Azores: Island Hopping

This tour of the Azores begins in Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel Island, located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 1,360 km west of the Portuguese coast. Transfer to your hotel located in the city centre. Depending on the arrival time, dedicate your afternoon to the discovery of Ponta Delgada. Administrative capital of the archipelago, it is home to many historical monuments, traditional small streets and a beautiful marina.

After breakfast transfer to the airport and fly to Pico Island, named after its giant volcano, which is the highest peak of Portugal! From Madalena start a coastal hike between two small ports, perhaps take a swim and follow trails through vineyards, surrounded by stone walls of black lava. This extraordinarily beautiful man-made landscape of long linear walls has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The walls were built to protect the thousands of small, contiguous, rectangular plots from wind and seawater. Evidence of this viniculture, whose origins date back to the 15th century, is manifest in the early 19th-century manor houses, wine-cellars, churches and ports.

After the walk there is a short transfer back to Madalena for your overnight stay.

Ascent: 172m (564ft)/ Descent: 105m (344ft)

This morning is dedicated to whale watching. Make your way to the port where you will board a boat and spend three hours at sea with a specialist to observe dolphins and whales. The most frequently observed species is the sperm whale, although you may also see the short-finned pilot whale and from March to the end of May you may also spot the giant baleen or blue whales! The afternoon can be spent at leisure to discover the intriguing surroundings, such as ancient watchtowers, factories that processed whales and the frail hunting boats.

Transfer to Sao Roque on the north coast and from here take the ferry to Velas on Sao Jorge Island, one of the greenest and most lush in the archipelago. Transfer up into the peaks and walk down to the coast via the "fajas", fertile headlands with hamlets and orchards. This trail is called the pilgrims path and takes you through paths lined with hydrangeas and junipers until you reach Faja de Santo Cristo, an isolated hamlet overlooking the open ocean lagoon and only accessible on foot. From here youll walk along the coast to Faja dos Cubres.

Ascent: 200m (656ft) / Descent: 880m (2887ft)

Transfer by taxi to Pico das Calderinhas and enjoy a walk from one volcano to another, on a path on the crest of the island of Sao Jorge. The path runs along several peaks before arriving at the island’s highest one – the Pico da Esperença – that culminates at 1053m above sea-level. The second part of your walk descends on the northern coast of the island, across pastures to reach the beautiful Faja do Ouvidor with its hillside terraced houses and, at sea level, its wonderful natural pools carved into volcanic cliffs. You will be picked up from Faja de Ouvidor to be transferred back to your hotel.

Ascent: 340m (1115ft) / Descent: 1095m (3592ft)

Say goodbye to Sao Jorge Island as you board a ferry to Horta and Faial Island, a place that used to be a famous stop for transatlantic sailors. This island has been nicknamed the “Island of Hydrangeas”, for obvious reasons. Horta still today a famous stop for the transatlantic sailors. Transfer to the central crater. After skirting the edge of the caldera at 1000 meters in altitude, we follow a Levada on a shelf path. Descent through the lava fields and hydrangeas to Praia do Norte. Transfer back to Horta. Overnight in Horta

Ascent: 260m (853ft) / Descent: 900m (2952ft)

Transfer to the south coast for a short walk to the Capelinhos, site of a tremendous volcanic sea eruption in 1957, which lasted for 13 months! As a result this caused much of the local population to emigrate to North America. Take a short but amazing walk to the Capelinhos Lighthouse and view the volcanic landscapes. Perhaps you would like to take a swim in the Atlantic before heading back to Horta where you can spend time at leisure to discover its colonial architecture, the incredible history of American whaling ships and telegraph companies that make up this cosmopolitan atmosphere. At the end of the afternoon fly back to Ponta Delgada.

Ascent: 75m (246ft) / Descent: 150m (492ft)

The tour finishes after breakfast with a transfer to Ponta Delgada Airport to fly home.