Azores ATV tours: dirt tracks above the Sete Cidades lakes
Azores ATV tours on São Miguel are driven rides, not passenger trips: you steer a quad or buggy yourself along dirt tracks and back roads, with a guide in front. Most of them head for the crater of Sete Cidades, where the blue and green lakes sit inside the caldera. Starts are spread across the north coast, Ribeira Grande, Arrifes and Ponta Delgada, so the start point shapes the route more than the vehicle does.
Prices run from €69 to €100 per person, as of November 2026.
Our picks: ATV and buggy tours
Compare a north-coast quad ride, routes from Arrifes and Pico da Pedra, and the ride including viewpoint entry.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator and GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Half-day quad ride to Sete Cidades
- Guide
- Gasoline
- Personal insurance and helmets
A half day off-road on a quad, with guide, fuel and insurance on the list.
Check availability →
Quad tour to Sete Cidades
- Guide and fuel
- Helmet
- Insurance
A half day off the paved roads, for when you would rather drive yourself than sit in a van.
Check availability →
Buggy tour past Sete Cidades volcano
- All fees and taxes
A four-hour buggy route from Arrifes past Rocha da Relva and Pico da Cruz towards the lakes.
Check availability →
ATV tour to the Sete Cidades volcano
- Tour guide
- Helmet
- Insurance
- Fuel
- Raincoats
A 3.5-hour off-road ride from Pico da Pedra, with guide, helmet, fuel and raincoats.
Check availability →
ATV and buggy ride to Sete Cidades
- Helmet
- Quad bike or buggy ride
- Entry to all the viewpoints
A four-hour off-road ride on a quad or a buggy, with entry to the viewpoints on the way.
Check availability →ATV and buggy tours in the Azores
Quad and buggy rides to Sete Cidades from the north coast, Ribeira Grande, Arrifes and Ponta Delgada, with current availability.
Quad tour from the north coast
The €79 half-day quad tour starts and finishes in Fenais da Luz on the north coast and takes 3 to 4 hours. The route follows asphalt side roads and off-road sections past Pico da Cruz, Cumeeiras, the Lagoa Azul area and Capelas. Guide, fuel, helmet and insurance are included.
This route suits drivers with quad experience who want to combine the crater viewpoints with the north coast.
Buggy and ATV rides near Ribeira Grande and Arrifes
The €75 ATV tour starts in Pico da Pedra near Ribeira Grande and takes 3.5 hours. Guide, helmet, insurance, fuel and raincoats are listed, and there is free parking at the start. The €75 buggy ride from Arrifes takes 4 hours past Rocha da Relva, the Muro das Nove Janelas and Pico da Cruz towards the lakes. It lists all fees and taxes.
The €69 ride is the lowest price and the only one that lists entry to all the viewpoints. It takes 4 hours on a quad or a buggy.
Quad tour from Ponta Delgada
The €100 half-day quad ride, 3 to 4 hours, begins with a briefing at a tours office in Ponta Delgada and lists guide, gasoline, personal insurance and helmets. It is the highest price here.
Quad or buggy: which fits you
For the rides from Fenais da Luz and Pico da Pedra, drivers must be at least 18 and hold a valid driving licence; quad experience is recommended. The Fenais da Luz ride requires the physical original licence, not a photo, while passengers need no licence. Wear closed shoes and clothes that can get dirty, and bring a rain jacket. Gloves are not provided on the north-coast quad ride. At Pico da Pedra, beginners are advised to choose a buggy.
The Fenais da Luz quad ride requires moderate fitness, excludes pregnancy, back problems and serious illness, and requires drivers to sign a liability form. The Pico da Pedra ride is also unsuitable during pregnancy or with back problems or pre-existing conditions. On that €75 ATV tour the vehicle insurance covers damage to third parties only, so the driver is liable for damage to the vehicle.
Azores ATV tours: practical questions
How much does an ATV tour in the Azores cost?
The five rides cost €69 to €100 per person as of November 2026. The ride from Ponta Delgada is the most expensive at €100, the ATV and buggy ride that includes viewpoint entry the cheapest at €69.
Do I need a driving licence for a quad or buggy?
The Fenais da Luz and Pico da Pedra rides require drivers to be at least 18 and hold a valid licence. Fenais da Luz requires the physical original; passengers there do not need a licence.
Can I join without quad experience?
The Pico da Pedra ride recommends a buggy for beginners and quad experience for quad drivers. The Fenais da Luz quad ride also recommends experience and includes a safety briefing; its guide can adapt the route to driving skill.
What happens if it rains?
For the Fenais da Luz ride, light rain alone does not cancel the tour; extreme weather or an official warning can. The Pico da Pedra route may also change with weather conditions or be cancelled in severe weather. Bring a rain jacket and closed shoes.