Terra Nostra Garden
In the heart of São Miguel Island, inside of Furnas Valley, Terra Nostra Garden dates back to 1775, when American merchant Thomas Hickling fell in love with Furnas and decided to create the perfect relaxation haven which still seduces every visitor today.
Aside from its large Camellia Collection and other rare species, Terra Nostra Garden is known worldwide for its thermal pool, filled with volcanic water from the hot springs at a steady 40°C (104°F), rich in iron and other minerals highly beneficial for the skin and creating complete and unparalleled relaxation.
At Terra Nostra Garden, you can also find some architectural treasures, romantically inspired, such as the Avenue of the Ginkgo Biloba and lose yourself in pure magic. The Garden is free for guests of Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, where one can also experience the unforgettable Thermal Bath up until 10 PM.
Terra Nostra Garden is a world reference for plant lovers and has already been awarded by Condé Nast Traveller in the category of "Best Green Retreats."
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Trekking
Whether you are a lover of quiet walks or an adrenalin junkie, the Azores have more than 60 hiking trails with all the conditions for walking safely. Venture out and discover unique landscapes between paths totally wrapped in Nature. The trails of the Azores are a network of footpaths classified by the Regional Government of the Azores to ensure the safety and tranquillity of the walkers.
Divided into three levels of difficulty - easy, medium and hard - the network is suitable for various ages and levels of fitness.
www.trails.visitazores.com
Diving
Imagine a place where whale sharks swim through crystal clear waters beneath you, dozens of devil rays swoop above and curious blue sharks and huge pelagic fish explore the water with you. This is diving in the Azores, a remote archipelago of nine islands that sit in the Atlantic just a few hours from mainland Europe and North America.
Regularly voted a top destination by travel guides, this largely undiscovered paradise offers a huge variety of dive sites, rich in abundant marine life and full of once in a lifetime experience.
www.dive.visitazores.com
Whale Watching
The Azores, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, is an archipelago of nine islands showing nature in its purest state, and one of the largest whale sanctuaries in the world. Whale watching during your holiday in Ponta Delgada is a must for nature lovers! Among the resident and migratory species, some common, some rarer, you can see more than 20 different types of cetaceans in the waters of the Azores.
Blue whales, the largest animals on earth, measuring about 30 metres and weighing up to 150 tons, are frequently sighted in spring in the channel between the islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria.
www.visitazores.com
