Hotel do Mar

The Hotel do Mar sits on the harbour front of Povoacao – a friendly south coast town towards the eastern end Sao Miguel.

The hotel is ideal for exploring the sparsely populated eastern end of the island, which is often overlooked by visitors to Sao Miguel. There are thirty-six en-suite, sea view rooms across two wings, a restaurant and bar on the ground floor, and an ever-friendly and helpful reception team.

The Hotel do Mar’s clean, unfussy design is full of light – it’s sweeping central spiral staircase leads you up to a lookout turret, with a 360° view that cleverly channels light through all the levels of the hotel. The central courtyard is a relaxing sun trap, with it’s white walls reflecting the light towards the small outdoor pool and jacuzzi, and Praia da Povocao is just a minute’s walk away.

Povoação itself is a pretty little town at the end of the Lomba do Pomar river valley – it’s natural harbour was the stepping-off point for the very first settlers on the island (in 1432), where the Ribeira do Purgar meets the sea. Strolling inland, the town’s colourful central gardens and pedestrianised areas are perfect when you’re looking for somewhere to relax in the evenings, with a nice variety of friendly cafebars and restaurants.

We’ll often suggest splitting your stay between this peaceful, rural part of the island and the more bustling western towns like Ponta Delgada.