The Azores: Jewels of Portugal

From volcanic craters and thermal waters to lush vegetation and picturesque coasts, enjoy the natural splendor of this Portuguese archipelago and see why the Azores are commonly referred to as “the Hawaii of Europe.”

This is the Azores. A set of islands virtually untouched by urban development. Your adventure begins on São Miguel, the largest of the nine volcanic islands. With no scheduled sightseeing today, spend the day as you wish, exploring Ponta Delgada independently, perhaps strolling along the seaside promenade and breathing in the mild air of the Atlantic.

Get to know Ponta Delgada, the capital city of São Miguel, on a morning walking tour of the area. Discover the city’s rich history, culture, and beauty alongside your Tour Manager, seeing highlights like the iconic 18th-century Portas da Cidade and the stunning Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião, and perhaps even catching the farmers market, the vibrant Mercado da Graça. This afternoon, take a ride up to Sete Cidades caldera’s highest point and discover some of Mother Nature’s finest work: the twin blue and green lakes that make up this caldera and are explained by local legend! On the way back, visit a pineapple plantation and learn about unique cultivation methods on the island, producing pineapples renowned for their sweetness and flavor. This evening, celebrate the beginning of your journey with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Start the day with a visit to one of the few remaining basket weavers on the island. Learn how willow basket making has evolved and how this father-son enterprise has kept this traditional craft alive. Then, it’s your choice! Enjoy the thermal waters at the Terra Nostra pool,* built in the 18th century by the American consul to the Azores -OR- embark on a guided visit to the organic paradise that is the Terra Nostra Botanical Garden. For lunch, enjoy a traditional cozido das furnas meal, where your food is cooked in the earth’s volcanic heat. Later, continue to the green fields of a nearby tea plantation to learn about this unique crop with a hands-on experience before an evening of leisure in São Miguel.

Today, enjoy a full free day to explore São Miguel at your own pace. Perhaps you will take to the waves on an optional ocean excursion** to watch for whales and dolphins, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Regardless of how you choose to spend your day, gather tonight for a home-hosted dinner in a local village. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

**The Whale and Dolphin Watching optional tour may not operate if either weather or sea conditions are adverse.

Say bom dia (good morning) to Faial with a walking tour of Horta. Its marina and painted murals are a testament to the island’s importance to the sailors who have visited the island on voyages crossing the Atlantic. Later, encounter the volcanic vitality of Faial when you take in the surrounding rocky landscape and ash hills with a fascinating visit to the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre.

The day is yours to enjoy on your own and relax on Faial Island! You may also consider joining an optional tour to Pico*** to encounter the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture (UNESCO) and explore this scarcely populated island’s scenery, a sublime mixture of lava rock and exotic vegetation.

***The Pico optional tour may not operate if either weather or sea conditions are adverse, or due to local constraints, especially between November to March.

Board your flight to Terceira and say hello to the colorful capital of Angra do Heroismo (UNESCO) with a local guide. Restored in traditional style, the city features white facades and vibrant trims. Learn about the Holy Ghost Chapels, known locally as Imperios, and customs surrounding this tradition. Tonight, get a taste of the culture at a local restaurant.

Start your day with a swim* in the natural volcanic pools of Biscoitos. Later, on your way to Algar do Carvao, stop at Serra do Cume viewpoint where views of the agricultural fields and their neat, orderly stone walls will take your breath away. At Algar do Carvao, the “Cavern of Coal,” feel the quiet stillness as you descend into this ancient lava tube. Enjoy the evening exploring Angra do Heroismo as you wish.

*Bathing suits and towels are required if partaking in the thermal water pool choice in Terra Nostra Botanical Park and if choosing to swim in the pools at Biscoitos. Swimming in Biscoitos is dependent on weather and ocean conditions.

Today, the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace. You may choose to join an optional tour to the western side of Terceira in the morning, sipping coffee at an organic coffee plantation and tasting locally grown bananas along the way and ending at a family-owned cheese factory for a light lunch made up of local products. End the day at a petiscos home-hosted dining experience.

Say farewell to the Azores archipelago as you head to Lisbon in continental Europe. Lisbon, known as the city of the seven hills, and the starting point of many of its 15th century explorations, was also the departure point of many of its immigrants that crossed the Atlantic searching for a better life.

Start your morning with a panoramic tour of Belem. View the imposing 16th-century Jeronimo’s Monastery, a masterpiece of Manueline and Gothic architecture, its facade adorned with intricate carvings, maritime motifs, and religious symbols. Then, join a local expert to visit the National Coach Museum, which showcases beautifully decorated coaches from the 16th to 19th centuries and highlights the craftsmanship and artistry with each coach telling a unique story. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon as you wish before gathering tonight for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Say adeus (goodbye) to Portugal and the Azores as you depart this coastal paradise.