The first day after arrival is important for resting after a long journey. Pick up your rental car at the airport, get familiar with the hotel, and maybe head to the sauna. The next morning, it’s best to pack up after breakfast and set off to discover the beauty of the island. If you have some time on the evening of your arrival, it’s nice to take a short walk through town and visit Restaurante Dona Mariana to try the local beef and bean pudding. I also recommend booking a catamaran cruise for this day to spot whales and dolphins in the wild (more info on-site). Today's program depends on your arrival time.

Head along the coast to explore the city of Ponta Delgada. Start at the former port of Forte de Sao Brás, which is steeped in the city's history. Continue along the coast to the new harbor, where there's also a public natural swimming pool, and board the catamaran that will be waiting for you. The whale and dolphin watching excursion lasts about 3 hours. When you get back, I recommend waiting a little while before swimming. Because just a short walk past the rock formation Ilhéu de Rosto de Cão lies the hidden black sand beach, Milicias beach, where the ocean is beautifully clean. This makes it the best spot for a swim near Ponta Delgada. Behind the beach, you'll also find the ruins of Forte de Sao Caetano. 

A full-day road trip around the western part of the island! Drive out to see the Farol da Ferraria lighthouse, which is a beautiful example of the local architecture. Next, you'll visit the rock formations and the town of Mosteiros. Interestingly, all the (lava) stones are jet black, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of volcanic islands like the Azores. Just keep in mind that it is strictly forbidden to take lava stones off the island under penalty of a fine. There are also natural swimming pools here, though their accessibility depends on the tide. If they're open, I definitely recommend taking a break and cooling off. The next stop on the route is the Miradouro da Lomba do Vasco viewpoint, located on a hill where you can see the cliff-lined edge of the island and a view from above of the town of Sete Cidades, which you will visit after driving down. I recommend taking a short walk around the local ponds so you can compare them with the upcoming views from above. On the way to the parking lot for the Miradouro Grota do Inferno viewpoint (the island's most famous lookout), I suggest stopping briefly at the Miradouro do Cerrado das Freiras viewpoint as well. Both lookouts offer a beautiful view of the town. And that's where your first road trip ends, leaving you with just the drive back to your hotel.