Portugal, São Miguel Active Experience - 7 days itinerary

Arrival Day Upon arrival, the guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation at Ponta Delgada. The rest of the day is free to explore the biggest city of the Azores archipelago.

This tour starts at 8:30 am in Portas do Mar, Ponta Delgada harbour in our activity centre. You will go on a whale and dolphin watching tour where you can see some of the 28 different cetacean species that pass by Azorean waters. This experience is always in the company of our team of marine biologists or guides specialising in marine, nature or environmental science. They will first explain some safety rules and how we usually approach animals. Every whale and dolphin watching tour is unique, we never know what species we will see. After some time for lunch at a restaurant, we will guide you through the centre of the island until we reach Lagoa do Fogo. On this van tour, we take you first to the top of the mountain Serra da Água de Pau, also called Pico da Barrosa, as well as the viewpoint of Lagoa, do Fogo, where some awesome open views over Fogo Lake await you. From up there, you will be able to admire the volcano’s crater as well as the island and on the back, the ocean. The vividly coloured blue lake is known as one of the most beautiful lakes on the island. Once up there, you will truly understand why. On the descent, we will drive you to Caldeira Velha where you can take time to bathe and relax in a thermal pool with a waterfall, surrounded by endemic fauna and flora.

This full-day adventure will allow you to discover the volcanic complex of Sete Cidades on a different path, but always including the most emblematic sites. This hike is, by the way, challenging but the landscapes are incredible with hidden lakes, aqueducts and water springs, all surrounded by endemic vegetation. It will lead us to the highest point of Sete Cidades: Pico das Éguas. This circular trail starts at Muro do Carvão, where our guides will tell you about the places of interest that we will visit during the day. Hiking through Serra Devassa, we will have the chance to see Lagoa do Caldeirão, pass by the Pico das Éguas, Lagoa das Éguas and Lagoa do Canário. There, it will be time for a break to have our light meal. Have you already heard about the Grota do Inferno viewpoint? It is one of the most famous places on São Miguel island. We will go there and then continue along Canario springs to reach Serra Devassa back. Taking a different route, we will be able to see another lake, Lagoa Rasa, and enter the area of Lagoa das Empadadas to go back to the starting point. Learning about the geomorphology of the island is the perfect way to discover Sete Cidades on a complete but least known path.

You can combine the adventure of one of the most beautiful hikes in São Miguel Island with a comfortable van tour to Nordeste all in one experience. We will leave from Ponta Delgada in the direction of Faial da Terra. It is here that we will start our circular trail Faial da Terra – Salto do Prego, visiting as well a hidden village in the mountain, called Sanguinho. During the hike, it will also be possible to refresh ourselves in the amazing waterfall Salto do Prego, especially during summer. After this wonderful hike, we will stop in the centre of Faial da Terra village to relax and enjoy the old whalers harbour, before we continue for the second half of the day. The road will take us to various viewpoints on the coastline of Nordeste, a beautiful part of São Miguel Island! We will visit the viewpoints of Ponta do Sossego and Vista dos Barcos. Our last stop of the day will be in the Park of Ribeira dos Caldeirões where you will enjoy the sight of another breathtaking waterfall, before going back to Ponta Delgada.

On this complete tour, you will feel and experience the volcanic origins of the island in Furnas, a magical place full of geothermal activity. After the pick up in Ponta Delgada at 9am, we will start by a visit to the local tea pictures for your album about the Azores. Then, we will go to the Caldeiras das Furnas to visit the famous fumaroles and taste gasocarbonic mineral waters from different springs. Passing by the Lagoa das Furnas, the local restaurant is our next stop to taste the famous “Cozido”, one of the most emblematic dishes of the Azores. It is a mixture of regional vegetables and meats cooked with the help of volcanic activity. A gastronomic experience you cannot miss. This is a very special meal cooked only with the steam of the Earth. After lunch, we will visit the centenary Terra Nostra botanical garden, famous for its extraordinary collection of native plants from the Azores, as well as others from all over the world that have adapted to the local conditions. After lunch, we will visit the centenary Terra Nostra botanical garden, famous for its extraordinary collection of native plants from the Azores, as well as others from all over the world that have adapted to the go for a dip in an iron-rich hot water swimming pool that has a temperature of 35-40oC (95-104°F), a relaxing experience. On the way back to Ponta Delgada, we will pass by the South Coast and also at Vila Franca do Campo where we will be able to see the Princess Ring islet and know more about the first capital of the island and the strong earthquake of 1522.

This is an active tour that combines dirt paths with kayak and bicycle activities at Lagoa das Sete Cidades. Enjoy this wonderful landscape from a different perspective in a jeep. We will take you to the top of Sete Cidades caldera stopping at some points of interest such as Pico do Carvão, Pico da Cruz and Lomba do Vasco viewpoint. A small stop will be made in the centre of Sete Cidades village, followed by a passage next to the Peninsula and then we will stop at the famous Sete Cidades village, followed by a passage next to the. The other part of the day is to enjoy Sete Cidades by bike and kayak! This is an excellent way to explore nature for those who enjoy active holidays. Our guide will give interesting information about Sete Cidades and also explain how to go kayaking.

Departure Day At the established time, the guide will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to the airport. Depending on the departure time, you can still enjoy some optional tours during the day.