Fumarolas Lagoa das Furnas
São Miguel Island
"The famous geothermal cooking spot where the traditional Cozido das Furnas slowly cooks underground."
Rui's experience
Fumarolas da Lagoa das Furnas is one of the most unique places in São Miguel. Located right next to Lagoa das Furnas, this is the spot where the famous Cozido das Furnas is cooked underground using the island’s geothermal heat. Large metal pots filled with meat, vegetables, and sausages are buried in the hot volcanic soil and left there for several hours while the earth slowly cooks the meal.
Walking through the area is a very cool experience. You’ll see steam and volcanic vapors coming out of the ground while workers pull the heavy pots from the thermal holes. The smell, the smoke, and the constant activity make the place feel very alive and completely different from a normal park.
Right next to the fumaroles you have Parque do Grená and also have beautiful green areas, small forests, and picnic spots around Lagoa das Furnas, making it a great place to walk around and enjoy the scenery.
For locals the entrance is free, but tourists usually pay a small fee. It’s only a few euros and definitely worth it for such a unique experience.
Pros
- One of the most unique cultural traditions in the Azores
- You can watch the famous Cozido das Furnas being cooked underground
- Beautiful surroundings next to Lagoa das Furnas
- Nice walking areas and picnic spots nearby
Cons
- Tourists must pay a small entrance fee
- Can get busy around the time when the pots are removed from the ground
Rui's visits
Rui's Visit Log
My Top Pick4.6
What do you think about Fumarolas Lagoa das Furnas?(2)
Sign in to join the discussion.
'%3e%3crect%20x='8.08789'%20y='0.388672'%20width='128'%20height='128'%20rx='12'%20transform='rotate(3%208.08789%200.388672)'%20fill='white'%20shape-rendering='crispEdges'/%3e%3crect%20x='8.56104'%20y='0.914155'%20width='127'%20height='127'%20rx='11.5'%20transform='rotate(3%208.56104%200.914155)'%20stroke='%23D1FAE5'%20stroke-opacity='0.5'%20shape-rendering='crispEdges'/%3e%3crect%20x='20.3896'%20y='14.0508'%20width='102'%20height='8.00103'%20rx='4.00051'%20transform='rotate(3%2020.3896%2014.0508)'%20fill='%23D1FAE5'/%3e%3crect%20x='19.5522'%20y='30.0303'%20width='76.5046'%20height='8.00103'%20rx='4.00051'%20transform='rotate(3%2019.5522%2030.0303)'%20fill='%23D1FAE5'/%3e%3crect%20x='18.2969'%20y='53.999'%20width='101.999'%20height='61.9979'%20rx='8'%20transform='rotate(3%2018.2969%2053.999)'%20fill='%23ECFDF5'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M73.555%2081.5531C73.4211%2084.1087%2069.7609%2088.4837%2068.16%2090.2819C67.7761%2090.7123%2067.1067%2090.6772%2066.7746%2090.2092C65.3704%2088.2536%2062.1876%2083.52%2062.3215%2080.9644C62.4842%2077.8611%2065.1294%2075.4794%2068.2326%2075.642C71.3359%2075.8046%2073.7176%2078.4499%2073.555%2081.5531V81.5531M73.7322%2085.336C73.913%2085.0216%2074.0797%2084.7065%2074.2321%2084.3953C74.2585%2084.3404%2074.285%2084.2807%2074.3114%2084.2258L79.8547%2082.3385C80.6097%2082.0824%2081.3817%2082.6673%2081.34%2083.463L80.6757%2096.1381C80.6516%2096.5968%2080.3492%2096.994%2079.9142%2097.1449L72.99%2099.4995L73.7322%2085.336V85.336M60.8537%2081.7464C60.9315%2082.4122%2061.1213%2083.0887%2061.351%2083.7202C61.4701%2084.0456%2061.603%2084.3764%2061.7499%2084.708L61.1332%2096.4751L55.0592%2098.5457C54.3042%2098.8019%2053.5323%2098.217%2053.574%2097.4212L54.2383%2084.7461C54.2623%2084.2874%2054.5648%2083.8902%2054.9998%2083.7394L60.8584%2081.7466L60.8537%2081.7464M69.2811%2091.2793C69.9744%2090.499%2071.0642%2089.2278%2072.1005%2087.8131L71.489%2099.4819L62.6368%2096.4412L63.1137%2087.3421C63.9965%2088.8574%2064.9474%2090.2355%2065.5553%2091.084C66.4521%2092.3326%2068.2588%2092.4273%2069.2811%2091.2793V91.2793M67.8598%2082.7566C68.8931%2082.8107%2069.776%2082.0158%2069.8301%2080.9824C69.8843%2079.9491%2069.0893%2079.0662%2068.056%2079.0121C67.0227%2078.9579%2066.1398%2079.7529%2066.0856%2080.7862C66.0315%2081.8195%2066.8264%2082.7024%2067.8598%2082.7566V82.7566'%20fill='%230B8A5A'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cfilter%20id='filter0_d_170_1949'%20x='-0.611328'%20y='-0.611328'%20width='138.524'%20height='138.523'%20filterUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3e%3cfeFlood%20flood-opacity='0'%20result='BackgroundImageFix'/%3e%3cfeColorMatrix%20in='SourceAlpha'%20type='matrix'%20values='0%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%20127%200'%20result='hardAlpha'/%3e%3cfeOffset%20dy='1'/%3e%3cfeGaussianBlur%20stdDeviation='1'/%3e%3cfeComposite%20in2='hardAlpha'%20operator='out'/%3e%3cfeColorMatrix%20type='matrix'%20values='0%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200%200.05%200'/%3e%3cfeBlend%20mode='normal'%20in2='BackgroundImageFix'%20result='effect1_dropShadow_170_1949'/%3e%3cfeBlend%20mode='normal'%20in='SourceGraphic'%20in2='effect1_dropShadow_170_1949'%20result='shape'/%3e%3c/filter%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
In September 2024 we did not have to pay a fee for the area with the fumaroles. Is this new or only in high season? The Parque da Grená ist privat property and there is an entry fee.
Good question. As far as I know, the fee at the fumaroles area (Lagoa das Furnas) is charged by the municipality and it’s mainly applied to tourists. Every time I’ve been there recently, there was someone from the city hall collecting it, so I’m not sure if it’s seasonal or not. Parque da Grená is a different thing. It’s private property and has its own entrance fee for everyone, locals included. But to get there you first pass through the fumaroles area, which is why it can be a bit confusing.