Terra Nostra Garden – The Azores

Terra Nostra Park

The town of Furnas was easily our favorite part of Sao Miguel Island, in large part due to the abundance of geothermal activity right in town. For such a small village, there is no shortage of hot springs to choose from, and by far the most popular is the thermal pool in Terra Nostra Garden. We’ve been to our fair share of hot springs, thermal baths, etc., and it’s not uncommon to be woefully disappointed upon arrival. Oftentimes the pictures online set the expectations for a slice of jungle paradise only to arrive to a grimy man-made swimming pool, full of tourists. This is not the case at Terra Nostra. While the water may resemble a giant cup of coffee, the entire park and the multiple hot springs that make it so popular, are actually extremely well-kept, clean, and relaxing. It’s absolutely worth a visit, even if you only have an hour or two.

Getting There

The park is located in the town of Furnas on the eastern side of Sao Miguel Island. It is a small walkable village and the park entrance is basically right in town. You can get there within a 10-15 minute walk from just about anywhere in town.

History of the Park

Furnas is located in a valley which is actually the crater of a long-extinct volcano, but the entire area is still the site of plenty of geothermal activity. In the late 1700’s a merchant from Boston built his summer home in Furnas with a large pool with an island in the center in his “front yard”. The property was subsequently purchased in 1848 by Visconde da Praia, who tore down the old home, built a new one, and began planting an elaborate garden on the massive property. During the 20th century, the property was acquired by the Terra Nostra Company, the Hotel Terra Nostra was built and the garden was expanded to its current size of 12.5 hectares. Today, the beautiful 200 year old garden, including the large thermal pool, is open to the public (8 Euro/person).

The Gardens

There are several walking trails that lead visitors through the tree-lined grounds of the park. Even if you don’t know a thing about plants, the grounds of the garden are stunning. If you do happen to be someone with a penchant for botany, then you’ve come to the right place. The park is home to countless species of native Azores plant life, including world-renowned collections of ferns, camellias, and Cyclades.

Park Map 

Thermal Pool

The large thermal pool that sits at the base of the stairs to the old house is the highlight of the park for most visitors. The pool is fed by a local volcanic spring and the murky brown water stays at a temperature of 95-105 degrees Fahrenheit. While the water may not look particularly appealing, the color comes from the high iron content, which is actually supposed to have health benefits. Still, it is advisable not to wear your favorite bathing suit, since the water can sometimes stain the material. The pool is about chest-deep, and large enough to swim around casually without bumping shoulders with fellow bathers. There is also an island in the middle and several fountains along the perimeter that pump hot water into the pool. You can rent towels at the ticket office at the park entrance, and there are several changing rooms near the pool. We visited during the winter so it wasn’t very crowded (the weather was still great), but it’s likely much busier during peak season in the summer.

“Hot Tubs”

Just before you get to the stairs leading up to the large geothermal pool, there is a path to your left that leads to two small “hot tubs”, surrounded by dense vegetation. These are much more secluded and much smaller than the main pool, but no less relaxing. The water is the same murky brown color and more or less the same temperature. Its a perfect place to relax after a day out on one of the island’s many hiking trails.