Piscinas Naturais Biscoitos

I recently visited "Piscinas Naturais Biscoitos" and had a fantastic time. The natural pools are absolutely stunning and offer a unique swimming experience in the middle of nature. The crystal-clear water was refreshing and perfect for a swim on a hot day. The surrounding cliffs and rock formations were also impressive and provided a beautiful backdrop. You can jump to the water from some of them what is quite entertaining.

"Belo Abismo" is the most famous one but you really need to dive in and put your face underwater to understand it.

The facilities are well-maintained, with clean restrooms and showers available for visitors. There's also a small bar nearby where you can grab a drink or snack after your swim. There is no entry fee, and I would highly recommend a visit to "Piscinas Naturais Biscoitos" to anyone visiting...

A must see in Terceira. You get to the car park: free toilets and showers, a bar, some shops of local products. Then you enter the "pool" area. Access is guaranteed by a layer of concrete. Some might not like it, and maybe, in the future, we could look forward to wooden bridges or cosier things. Anyway, the concrete gives you a place to stand and sunbath, while you are surrounded by the rocky hardened lava, which is dark black or brown. The diving experience is great, and the pools are fuelled by the ocean while, at the same time, they are shielded from it. There is also an "abyss", i.e. a place where you can dive straight into the ocean. Water is very clear and you can see the crack beneath you, at 10-12 m depth or even more.

Lifeguarding is provided during...

Pretty unusual spot. However considering that much of the island was formed around volcanoes, these extensive lava flows which enter the ocean are not surprising. It is dangerous walking on these rocks as some can be sharp as glass, but there are walking trails carved through in places so you can access the coastline. There is a bar/restaurant set up here, and half a dozen trinket shops which have some art creations from the lava rocks (a form of Obsidian). A few vendors have set up huts here too, and they have some interesting local snacks, fruits, baked goods and other tasty things such as the local version of Carmels, which are a surprise. Fun way to spend some time...