Vila Franca Islet Tour

Sail from São Miguel to Vila Franca and enjoy a hiking tour of this tiny volcanic islet in the Azores, where you'll discover incredible bird-watching opportunities.

Vila Franca Islet Tour

We'll meet at the indicated time at the port in Vila Franca do Campo, located in the south of São Miguel. After a brief introduction to the wildlife and plants, we'll travel by zodiac to the islet of Vila Franca Nature Reserve—the crossing takes just 10 minutes.

Once we dock at this uninhabited islet, the entirety of which is a protected nature reserve, we'll embark on a hiking route. During the approximately 1.5-hour walk around Vila Franca Islet, enjoy bird watching opportunities. This area of the North Atlantic hosts a diversity of birds.

Main birds found in the Vila Franca Nature Reserve include buzzards, sandpipers, little egrets, and curlews. The islet also has large colonies of canaries and wagtails. If sea currents are favorable, we may spot crabs and small fish.

Accompanied by a naturalist guide, you'll learn about the endemic plants of the volcanic islet. From Vila Franca's large caldera, enjoy a view of the south coast of São Miguel.

At the end of the hiking route, we'll return to the port in Vila Franca do Campo, completing the tour in approximately 3 hours.

Summer Tour

Between April 15th and October 14th, it's not possible to disembark on the islet of Vila Franca. Instead, we offer a 45-minute boat trip around the islet.

Departing from the port of Vila Franca do Campo, you'll see the submerged volcano and its structure shaped by seismic and marine activity. From the boat, admire geological highlights and learn about the marine life in this area, especially significant from autumn to spring.

During the trip, we will discuss how the volcano has influenced the life of Vila Franca do Campo throughout history. You may ask questions throughout the experience.

After enjoying the views and learning about this marine sanctuary, we'll return to the marina to conclude the 45-minute boat trip.

Bird Watching

The islet of Vila Franca do Campo is one of the best places for bird watching in the Azores. The number and species of birds depend on factors such as weather and the breeding seasons of various species.