Furnas Boutique Hotel - São Miguel Island, Azores

The hot springs are the main reason to visit the Furnas Boutique Hotel, in an area of São Miguel, Azores, that has exceptional thermal activity. For years, people have come here to bathe in or drink the various thermal waters. Now they have a nice place to stay when they do.

For bathing, the hotel facilities include thermal springs with iron water at 40 degrees, an outdoor thermal pool, an indoor dynamic thermal pool, an active thermal circuit, floatbeds, Vichy showers, and a whirlpool.

For drinking, the activities director Nuno Fevereiro leads guided tours around the fountains outside the hotel, pointing out which ones are said to cure skin conditions or respiratory problems, for instance.

The guest rooms are a bit on the snug side, but they have a nice, contemporary nature-inspired design, vintage notes like Marshall speakers, and full-wall windows overlooking the gardens and greenery of the island, which makes them feel bigger. For a little extra room and comfort, choose a Junior Suite (pictured below).

One space that’s big and green and beautiful is the restaurant, À Terra (“the land”). There, chef João Fevereiro (Nuno’s nephew) turns out high-quality renditions of traditional dishes, like garlic bread with Azores cheese, ceviche of fresh fish from the coast and simply grilled local fish, meats, and vegetables from a nearby organic farm.