Furnas Boutique Hotel - Thermal & Spa ★★★★

Situated on the island of São Miguel, the largest of the Azores, sits the Furnas Boutique Hotel Thermal nestled in between green ridges and verdant trees, and surrounded by natural lakes.

Swathes of green, blue and tiny pink flowers are at first all you’ll see, until your eyes begin to focus on a modern and contemporary hotel - a large white house with an annex behind made of steel and glass.

Inside everything mirrors the dramatic São Miguel landscape outside, from the huge wall in the lobby covered in an image of a cascading waterfall, to the natural wood furniture and the colours in tones of slate, mud and leaf.

Your room all at once gives you a sense of peace and tranquillity and is dressed in the same natural colours as the lobby – mostly in shades of charcoal and grey. Reminding you of the volcanic landscape of the island itself, it contrasts nicely with spectacular jade green and sapphire blue views from your window. The rooms of course also come with comfy seating areas, writing desks, tea and coffee-making facilities, large flat screen TVs and deluxe bathrooms with tubs, in order to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

Being on São Miguel and in the Azores as a whole is all about being outside, exploring its landscapes and marvelling at its wildlife, so you won’t want to stay in your room for long.

The Azores is one of the best places in the world to go whale watching and around 25 different whale species can be seen in the deep waters off the coasts, so why not spend your first morning in São Miguel out at sea? Most common are the sperm whales, however even the blue whale and the fin whale can sometimes be seen here. Up until 1984 people used to hunt whales around the islands, but now, thankfully, many of the hunters have become the tour guides instead.

In the afternoon, set out to explore one of the area’s excellent hiking trails and be sure to keep your eyes open for the many species of birds that live on the island. By this time you’ll be looking forward to getting back to your hotel and slipping into the hot bubbly water to relax and unwind. The spa and thermae centre here uses energy from the famous Furnas thermal spring waters and also offers a sauna, Turkish bath, whirlpool, Vichy shower and 10 treatment rooms for a variety of massages and therapies.

End the day with a comforting home cooked meal at À Terra, where food is delicious, healthy and unpretentious. Think freshly baked breads and pizzas from the wood oven, pastas, bruchettas and gratins, as well as fresh salads and homemade ice creams for dessert.

It may be located at the ends of the Earth, but the Furnas Boutique Hotel Thermal certainly feels like home