Highlights of the Azores

Description

4 nights – São Miguel
2 nights – Pico
3 nights – Terceira
1 night – São Miguel

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✈️ UK to São Miguel (4 nights): São Miguel is known as the ‘green island’ – a playground of volcanic craters, natural hot springs, and stunning lakes.  One of the island’s most iconic sights is Sete Cidades, a beautiful twin-lake system where one lake appears blue and the other green. For the best views, head to the Vista do Rei viewpoint, or if you’re feeling adventurous, walk around the crater rim or kayak on the lakes.  The Furnas Valley is another must-visit, where you can soak in thermal pools and then try the cozido das Furnas, a traditional stew slow-cooked underground by volcanic heat. Another of the island’s highlights is Lagoa do Fogo, a breath-taking lake in the central part of São Miguel Island, that sits within a volcanic caldera.  The island’s capital, Ponta Delgada boasts cobbled streets, colonial architecture and a striking church – Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião.  The waters around the Azores are some of the best places in the world to spot whales and dolphins, with plenty of boat tours from Ponta Delgada’s harbour – so make sure you take the opportunity for some incredible wildlife viewing.

✈️ São Miguel  to Pico (2 nights):  After a short flight, you’ll land in Pico, home to Portugal’s highest mountain, Mount Pico.  Madalena is the island’s main tourist hub, offering some great restaurants and a lively atmosphere. Other options include São Roque do Pico, on the north coast which offers a quieter experience and Lajes do Pico, on the south coast, which is a remote spot, but the best place for whale watching. It’s also home to the Museu dos Baleeiros (the Whalers’ museum) where you can learn about the island’s controversial history of whaling up until its decline in the mid 1950s. The island is also famed for its black lava fields and vineyards which produce Verdelho wine. A visit to a local vineyard is highly recommended to sample the distinctive flavours of the wine and understand how local producers are able to produce incredible wine in such a challenging terrain.  Another geological marvel is Gruta das Torres, the longest lava tube in Portugal, where you can explore a 5km-long underground tunnel formed by volcanic activity.

✈️ Pico to Terceira (3 nights): Next, you’ll fly to Terceira, home to Angra do Heroísmo, the oldest city in the Azores and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander through its colourful streets and head up to the Monte Brasil, a volcanic peninsula that is home to the São João Baptista Castle, a 16th-century fortress built by the Spanish during their rule over Portugal.

To explore the island’s volcanic history, visit Algar do Carvão, a volcanic cave where you can step inside a huge lava tube that opens up into a dramatic cavern – an absolute must-see.  The island boasts a fabulous coastline of cliffs, rocky bays, and natural swimming pools. If you are visiting in the summer, you may be lucky enough to join in the fun of one of Terceira’s bull-running festivals, where bulls are let loose in the streets with no harm to the animals involved.

✈️ Terceira to São Miguel (1 night):

You’ll land back in São Miguel for one final night – and how you spend it is up to you. Stroll through Ponta Delgada’s streets, do some last-minute shopping, or enjoy one last meal at a local restaurant.

✈️ São Miguel to UK: Time to (reluctantly) board your flight home to the UK.