Banhos da Coroa (The crown’s baths) in 1811. Those are the hot springs that you can see nowadays.
Caldeiras is located on the Northern part of São Miguel island. It is in the countryside of Matriz – one of the 14 municipalities of the Ribeira Grande county.
Fauna & Flora
The village is located inside a lush forest with plenty of vegetation. There is a river of fresh water crossing the entire town.
Inside the subtropical vegetation, you can find typical species of a Laurissilva forest (plants from the laurel family).
For the fauna part, don’t forget to look up for birds of all sizes. But also down for some cute little rabbits if you are lucky.
What to do at Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande
You can easily spend the day at Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande. Begin with a hike, then have a picnic at the park. Or opt for a yummy warm stew at the volcanic holes, and end your day in the hot waters of the spring, for instance.
Relax at the hot springs
The oldest hot swimming pool on São Miguel island was built here in the 19th century at Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande. But its thermal waters were even used before that, in the 17th century, in order to cure diseases. It was quite famous locally to get healing volcanic waters.
The hot springs were closed for more than 30 years because of the deterioration of the place. But it reopened in 2016 with lots of work but without changing the beautiful architecture. The new manager even added Spa services on reservation like volcanic mud massage, face masks, and a private inside pool.
This is the ideal spot to end your day after a walk. Enjoy a revigorating thermal bath in the 2 pools of clear blue waters with temperatures varying from 32 to 40ºC (90 to 104ºF), depending on the weather conditions.
The pools are less popular than the other hot springs on the island, sometimes you can even be alone. They are also much cheaper. As of 2022, they are 3 euros for 1 hour. Plus, they are open from 10 am to 10 pm – a great place to watch the night sky and stay warm.
Visit the town
The tiny town of Caldeiras has many little houses with a maximum of 2 floors. They are almost all lined up along the main road. Most of the houses were built in the 19th century, although some of them were renovated.
At the center of the village, you can see a big pool of boiling water, as well as 2 other holes with hot thermal water near the park. Also in the center, visit the Geothermal Interpretative Center ‘Casa das Caldeiras’. It opened in 2022 with the goal to expose the geothermal world present in Caldeiras to the public in an interactive and dynamic way.
At the highest point of the town, you can see a chapel built in 1850 honoring Nossa Senhora da Saúde (Our lady of health). From up there, you will be able to have a great view of the village.
Cook a stew in the ground
Just outside of the village center, on the left when you leave, walk up and go to the Cozido area. There, you will find 9 holes to cook your stew inside, thanks to the volcanic heat.
Did you know
Since 2014, the city hall of Ribeira Grande along with EDA (the official electricity provider of the Azores) provide the holes for free for locals and travelers to cook their own stew.
It is the same process as in Furnas, however, you do not need to pay for this one. Over 100 stews are made every week at Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande. Note that it takes about 5 to 6 hours to cook ingredients properly.
See the North coast from the viewpoint
In 2021, a new parking lot was built right next to the stew holes with a capacity for 15 cars, making this picnic and leisure area even better.
From there, you can have a great view over the north coast of São Miguel island and the beautiful ocean, according to the weather. Enjoy the swing and take beautiful pictures of our green island.
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Best time to visit Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande
Best season
Depending on what you want to do, Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande can be a great place to visit all year round. In order to fully enjoy the hot springs, the wintertime is definitely a good time to go relax in the warm waters. When it rains, it gets even better!
If you want to hike, have a picnic and simply enjoy the outdoors, then the summertime is your best bet to have nice weather. This town rarely gets crowded with tourists and you will mostly see locals, unlike other geothermal hotspots around the island.
Best time of the day
Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande is one of the few hot springs open at night, so you should definitely enjoy the pools after sunset for a unique stargazing experience.
If you want to explore and maybe hike, go in the morning so that you arrive at the perfect time for an outdoorsy lunch.
Plan your visit to Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande
Here is all the practical information you will need to visit Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande and have a wonderful day at this geothermal paradise.
How to get to Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande
Caldeiras is located in the middle of São Miguel island. It takes about 30 minutes to go there by car from the main city of Ponta Delgada – about 24km.
There is no public transportation to go to this quite remote location. The only way to go there is by renting a car, taking a cab, or having a guided tour. Futurismo has a hiking tour passing by this small village.
If you decide to rent a car, be careful with the road as it is not a concrete one and there is none or very little network on the way there. At night, it is not well lit and the road is quite narrow.
What to bring to Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande
For the hot springs, don’t forget your swimming suit, a towel, and flip-flops for your comfort.
