Poca da Dona Beijia

If there’s one place in São Miguel that feels like it was handcrafted by nature it’s Poça da Dona Beija. Tucked away in the geothermal village of Furnas, this thermal oasis is part spa, part jungle hideaway. Paul and I were blown away by the beauty of this place.

We spent a glorious few hours there. We went with Paul’s brothers and having them along with us was a nice way to learn the INS and OUTS. Upon arrival you would expect some type of admissions counter but the first thing you see is a security guard and entrance turnstiles. I’ll be honest if Paul and I had gone by ourselves without any prior knowledge of how they did things I would have been a little frazzled. His brothers explained to us that you need to purchase a time slot and when your time slot comes up you scan the code you get on your phone when you purchase your tickets online to enter through the turnstiles. Each time slot gets a different color wristband for entrance into the hot springs. The time slots and wristbands are a genius way for staff to ensure that the springs don’t get over crowded and each guest gets to enjoy their experience.

Paul and I definitely enjoyed our experience especially since we were baby free for a few hours as our son was with this grandma for the day. We even indulged in a little facial as it’s a common practice to rub some of the iron rich rock sediment on your face for its health benefits. I will say if you want to try this as well, just keep in mind that the orange color will tint your skin if you only wash it off with water. I had to wash my face with the hand soap from the bathroom because we had other places to go after. I’ll know for next time to bring some facial cleanser with me to keep in our locker.

What Exactly Is Poça da Dona Beija?

Poça da Dona Beija is a collection of beautifully constructed, open-air thermal pools fed by naturally heated iron-rich springs.

A few fun facts:

• The water stays around 38–39°C (100–102°F) year-round — perfect hot-tub temperature without feeling like you’re being slow-boiled.
• The pools are fed by volcanic geothermal springs from the Furnas Valley, one of the most active volcanic geothermal regions in the Azores.
• The orange tint you sometimes see? That’s the high iron content, which locals traditionally believed to have therapeutic benefits for circulation and skin.
• The name “Dona Beija” was inspired by a character from an old Brazilian soap opera that was popular in Portugal. Yes, even thermal springs appreciate dramatic television.

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A Bit of History

Long before it became one of the Azores’ most iconic attractions, the area was simply a natural hot spring used by locals. People would gather to bathe in the warm water that emerged from a small grotto. Over time, the springs became known for their rejuvenating qualities — so much so that they were once called the “Poça da Juventude” (Pool of Youth).

The modern, beautifully maintained complex visitors see today opened in 2010. It was designed to preserve the natural setting while creating a comfortable, safe place to enjoy the thermal waters. Think wooden walkways, stone pools, lush greenery, and soft amber lighting at night.