How to get to Princess Ring: a nature reserve island off the coast of Sao Miguel
An islet shaped like an open ring lies in the middle of the Atlantic. It has been nicknamed the Princess Ring.
Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo is a tiny volcanic atoll off the southern coast of São Miguel island. A boat takes visitors here only during the season. Check dates and rules on the official ticket office website (as of 09/2026).
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Where the ring island is located
💡 In short:
- A boat reaches the island in just a few minutes from the Vila Franca do Campo pier.
- The season runs from June through October, entry is by ticket only and with a daily limit.
- Access and opening hours: 2026, verified on the official website.
The islet lies off the southern coast of São Miguel, a few hundred meters from the shore of the town of Vila Franca do Campo. Hundreds of kilometers of ocean separate it from mainland Europe. The Azores archipelago consists of nine large islands scattered across the Atlantic in three groups. São Miguel belongs to the eastern group.
© Jules Verne Times Two · CC BY-SAPhoto: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe atoll has the shape of an incomplete ring, a profile formed by the crater of an underwater volcano. Over thousands of years, the ocean eroded the softer rock until only a stone arc remained above the water. Inside it lies a lagoon filled with seawater. It is almost perfectly round. The islet itself is small, and you can walk around it on foot in half an hour.
History: volcano, whalers, and a nature reserve
Several centuries ago, this islet served whalers. From the high cliffs they scanned the open ocean for prey. Later, the inaccessible shores were chosen for defense, and small fortifications were built here.
Over time, the lifeless mass of solidified lava became covered with dense vegetation. Today the slopes are overgrown with endemic species, and the islet itself holds the status of a nature reserve. Because of the fragile ecosystem, the number of visitors here is strictly limited.
A narrow channel connects the lagoon with the ocean, so the water is constantly renewed. Fish and other marine life enter through the passage, and the underwater world inside the ring is noticeably richer than outside.
Swimming and snorkeling have become the main reasons people come here. The steep cliffs offer another possibility: jumping into the water from them. Recently, the islet has hosted one of the stages of the Red Bull Cliff Diving world championship. Spectators from all over Europe come to the competition, and a dense stream of boats gathers around the cliffs for the event.
Tickets, season, and the boat from Vila Franca
There is no regular public transport to the island, only a boat from the pier in the center of Vila Franca do Campo. Tickets are sold by Clube Naval de Vila Franca do Campo, and departures run almost every hour (schedule: on the ticket office website, 09/2026).
Departure | Return |
|---|---|
10:00 | 10:10 |
11:00 | 11:10 |
11:30 | 11:40 |
13:00 | 13:10 |
14:00 | 14:10 |
15:00 | 15:10 |
16:00 | 16:10 |
17:00 | 17:10 |
no departure | 18:10 |
The 2026 season runs from June 12 through October 11. A maximum of 400 people are allowed per day, and no more than 200 guests may be on the island at the same time. Only 100 tickets per day are sold online. The rest are sold at the ticket office on the pier. One person may buy no more than five tickets (according to Clube Naval de Vila Franca do Campo, 09/2026).
The ticket office is open from 09:45 to 12:00 and from 12:50 to 17:00. Phone for inquiries: +351 911 927 039. Arrive at opening time: by midday the line at the pier grows long, and available slots run out.
Tours and tickets
Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.
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You will find the exact price of a round-trip boat ticket on the official ticket office website. If you want to see more than just one islet, book an Azores tour on GetYourGuide: there are boat trips and excursions to the volcanic lakes of São Miguel.
What to see on the island and nearby
Inside the ring, the water is calm and clear. Snorkeling here is considered one of the best activities on São Miguel: visibility is excellent, and small fish stay close to the rocks. You can rent a mask and snorkel at the ticket office (according to the ticket office).
Swimming is more comfortable on the inner shore, where waves barely reach. The water warms up by August, and the ring itself protects the lagoon from the open ocean. The beach is small, and in the middle of the day it is hard to find a free patch of pebbles.
Beyond the islet, there is also plenty to see. In Vila Franca do Campo itself stands the old church of Igreja de São Pedro. Nearby you will find the chapels of Santa Catarina and another one dedicated to Our Lady, built several centuries ago.
The town is known for its pottery craft. Workshops here make dishes and figurines from local clay. Some pieces are fired in a traditional kiln, and visitors are shown the entire process. In the nearby village of Praia grows a group of old dragon trees, large for their species.
Around São Miguel you will find other activities as well: diving near the cliffs, water skiing behind a boat, and boat trips along the coast. This island stays in your memory for a long time as one of the most unusual places in the Atlantic.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
When is the island's season open?
The exact dates of the 2026 season are listed in the "Tickets, season, and the boat from Vila Franca" section. In other months the boat does not run, and the islet is closed to visitors.
How many people are allowed on the island per day?
The daily limit and online quota are given in the "Tickets, season, and the boat from Vila Franca" section. Online tickets are scarce, so it is worth booking them in advance.
How to get to Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo?
The only way here is by boat from the pier in the center of Vila Franca do Campo. See the schedule and ticket office hours in the "Tickets, season, and the boat from Vila Franca" section.
Can you swim and snorkel?
Yes, the lagoon inside the ring is protected from the ocean. Read about snorkeling and mask rental in the "What to see on the island and nearby" section.
What to see in Vila Franca do Campo?
The church, chapels, pottery workshops, and dragon trees are described in the "What to see on the island and nearby" section.
In short: what is worth booking
The island suits those who want to spend a day in nature and return to town by evening. If you have one free day on São Miguel, book your boat ticket online in advance: spots sell out quickly in season.
- For families with children: the calm lagoon on the inner shore.
- For snorkelers: snorkeling along the rocks, masks are available at the pier.
- For photographers: the Princess Ring is best photographed from the water at sunset.
Besides the boat ticket, it is worth booking a boat tour of the Azores on GetYourGuide in advance. Arrive at the pier when the ticket office opens and keep sunscreen handy: on open water the sun burns even on a cloudy day.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.