Rabo de Peixe (Turn of the Tide): Filming Locations in the Azores

Turn of the Tide is set in the Azorean village of Rabo de Peixe on São Miguel, and it takes its Portuguese title from it. This is where the four young protagonists live and where several early scenes were shot, including the video club "America" where Sílvia works. The story echoes a real case: in June 2001 a sailboat with more than 500 kilograms of cocaine lost its rudder off the Azores, and packages washed ashore. Some locals sold the drug for 25 euros a glass of beer.

Location precision: The series does not tie the village to one street; the pin marks the village centre.

Visitor guidance: The village is a working fishing community on the north coast of São Miguel; be respectful of residents.

The very first scene of the series was shot in the parish church of Porto Formoso: a priest overdoses during mass. The same church returns later, when Carlinhos talks with Father António there and is later kidnapped by the Italian mobster Monti. The building has a plain basalt facade and three naves, and sits in the village the film crew used as a stand-in for Rabo de Peixe.

Visitor guidance: A parish church; visit outside services.

In episode 1, hundreds of villagers rush to the beach to collect the washed-up packages, a scene shot at Porto Formoso, about 18 kilometres from the real Rabo de Peixe. The harbour returns for other turning points: the arrest of the Italian mobster Francesco Bonino, and the moment Eduardo and Rafael flee the village in their boat.

Location precision: Scenes were shot around the harbour and beach; the pin marks Porto Formoso itself.

Visitor guidance: The harbour and beach are open to walk around.

The shootout between the Magnussons and Arruda's men takes place at Arnel lighthouse, the oldest in the Azores, installed in 1876. Here the Magnussons realise that Arruda handed them packages of flour and sugar instead of the drugs they wanted, and Arruda learns that his own daughter betrayed him.

Visitor guidance: On the eastern coast near Nordeste; check access before driving down.

One of the show's toughest scenes is set among the steaming volcanic cauldrons of Furnas, where Arruda pushes Zé dos Frangos into one of them. The same cauldrons are natural kitchens where the island's famous dish, cozido das Furnas, is cooked.

Location precision: The source names the cauldrons of Furnas without a single spot; the pin marks the Caldeiras area.

Visitor guidance: The fumaroles are a well-known stop in Furnas.

The finale plays out at the Monte Palace Hotel, the first five-star hotel in the Azores, open only from 1989 to 1990. Only ruins remain, and they served as the setting for one of the last scenes. Eduardo saves Carlinhos from Monti here, and the police try to catch him.

Location precision: The hotel looks over the Sete Cidades lake; the pin marks the Sete Cidades area rather than the ruins.