Ponta delgada Tours and Trips

I would give the leader Coco 10 stars out of 5. She handled the weather-related setbacks effectively and with grace and transformed what might have been a negative experience into a bonus. The hiking was fantastic and the sights were breathtaking - "walk" in the name of this tour might have been a bit misleading for some members of our group given the ruggedness of some of the terrain. I would 100% recommend this trip.

We've traveled with Explore many times and this trip was excellent. We had the chance to experience four islands with a mixture of hiking/walking and seeing various parts of the islands as well. The tour leader, Tania, was outstanding -- very enthusiastic and engaged. We had a smaller group which were well matched for walking, so that was helpful. While my wife and I walk/hike a lot, I will say that some of these walks could be challenging if you are a "casual" walker and not used to mountain paths or inclines. The pace of the overall trip was brisk without being overwhelming and we had no weather issues at all. Lodging was excellent and all travel arrangements were spot-on. There were a few group dinners, but most evenings were free to make your own choices for food. We would highly recommend this trip.

The holiday was a balanced mix of short(ish) walks and interesting activities and attractions, from wine tasting to whale watching, a botanic garden to a tea factory and from boiling fumaroles to a volcano interpretation centre. Transport arrangements worked perfectly and all four hotels were of a high standard and located in the main centres of activity in each of the islands. All in all an excellent holiday.

Thoroughly enjoyable holiday in the beautiful Azores. We visited 4 contrasting islands, but all were lush and green despite their volcanic nature. I thought that there might be more downtime than I like from the itinerary on the website, but in fact, there were activities every day, as our very organised and hardworking guide Tania, led optional walks for us in free time, and also ensured that everyone had the chance to go whale watching and climb Pico Mountain, if they wished. I would definitely like to return to the Azores and visit some of the other islands.

Visiting the Azores was honestly unforgettable. The scenery was next-level — black volcanic ash, vibrant green forests, and bright hydrangeas everywhere in July. We saw so many whales and dolphins, all really close to shore because the sea gets so deep so quickly – it’s one of the best places in the world for year-round sightings. And hopping between the islands (they’re only about an hour apart by ferry!) felt like discovering hidden pockets of history — each one had its own personality. We even saw a pod of whales during one of the crossings!

We were delighted by our tour through four islands of the Azores. Our tour leader was exceptional and the islands are beautiful. While hiking trails are often seldom used roads, the scenery is extraordinary.