Emma Mykytyn Connecting two sides of the island: Octant Ponta Delgada, the island’s marina-facing capital and Octant Furnas, the geothermal valley known for hot springs, fumaroles and volcanic cooking.
The experiences showcase the Azores beyond a straightforward hotel. At Octant Ponta Delgada, guests can step into a local kitchen for a dessert-making class shaped around family recipes passed down through generations. At Octant Furnas, a new Water Route explores the mineral springs, thermal traditions and local stories that have shaped the valley for centuries.
Set on the marina in Ponta Delgada, Octant Ponta Delgada is a 123-room hotel positioned for exploring São Miguel, with easy access to whale watching, coastal walks, hiking routes and the island’s capital. The hotel’s new culinary experience, In the Kitchen with Dona Manuela: A Taste of Generations, takes guests away from the restaurant and into a more domestic side of Portuguese food culture.
Led by Dona Manuela, the class focuses on traditional Portuguese and Azorean desserts, using recipes passed down through her grandmother and mother. Guests prepare two sweets from her family collection, which may include Suspiros à moda dos Açores (Azorean-style meringues), Arroz Doce (rice pudding), Bolinhas de Coco (coconut balls), Colchão de Noiva (Bride’s Mattress), Quadrados de Chocolate (chocolate squares) or Gelado de Areia (Sand Ice Cream).
Octant Furnas: Rota das Águas / Water Route
Around 45–50 minutes from Ponta Delgada, Octant Furnas sits in the Furnas Valley, one of the most geothermally active areas of São Miguel. The 55-room hotel is built around thermal wellness, with indoor and outdoor geothermal pools, a sauna, Turkish bath, treatment rooms and the Quente das Quenturas Spa & Thermal Circuit.
The new Rota das Águas / Water Route gives guests a guided way to understand the valley’s thermal heritage. The route traces the area’s springs and water sources, from Água das Quenturas, which supplied the former Thermal Centre and now supplies Octant Furnas, to local landmarks such as Caldeira de Pêro Botelho, also known as Boca do Inferno, a fumarole surrounded by myths and village stories.
The experience also ties into the history of the site itself. The first thermal buildings in Furnas date back to 1615, before later developments in the 19th century created the wider spa complex. Today, the hotel sits within that same bathing culture, with the surrounding waters traditionally used by immersion, ingestion and inhalation.
Prices at Octant Ponta Delgada start from £170 per night, while Octant Furnas starts from £154 per night based on two adults.
For more information on Octant Ponta Delgada, visit: https://pontadelgada.octanthotels.com/en
For more information on Octant Furnas, visit: https://furnas.octanthotels.com/en
