Is it true you can bathe in natural hot springs in the Azores?

Yes, you can. And not just dip your hand in warm water. You can actually sit inside steaming volcanic pools while it’s raining outside. São Miguel is basically a geothermal playground.

Because the island is volcanic, underground water gets heated by geothermal activity and rises back to the surface rich in minerals. That’s why the water is warm, sometimes very warm, and often slightly orange or brown. That color is iron. Not dirt. Not pollution. Just nature doing chemistry.

The most famous spots are Poça da Dona Beija in Furnas, where you have several small thermal pools surrounded by lush vegetation. Then there’s Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande, right in the north coast, where hot springs flow into natural stone pools with a more local, raw vibe. And of course Terra Nostra Park, the iconic giant thermal pool inside a botanical garden, with that deep golden water that looks almost unreal in photos.

Each one feels different. Different temperature. Different setting. Same volcanic heat underneath.

And yes, it’s normal here to finish your day soaking in naturally heated water that came straight from the earth’s core energy system. That’s not spa marketing. That’s geology.