Itineraries
Day 1
Date : June 22, 2020
Evening Departure from Logan Airport
Evening departure from Logan Airport to Flores via Ponta Delgada aboard Azores Airlines. Complimentary meal served on board with beverages.
Day 2
Date : June 22, 2020
Arrival to the Island of Flores
After arrival on the island of Flores, we will be transferred to our hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure to get acquainted with the town of Santa Cruz das Flores. In the evening we meet for our welcome dinner.
Day 3
Date : June 22, 2020
Flores Island Tour
Our tour today begins by heading northeastern, stopping at Ponta dos Cedros and the town of Ponta Delgada to view the island of Corvo. Our next stop is the lighthouse where we’ll be able to see Ilheu do Monchinque, the furthest Western point of Europe. As we circle the island and head toward Fajãzinha we stop at several Lakes and observe flora of Flores. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch, our tour continues along the Southwest stopping at the Rocha dos Bordões, basalt rock formations. The next stop will be the Nossa Senhora do Rosario Church to visit and view the town of Lajes, before returning back to our hotel.
Day 4
Date : June 22, 2020
Corvo Island Tour
We depart in the morning by boat for our Corvo island tour. As the boat proceeds to Corvo, our local skipper takes us along the shoreline of Flores to view the caves, faults, and waterfalls. Our first viewpoint is to see the village, named Vila do Corvo. We then head north to the Monte Gordo “Caldeirão”, an enormous caldera with an unusual topography. We return to Vila do Corvo for our lunch. After lunch, you will be able to explore the town and photograph the windmills before returning to the island of Flores. This tour operates weather permitting.
Day 5
Date : June 22, 2020
Faial Island
We depart to the island of Faial, upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel, the rest of your day will be at your leisure to explore the town of Horta.
Day 6
Date : June 22, 2020
Faial Island Tour
We begin our full day tour to discover the island of Faial by driving through the city of Horta. Horta is most famous for its cosmopolitan yacht harbor. We next stop at the scenic point of Espalamaca to view the harbor and all its surroundings, followed by a visit to the "Caldeira". The Caldeira is a large crater in the central part of the island, where we view the beautiful natural landscape. As we descend the center of the island, we encounter cattle grazing on hillsides. Our tour’s next destination is the Capelinhos volcano area, where the volcano last erupted in 1958. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, after lunch, we stop at a camping area with a reconstructed home depicting a typical “old” farm Faial house.
Day 7
Date : June 22, 2020
Island of Pico Tour
In the morning we take a short ferry ride over to the Island of Pico. After dropping our luggage off at the hotel, we begin a full-day tour of Pico, the “Mountain Island” beginning at its famous wine vineyards "Criação Velha", recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004. We continue on to Lajes do Pico stopping at the beautiful Church in São Mateus. As we proceed we make several stops at a handicraft exhibition, wine museum and whaling museum (Museu dos Baleeiros). Lunch will be served at a local restaurant as the tour proceeds around the island. We continue our tour towards São Roque do Pico stopping briefly at "Arcos do Cachorro", an impressive display of rock formations (one in the shape of a dog) coming out of the sea, as well as to taste the various liquors of the region.
Day 8
Date : June 22, 2020
São Jorge Island Tour
Today we depart on a full-day tour to São Jorge Island. We head towards the western part of the island, visiting a forestry park and cheese factory. We travel through Fajãs, Fajã do Ouvidor and Fajã dos Cubres. As we travel around the island, our lunch will be at a local restaurant. After lunch, we stop by Manadas to see the beautiful church of Santa Barbara. Our final stop before heading back to Velas is the town of Urzelina where we will see the remains of a church buried under lava from the eruption of 1808. We end the tour with a visit to a private coffee plantation, prior to returning to our hotel in Pico by Ferry.
Day 9
Date : June 22, 2020
Terceira Island
Today we make our way back to the airport, for a quick flight to the island of Terceira, upon arrival you will be transferred to Hotel and the rest of the day will be at leisure to explore the historical center of "Angra do Heroísmo" (World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1983).
