Portugal Caldeira Velha

The Caldeira Velha Environmental Interpretation Center is a structure aimed at promoting the natural heritage of the area classified as a Caldeira Velha Natural Monument.

The building has, among other features, the primary function of promoting intrinsic environmental values, allowing the visitor to discover in situ the specificities of this place of interest, making it a complementary space for informal education, at the same time as offering a vast network of resources and promotes a tourist component.

In the Natural Monument it is also possible to enjoy four thermal pools.

Concentrated in a space surrounded by a natural landscape, the building stands out as an “object placed in the landscape” that adapts to the existing vegetation and stones, giving it an organic image, but coherent with the place.

The interpretative exhibition takes the visitor on a journey through the volcanic origin of the islands, with emphasis on the natural heritage of the Volcão do Fogo, as well as the Caldeira Velha Natural Monument area, with regard to its biodiversity, geodiversity, geothermal and thermalism. It also provides generalized information about the Natural Park and geosites (with a focus on those located in Ribeira Grande).

Caldeira Velha is a small nature reserve with waterfalls, a geological exhibition and thermal lakes for swimming. The ideal is to stop here for an hour to an hour and a half on your way, for example, to the nearby Lagoa do Fogo.

Located in the Island of São Miguel, archipelago dos Azores, get there by plane to the island, to go to Caldeira Velha, by car, bus, motocycle, bike and walk from city of Ribeira Grande (1 hour and 15').