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Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo — Portugal
Wild & scenic

Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo

Vila Franca do Campo, São Miguel · 🇵🇹 Portugal

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A drowned volcano off São Miguel makes an almost perfect circular pool — the Azores' most photographed swim, reached only by ferry.

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Sea temperature
~22°C in the warm season
Water
Clear blue-green, sheltered from the Atlantic swell inside the crater walls
Sand
No sand — you swim in a flooded volcanic crater ringed by black rock
Swimming
A calm, near-circular natural pool reached by ferry, with daily visitor limits in summer
Best time to visit
Jul–Sep
Setting
A tiny sunken volcano off São Miguel's south coast — a protected nature reserve forming an almost perfect round lagoon
Beach type
Wild & scenic
Region
Europe

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Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo: frequently asked questions

Where is Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo?

Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo is at Vila Franca do Campo, on the coast of Portugal.

What is the sea temperature at Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo?

In the warm season the sea at Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo reaches about 22°C. Clear blue-green, sheltered from the Atlantic swell inside the crater walls.

When is the best time to visit Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo?

The best time to visit Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo is Jul–Sep. Europe's beach season peaks in July and August, with June and September quieter and cheaper.

What kind of sand does Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo have?

Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo has no sand — you swim in a flooded volcanic crater ringed by black rock.

Is Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo good for swimming?

A calm, near-circular natural pool reached by ferry, with daily visitor limits in summer.

Photo: Jules Verne Times Two (CC BY-SA 4.0) · source