Day 10
Date : June 22, 2020
Terceira Island Tour
Today we take a full day tour to explore the island of Terceira “The Lilac Island”. We depart for Monte Brazil passing by the beautiful city of Angra do Heroísmo stopping at Pico das Cruzinhas. This is the highest point on Monte Brasil, with a beautiful view of the city and its outskirts. The tour continues towards the eastern side of the island, showing the typical settlements and rural architecture and colorful Imperios. We stop in the town of São Sebastião, where the church is one of the oldest of the Azores. After lunch we drive to Praia da Vitoria, and then onto Serra do Cume, with beautiful views overlooking the town of Lajes and the ocean. Our final stop is at an ice cream factory, for a treat.
Day 11
Date : June 22, 2020
Island of Graciosa
In the morning you will have time to do any last-minute shopping, before departing to the airport in the early afternoon. Afterward, we will be brought to the airport for a quick flight to the island of Graciosa. After checking into the hotel you will have the rest of the day to enjoy the town of Santa Cruz da Graciosa.
Day 12
Date : June 22, 2020
Graciosa Island Tour
Today we embark on a full-day tour to explore the island of Graciosa. We head to Monte Nossa Senhora da Ajuda that has breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside. On our travels around the island, we stop to see windmills and the Farol da Ponta da Barca. Here, there are views of volcanic formations in the shape of a whale, (Ilheus). Afterward, we drive to the unique geological formation of Caldeira and Furna de Enxofre, (Sulphur Cavern) - (admission optional to descend into the cave). While we circle the island we stop at various scenic areas to view the different points of the island as well as to have lunch. We depart in the afternoon to São Miguel Island. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your Hotel. The rest of the day will be spent at your leisure to either enjoy the pool or visit the city of Ponta Delgada.
Day 13
Date : June 22, 2020
São Miguel Island Tour
Today we will be off on our full-day tour. We begin by traveling along the southern coast toward Vila Franca where we will stop at the Pottery Factory in Lagoa, followed by stops at scenic points. We then head towards Lagoa das Furnas, to view the geothermic ovens that cook the traditional cozido, afterward we head towards the village of Furnas where lunch will be served. After lunch, we will walk around the village to view the Caldeiras, then depart the village. On our return to Ponta Delgada, we will make a stop at the Gorreana Tea Plantation, one of the oldest tea plantations in Europe, and we’ll be able to sample their teas.
Day 14
Date : June 22, 2020
São Miguel Island leisure day
Today is a free day to enjoy the island of São Miguel.
Day 15
Date : June 22, 2020
Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo Tour
Today we will be off on our full day tour of Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo. We begin by making a short visit to a pineapple plantation. There we will see how the pineapple is cultivated, followed by a sampling of the pineapple liquor. We then proceed to visit the Lagoa do Canário and Lagoa de Santiago. After that we make a climb to Vista do Rei for a panoramic view of the two lakes of Sete Cidades. A typical lunch will then be served. After lunch we head to the Lagoa do Fogo, making stops in Ribeira Grande and Caldeira Velha. At the top of Lagoa do Fogo we are able to see both the north and south coasts of São Miguel.
Day 16
Date : June 22, 2020
Santa Maria Tour
We depart in the early morning to Santa Maria for a full day tour with lunch. Our first stop is Anjos, the location of the first landfall of Christopher Columbus on his return from America. We then proceed to the historic Church of São Pedro, followed by a stop at the scenic point of Lagoinha. We continue to the town of Santa Barbara and visit the beautiful Church of Santa Barbara in the Baroque Style. We then travel west to São Lourenço for a splendid bird’s-eye view of the bay and its Cliffside vineyards. After that, we head to the pretty village of Santo Espirito, visiting the Ethnographic Museum and the XVI Century Church. According to legend, this is where the first Mass was celebrated in the Azores. On our return to Vila do Porto we pass through the town of Almagreira. In the evening, we depart back to Ponta Delgada, to our hotel.
Day 17
Date : June 22, 2020
São Miguel Island Leisure Day
Today the day is at leisure to complete any last-minute shopping or relax. In the evening we will be going to a local restaurant for our farewell dinner.
Day 18
Date : June 22, 2020
Departure
Our final morning in the Azores will be at your leisure and preparing for the trip home. We will be checking out by noon from the hotel and transfer to the airport for our return flight to Boston.