Kayak Vila Franca do Campo: Adventure to Vila Franca Islet

If you’re visiting São Miguel island in the Azores and are looking for an adventure, don’t miss the chance to kayak from Vila Franca do Campo to the stunning Vila Franca islet. We joined the private Vila Franca do Campo Islet Kayaking Experience, and it was easily one of the top highlights of our trip. Highlights were the knowledgeable and friendly guides, spectacular coastal views, the thrill of ocean kayaking, and exploring the islet itself. Enjoy a thrilling kayak Vila Franca do Campo tour to the Vila Franca islet, paddling through sea caves, exploring the islet, and snorkeling.

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What is the Vila Franca Islet?

The Vila Franca islet (Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo) is a small, volcanic islet located just off the southern coast of São Miguel. You can enjoy stunning views of the Vila Franca Islet from both the town of Vila Franca do Campo and from neighboring Agua de Alto. The islet was formed from the remnants of an ancient submerged volcano. The circular lagoon at its center, created by the crater’s collapse, is a natural swimming pool in summer. There is a wide variety of marine life and seabirds along the outer cliffs and surrounding waters. As part of a protected nature reserve, access to the islet is carefully managed to preserve its ecosystem. While you can visit by boat, a kayak tour is one of the lowest impact and rewarding ways to visit the Vila Franca Islet.

What It’s Like to Kayak from Vila Franca do Campo to Vila Franca Islet

We stayed in the beautiful seaside town of Vila Franca do Campo, in a vacation home with stunning views of the Vila Franca Islet from our terrace. It was just a short walk to the marina in the morning, where we met our three friendly and professional guides (2 guides and 1 intern). It was just the three of us on the tour, which made the experience incredibly personal and customizable. We all had experience with kayaking, so the instructions went fairly quickly. After putting our towels and jackets into dry bags provided by the tour, we donned our life jackets and launched our kayaks. Most guests use double or family kayaks (fitting up to 2 adults and 1 child), though our son took out a single, due to his previous experience.

The whole tour takes around 3 hours, though the duration will depend on the conditions and kayaking ability of the guests.

Pro Tip: Stop by Queijadas do Morgado (a few doors down from the marina) for a coffee and the local queijadas (pastry) on your way to or from the tour.

Kayak to Vila Franca Islet

This is true ocean kayaking, not a calm lake paddle, so be prepared for waves and the open sea. Though the ocean had a bit of a swell (up to 0.8 meters), it was well within our comfort zone and added to the sense of adventure. If the waves are too rough, the tour may be cancelled or rescheduled. We lucked out with beautiful weather in April—sunny and reasonably warm with near-summer conditions.

If you’re less confident in your skills, the guides can paddle with you in a double kayak. The reviews consistently say that they do a great job supporting less experienced kayakers. We wouldn’t recommend the tour for small children or those who are uncomfortable in open water. For anyone else looking to kayak Vila Franca do Campo, it’s an exciting adventure.

Once we reached the Vila Franca Islet, we stopped to paddle into small sea caves, and between towering rocks. We spotted several large red crabs clinging to the rocks.

Kayaking to the Vila Franca islet gave us a much different perspective than what we saw from shore. Its dramatic cliffs, crater-shaped form, and protected harbor are all incredible to see up close.

Exploring Vila Franca Islet and Snorkeling

Once we circumnavigated the islet, we pulled into the crater and kayaked to the beach. While there was one boat with scuba divers outside, we were the only ones in the crater. The guides shared some guidelines about where we could go (some areas were off limits), then gave us time to explore the Vila Franca islet on foot.

We walked along the trails and enjoying the views from above. While swimming inside the islet’s lagoon isn’t allowed during the off-season, the visit was still fascinating and scenic. Check the tour website for more details on swimming or other restrictions during your visit dates.

Pro tip: Bring water shoes for this adventure. While you don’t need them on the kayak, we found out the hard way that we should have put shoes on to explore the island. The main trail is quite smooth, but a few side trails were on lava, which was fairly sharp.

After the short hike, we had the option to do some snorkeling just outside the crater. The water was quite chilly, so only our son opted to gear up and head in (the guides provided all the gear). The water was clear, and even though he couldn’t snorkel inside the crater, he saw plenty of marine life.

A Smooth Return Paddle

The paddle back was surprisingly easy and fast. With the wind at our backs, we glided smoothly across the water, enjoying a peaceful and effortless end to the excursion. It was a perfect way to wrap a beautiful day.

Final Thoughts: Why You Should Kayak Vila Franca do Campo to Vila Franca Islet

Many of São Miguel island’s adventures are land based, whether exploring the stunning hikes, canyons, and hot springs. The Kayak Vila Franca do Campo tour is an amazing way to see the Azores from a different perspective. This is ideal for seasoned paddlers and those who enjoys an active outdoor experiences. We highly recommend this kayaking tour to anyone visiting São Miguel. Just keep in mind that this is a real ocean experience—the adventure and unpredictability of the sea make it even more rewarding.

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Kayak Vila Franca do Campo Tips

What to Bring to Kayak Vila Franca do Campo

• Swimsuit and fast-drying layers
• Towels (optional)
• Reef-Safe Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and UV-protective clothing
• Waterproof camera (or GoPro) (the guides took plenty of GoPro photos throughout the tour)
• Water bottle
• Rain jacket
• Snacks to enjoy while on the islet
• Comfortable shoes or sandals (water shoes are ideal) with grip for exploring the islet
• Waterproof phone case (if you’d like your phone handy for photos)

The guides provided waterproof bags for our use.

How to Get to Vila Franca do Campo

Vila Franca do Campo is located on the south coast of São Miguel Island, approximately 25 km from Ponta Delgada. Here are your options for getting there:

• Hotel Pickup: The Azores Vila Franca do Campo Islet Kayaking Experience offers an option for hotel pickup and drop-off.
• Rental Car: Renting a car provides flexibility to explore the island at your own pace. The drive from Ponta Delgada takes about 20 minutes. We use and recommend DiscoverCars.com for our car rentals.
• Public Transportation: Buses run from Ponta Delgada to Vila Franca do Campo with a journey time of around 50 minutes.
• Taxi: Taxis are available from Ponta Delgada, with an estimated fare of €24–29 each way. 

What Else to Do in Vila Franca do Campo?

Vila Franca do Campo offers a variety of attractions:

• Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Paz: This hilltop chapel provides panoramic views of the town and coast.
• Convent of São Francisco: A 16th-century convent showcasing Baroque architecture and historical significance.
• Whale Watching Tours: Enjoy excursions to observe whales and dolphins in their natural habitat.
• Local Beaches: We enjoyed relaxing on the dark volcanic sand beaches in town.

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