To visit the village and surroundings, bring good walking shoes, a rainjacket, sunscreen, water, and snacks, and why not a whole picnic lunch?
Where to eat near Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande
If you need a place to eat nearCaldeiras da Ribeira Grande, click here. In this link, you will find the Top 10 restaurants on Tripadvisor.
Where to Stay near Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande
In order to make it easier for you, we already filtered the search on:
- Airbnb
- and Booking.com
Pro Tips
For the hot springs, be careful to not bring a white or clear-colored swimsuit. The iron in the water can turn them orange. Also, take off any jewelry and do not wet your hair, especially if artificially colored.
At the volcanic holes, try to cook your own local stew – called a Cozido. Maybe try speaking to your hotel staff or local accommodation people to arrange cooking materials. Otherwise, you can always try it in Furnas.
What to do around Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande
This is such a beautiful region full of natural surprises. From hiking to visiting the second-biggest city of the island, exploring one of the most beautiful lakes and going to a hot spring in the middle of a jungle, here are some of the best things you can do around Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande.
Hike Caldeiras – Salto do Cabrito (PRC29 SMI)
This circular hike of 8.5km takes about 2h30 and starts at the center of Caldeiras. You will walk by the volcanic holes, then along a pipeline. Pass by the beautiful dam and go back to the pipeline towards hydroelectric power plants. Then, it takes you right to the famous Salto do Cabrito, a tall waterfall where canyoners love to rappel. Walking up to the concrete road, you will then enter a forest with some cute bridges to cross rivers before finally heading back to Caldeiras.
Visit Ribeira Grande
Ribeira Grande is the surfers’ paradise on São Miguel island with its world-famous beach of Santa Barbara. This city on the North Coast is full of history, and you can learn all about it at the different museums in town.
👉 Post related Best Beaches in the Azores Islands. Read more
Explore Lagoa do Fogo
This is certainly one of the most beautiful and popular places on the green island. Lagoa do Fogo is a lake of pristine waters inside a volcanic crater, all surrounded by untouched nature. Hike down to the lake beach and explore this wonder of nature.
Chill at Caldeira Velha
One of the most beautiful hot springs on the island of São Miguel is undoubtedly Caldeira Velha. With its 4 warm pools in the middle of a lush jungle and its well-known waterfall, this is an idyllic spot to relax in thermal waters.
Complementary Info
Cultural Agenda in São Miguel island
São Miguel island has a lot of cultural events to offer year-round. You can check the complete upcoming events list on the following link. View the Agenda!
How to get to São Miguel island
There are many different ways that travelers can get to São Miguel island by plane. The main entrance points are via Lisbon and Oporto (on the mainland), but there are already many direct routes.
The best way to find a flight that works for you is to use a flight search engine like eDreams or Skyscanner. As you may already know, these websites allow you to compare prices and schedules from multiple airlines all in one place.
Once you’ve found a flight that works for you, all you need to do is book it! And then, in just a few short hours, you’ll be on your way to one of the most beautiful archipelagos in the world.
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Conclusion
At Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande you can live a truly peaceful day surrounded by nature. Good for the body and also for the soul, reinvigorate at the hot springs and walk surrounded by beautiful green landscapes.
Away from tourist crowds, this is the true spirit of the Azores island: quiet, lush, and simply unique in itself. Discover a typical village forgotten by international visitors where Azoreans enjoy life ‘in a simple way’.
We hope you found in this article all you need to know about Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande and that one day you can come to visit this magical place. If you are coming to São Miguel island, consider adding this village to your itinerary.
Authors’ Note
I’m pleased to inform you that all the recommendations in this article are based on my experience and observations. As the author, I have personally visited each attraction mentioned, ensuring that every suggestion is grounded in first-hand knowledge and genuine enthusiasm.
References
Mendonça, L. (2017). Perguntas e Respostas sobre a História dos Açores. 2ª Edição, Letras Lavadas. Ponta Delgada
Forjaz, V., Ribeiro, L., Almeida, L., Pereira, N. e Rodrigues, J. (2019). Dos Vulcões dos Açores. 4ª Edição, Letras Lavadas. Ponta Delgada
Rodeia, C. e Rodrigues, J. A. (2013). Açores – ilhas de Sonho. (2013). Açores – ilhas de Sonho. 3ª Edição, Publiçor – Publicações e Publicidade, Lda. Ponta Delgada
Termas das Caldeiras Official Website
Azores Trails – Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande – Salto do Cabrito
