AZORES – EXPERIENCE BREATHTAKING ISLANDS

10 Days / 9 Nights

SMALL GROUP

Day 1: Arrival to Faial | Horta City Tour: Arrival at Horta Airport (Faial). Transfer to the hotel. You will be met at the hotel by a local guide so you can experience the “Sea City” downtown. Start at Largo Dr. Manuel de Arriaga passing through the following locations: Peter Café Sport, Santa Cruz fortress(16th century) current a Pousada de Portugal, Infante Square, Church of St. Francis (16th Century), Largo Duque D ‘Ávila e Bolama, Jesuit College (Mother Church of the Most Holy Savior (16th century), visit to the Horta Museum, Love of the Fatherland Society, Empire of the Nobles (XVIII), Republic Square, Municipal Market, 25 of Abril Avenue , Horta’s marina and visualization of the famous murals. Return to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 2: Full Day Faial: Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from the hotel for a full day tour. Visit the main tourist attractions of the island, the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Viewpoint, where we can admire the view over Almoxarife Beach, Horta city, Marina, Monte Queimado and Monte da Guia. In the center of the island we have the Caldeira, one of the ex-libris of the island. It has a diameter of about 2 km, a depth of around 400 m and is covered with Laurissilva vegetation. It has been classified as a nature reserve since 1972. We continue to Praia do Norte and stop at Ribeira das Cabras Viewpoint where we can see Fajã da Praia do Norte and part of the Capelo Peninsula volcanoes alignment. Lunch at a local restaurant. We continue to the area of Capelinhos Volcano, where the landscape went and where the houses and fields were covered by the volcanic ash from the 1957/58 eruption. Visit to the Capelinhos Volcano interpretation center. Pass through the Capelo Forest Park, Capelo Handicraft School and return to the city of Horta. Return to the center of Angra do Heroísmo. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 3: Full Day Pico: Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the pier. Ferry trip to Pico Island. Discover the admirable Vineyard Culture Landscape, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. We continue to S. Mateus and visit the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus Milagroso in the church of S. Mateus which is one of the oldest on the island. Visit to a craft house and then to a traditional cheese shop. Then we will go to Lajes do Pico, the first place on the island to be populated and where we will visit the whaling museum. Continue to S. Roque and stop at Lagoa do Capitão, one of the best known and the largest lagoon of Pico. Here we have a view of the village of S. Roque, the Pico Mountain and the island of S. Jorge. Descend to the village of S. Roque and continue towards the parish of Bandeiras. We will go to Arcos do Cachorro, where we can observe magnificent sea caves. Return to Vila da Madalena. Ferry back to Horta. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 4: Faial | Terceira: Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Horta Airport. Flight to Angra do Heroismo (Terceira Island). Transfer from Lajes Airport (Terceira Island) to hotel in Angra do Heroísmo. Free day at Leisure. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 5: Full Day Terceira Island | Monte Brasil | Serra Do Come | Algar Do Carvao & Biscuits: Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from the hotel for a full day tour. Discover the south and east coast of the island. Stop at Monte Brasil, a volcanic peninsula with viewpoint to the city of Angra. Then visit one of the oldest churches on the island (1455) and the Empire of the Divine Holy Spirit in São Sebastião. We will go up to Serra do Cume (stop at a viewpoint overlooking one of the largest boilers in the Azores – “Patchwork” landscapes). Stop for a Regional Lunch. After lunch visit to Algar do Cravão (empty volcano). Next visit to the sulfur furnas (fumarolic field). Continuation towards the Biscoitos Natural Pools. Stop at Raminho viewpoint with the possibility of sighting three other islands of the central group. Visit to a cheese factory and tasting at the end of the visit. Return to hotel in Angra do Heroismo. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 6: Terceira | Sao Miguel | Ponta Delgada: Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Angra do Heroísmo Airport. Flight to Ponta Delgada (PDL) – Sao Miguel Island. Arrival at Ponta Delgada Airport and transfer to the hotel located in the capital of the island. Ponta Delgada is a modern city that retains its original design with its narrow streets full of traditional shops, markets and “delicatessen” shops. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 7: Half Day Jeep Tour | Sete Cidades & Pineapple Plantations: Breakfast at the hotel. The best way to explore the wild side of the island of São Miguel is definitely our tour to the west of the island, where we not only invite you to take alternative routes, but also show you one of São Miguel’s biggest tourist attractions: as Sete Cidades! The panoramic views that characterize this excursion offer you countless photo opportunities as you travel the northern ridge of this gigantic volcanic crater, with the Sete Cidades Lake and its different colors as a backdrop. Come and enjoy the “Vista do Rei” viewpoint over the entire lagoon, passing by its banks, on a promenade that still shows you the narrowest part of the island from a completely different angle. Stops at Vista do Rei Viewpoint, Lagoa de Santiago Viewpoint and Silêncio Bay, Parish of Sete Cidades, visit the Pineapple Plantations. Return to Ponta Delgada. Free lunch and afternoon. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 8: Full Day Furnas with Lunch: Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Furnas Valley (one of the main motivations for visiting the Azores) which is inserted in one of the three active central volcanoes of S. Miguel island. Here the smell of sulfur and bubbling fumaroles are characteristic. Stop at the Furnas Lagoon where the famous Furnas Stew is cooked on the ground, which we will have the opportunity to taste at lunch in one of the local restaurants. On the west bank of Furnas Lagoon is the Chapel of Our Lady of Victories, an impressive example of the neo-Gothic style, unique throughout the archipelago. In the afternoon, visit the volcano boilers and the village. The next stop is Terra Nostra Park, a bicentennial garden with unique species and a splendid thermal pool (bathing possibility). The park is a unique repository of trees, plants and other plants species from around the world. Return to the hotel at the end of the day. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 9: Cetacean Watching (2.5-3hrs) | Free Afternoon: Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a fun boat trip to see and learn about majestic whales and fun dolphins, the great diversity of sea life from turtles, to fish and also birds. It is also an opportunity to see the breathtaking coastline of these Volcanic Islands and discover the best kept secrets of Azorean Sea Life. This adventure begins with a 20-minute briefing with an introduction to Cetaceans (Whales and Dolphins), their natural habitat, communication and behaviors. A Naturalist / Marine Biologist Guide will always be available throughout the tour to inform you of everything you are observing and to answer all your questions. Cetaceans are sighted from land by our Watchman, who provides their VHF radio location information to the vessels, which then head there. So grab, have fun, and enjoy the coast of the island in the company of the Atlantic Whales and Dolphins! Free Afternoon. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 10: Departure: Breakfast at the hotel. Departure transfer to Ponta Delgada Airport.

Package Includes:

3 Nights’ accommodation with breakfast included at 4* Hotel in Horta – Faial Island
2 Nights’ accommodation with breakfast included at 4* Hotel in Angra do Heroismo
4 Nights’ accommodation with breakfast included at 4* Hotel in in Ponta Delgada – S. Miguel Island
Car / Van service in private with driver guide during the mentioned program (except walking tours)
Guide service during the mentioned program during transfers and tours by bus or minibus (jeep will be a guide driver)
4x Lunches (drinks included) during full day tours
Entries: according to program
Visits and tasting of regional liqueurs and products mentioned in the program (liqueurs, cheese tasting)
Activity: Cetacean Watching (São Miguel)
Ferry from Faial to Madalena (Pico Island) + Return
Flights – Tourist Class: Faial / Angra do Heroismo + Angra do Heroismo-Ponta Delgada (taxes included + maximum 20 Kg luggage per person)

*Package descriptions and pricing are subject to change without notice.