Ribeira dos Caldeirões

This is probably one of my favorite places on the island, such a beautiful area. If you're up for an adventure, you can go canyoning and jump from waterfalls. I recommend booking an outing with Azores canyoning experiences through the get your guide app.

It's an incredibly beautiful, grand park, and walking around felt like being in paradise. I didn't go into the waterfalls because they were quite small and looked a little dirty, but it's still a fantastic place for a walk or a picnic.

This small park is lovely, but the narrow, muddy trails become hazardous when they're crowded with wetsuit-clad tour groups rappelling down the waterfalls. I'd go early or late to avoid them. Several local operators seem to be packing in beginners at the expense of others who want to enjoy the scenery. São Miguel is beautiful, and there are plenty of other places for newcomers to try this. One tour leader even rudely yelled at a visitor who wasn't on her tour, making an already inconvenient situation worse.

The walk is short and easy, and the place looks picturesque in the evening, as long as you don't arrive too late. There's no charge to visit. The gift shop was packed with souvenirs, including some tasteful gifts we liked.