Things to do in Ribeira Grande
Ribeira Grande is São Miguel's second town, on the north coast about 20-25 minutes from Ponta Delgada on the via rápida (a free dual-carriageway, not a tolled motorway — there is no motorway toll anywhere on the island).
It works best as a base and a junction rather than a sight in itself: Caldeira Velha's thermal waterfall is around 15 minutes up the slope of the Água de Pau massif, the Gorreana and Porto Formoso tea plantations are a similar distance east along the coast, and the surf beach of Praia de Santa Bárbara sits right on the town's edge.
The road up to Caldeira Velha narrows quickly and can close in fog, so this is a spread-out day, not a single stop.
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Browse activitiesTours and activities in Ribeira Grande
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