Hotel Snapshot
It’s exciting to realize the ground beneath your feet is alive. I felt that constantly at Octant Furnas, a five-star hotel set in one of Europe’s most compelling geothermal landscapes: an active volcanic caldera in São Miguel’s Furnas Valley in the Azores, Portugal.
I saw steam rising from fissures, caught the faint scent of sulfur in the air, and dipped my hands into the warm river flowing past the hotel.
The energy of the towering green crater — blanketed in ferns, trees, and hydrangeas — is impossible to ignore, since it encircles not only the hotel, but the entire village of Furnas.
True to this volcanic setting, the 55-room hotel leans into this elemental energy everywhere. Even before stepping in, there was no question in my mind that thermal waters would be front and center here.
Design and Character
Octant Furnas was once a municipal thermal bath, converted into a thermal hotel in 2015, with interiors designed by renowned Portuguese designer Nini Andrade Silva.
The hotel kept the distinctly Azorean style on the outside, with its crisp white-and-black facade that contrasts with the valley’s verdant slopes.
However, the interiors ditched the traditional “resort” tropes for something moodier: wooden wall finishes, textured fabrics, and a color palette of mossy greens, volcanic ochres, and dark walnut tones.
The large-scale photo of a cascading waterfall by the reception sets the tone by making it clear that nature continues inside with water as the defining element.
The Rooms
At Octant Furnas, Deluxe, Superior, and Premium double rooms invite guests to relax from the moment they arrive, with a calm, nature-led yet contemporary design and floor-to-ceiling windows. If you do not want to leave the comfort of your room to soak in the valley’s elemental heat, booking one of the eight Premium double rooms with a private outdoor pool is a smart choice.
Food and Drink
À Terra is the signature restaurant. The lounge area here feels like an indoor garden, with plants hanging in every direction. The glass walls and a glass roof further blur the line, while the carpet underfoot, the green textiles, and the wood chairs complete the image. The restaurant mirrors the hotel’s ethos. From design to dishes everything feels deeply tied to the volcanic land and the Atlantic Ocean.
Breakfast mixes Azorean and international favorites. Imagine locally grown loose-leaf tea with an omelet, local farm cheese and ham. To end, the Portuguese pastel de nata is a must. Dinner here is journey across the Azores, delivered through a series of standout plates. Wood-fired meats, fresh grilled fish, and hyperlocal ingredients shine the brightest when paired with wines from neighbouring Pico Island.
If you have never tried a stew buried in volcanic soil (fumaroles) to slow-cook for over six hours, you are in for a unique treat. The archipelago’s famous ‘Cozido’ is a hearty dish with blood sausage, beef brisket and vegetables. It tastes distinctively mineral and ‘volcanic.’ Every bite reminds me of the island itself.
Spa
The spa keeps thermal water at the center of every experience, from hydrotherapy with Ai-Chi, Woga (water yoga), water meditation, and aquatic bodywork to Turkish bath.
The star of the spa was the indoor and outdoor pools, filled with mineral-rich geothermal water, carefully cooled to a comfortable temperature.
It was warm enough to relax my muscles and slow my pulse, yet gentle enough to let me linger for a long time, watching the mist and the steam roll over the caldera.
Then I slipped into the quiet, wood-paneled sauna. After working up a full, head-to-toe sweat, I skipped the immediate return to the thermal pools and first enjoyed some well-deserved cold, fragrance-infused showers that jolted me awake, cleared my head, and electrified every cell in my body.
The treatment menu is hyper-local, swapping generic oils with volcanic minerals and local ingredients like Azores-grown coffee, pineapple, and green tea. The Terra Purra ritual uses sea salt, olive oil, lemon, and laurel scrub, followed by a basalt wrap, while the Azores in Colours ritual pairs Gorreana green tea with camellia oil. After stepping into the treatment room, the aroma set the scene and my mood immediately. I forgot about my family happily splashing in the pool for a whole hour.
The spa experience extends beyond the hotel grounds. On Lagoa das Furnas (Lake Furnas), guests can book paddleboard meditation or SUP yoga, trading the thermal pools for open water and caldera views.
Location and Neighbourhood Recs
The hotel sits within easy walking distance of Furnas center at the end of a promenade lined with hydrangeas and azaleas.
We wandered through the Terra Nostra Botanical Gardens and soaked in its yellow, iron-rich thermal pools. If you go, bring a black bathing suit since the water will stain any other color.
I recommend walking around Lagoa das Furnas or circling it by bike, stopping at Parque Grená, Mata Jardim José do Canto, or the Nossa Senhora das Vitórias chapel. The highlight is visiting the fumaroles, the ‘ovens’ for the island’s famous stew.
The Azores have over 100 miradouros (viewpoints) spread across nine islands. One of our favorites is Miradouro do Pico do Ferro, within a 10-minute drive from Furnas. It is one of the best places to watch mist rise from the fumaroles and see the lake resting quietly beneath the green crater walls.
Fast Facts
Location: In the Furnas Valley on São Miguel Island, the Azores archipelago in Portugal.
Vibe: Eco-consciousness blended with contemporary design
Rating: Five-Star
Room Count: 55
Pricing: From $214 per night (highly seasonal).
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: Soaking in the mineral-rich, iron-filled volcanic waters of the indoor pool.
Dining: À Terra restaurant specializes in Azorean cuisine, including the famous ‘Cozido’ stew cooked underground in a fumarole.
Amenities: Indoor and outdoor thermal pools, full-service spa with 10 treatment rooms, gym, restaurant, and bar.
Nearby Attractions: Terra Nostra Botanical Park, Poça da Dona Beija thermal baths, Lagoa das Furnas (Lake Furnas), and Miradouro do Pico do Ferro (the best viewpoint)
Airport: Less than an hour from João Paulo II Airport (PDL) in Ponta Delgada by car.
