Half-Day Guided Canoeing Tour – Scenic River Adventure

Canoeing on Lagoa das Furnas: Paddle Across a Volcanic Crater Lake

Glide across one of the Azores' most iconic volcanic lakes and discover its neogothic chapel and geothermal shores by canoe.

This canoeing experience on Lagoa das Furnas offers a rare opportunity to explore the caldera of an active volcanic system from the water, surrounded by lush Azorean landscape and centuries of geological history. Departing from the Picos de Aventura base at the lake's parking area, participants of all experience levels can take part in this guided half-day session. The activity is designed to be both accessible and genuinely immersive, combining paddling with natural and historical discovery.

Setting out from the shore, participants paddle toward the centre of the lake, where the submerged crater of one of the island's ancient volcanoes comes into perspective. The scale of the caldera becomes tangible from this vantage point, offering a unique understanding of the geological forces that shaped Sao Miguel over millennia.

The route continues to the far bank, where a 19th-century neogothic chapel stands quietly at the water's edge, accessible only by boat or a longer overland path. Returning along the shoreline, paddlers pass near the fumaroles that give Furnas its distinctive character, where geothermal activity surfaces visibly and the air carries a subtle mineral warmth.