Highlights
Sete Cidades - Crater walk with stunning views of the twin blue and green lakes Whale watching - Opportunity to take a boat trip alongside whales and dolphins Faja dos Cubres - Follow a hydrangea lined path down to this unique lagoon
Itinerary
Lose yourself in the unspoiled beauty of Portugal’s Azores archipelago on this 14-day "Walking in the Azores" tour. Designed for experienced travelers who appreciate gentle adventure, this easy walking holiday explores Sao Miguel, Sao Jorge, Pico, and Faial—four islands known for their volcanic landscapes, crater lakes, vineyards, and thermal springs.
Follow hydrangea-lined trails to the tranquil lagoon of Faja dos Cubres and take in breathtaking panoramas on the Sete Cidades crater walk, where twin blue and green lakes glisten beneath dramatic volcanic ridges. Enjoy the chance to head out into the Atlantic on a whale watching excursion, sharing the waters with dolphins and majestic whales.
With comfortable accommodation, transport, meals, and expert guides included, this walking trip offers a relaxed pace and maximal natural beauty. The tour’s unique selling point lies in its access to the Azores’ most spectacular and untouched landscapes—making it a perfect getaway for those seeking serenity and scenic wonder.
day 1Join trip in Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel
Arrive in Ponta Delgada, Located on the harbour of Sao Miguel, the Azores largest island, Ponta Delgada is a charming historic city with narrow cobbled streets and some interesting buildings worth a visit, such as the Municipal city hall with its reflecting pool in the city centre of Baixa. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Ponta Delgada at any time. If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive at João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada (PDL) which is around ten minutes' drive from the hotel. Should you miss the meeting, your leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to take a stroll along the harbour front promenade past the 16th Century fort to the marina or visit the Convent and Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Esperança with its unique quadrangular tower.
day 2Walk around Sete Cidades, see the colourful crater lakes
day 3Enjoy lakeside walk, lunch among volcanic scenery and visit thermal pools
day 4Free day; optional walks or boat trip to look for whales
day 5Fly to Sao Jorge Island
day 6Walk through Caldeira de Cima gorge down to Faja dos Cubres
day 7Free day with a choice of optional walks including the descent from the central spine to Faja Ouividor
day 8Ferry to Pico Island and wine tasting in the afternoon
day 9Optional whale watching and walk through UNESCO World Heritage landscape
day 10Misterios do Sul coastal walk and short visit to Lajes do Pico
day 11Take the ferry to Faial Island; explore Horta
day 12Excursion of the island, walk around the Caldeira and visit to the Capelinhos volcano centre
day 13Circular walk down to Faja da Praia do Norte
day 14Trip ends in Horta, Faial Island
What's Included
Customer Reviews
A very interesting tour through a less well known part of the world. We were on four islands and saw the differences and similarities among them. Some of the walks were much harder than I anticipated from the tour description but it is fine to skip a walk if you are not up for it that day. A highlight was a soak in a hot mineral pool. Good food, comfortable hotels, friendly people. Our tour guide, Coco, was outstanding. I would highly recommend this tour.
Great holiday, good walks - some fairly demanding, some easy, and always wonderful views. Our guide was very knowledgeable and informative and fun and introduced us to lots of cultural nuances that we would otherwise have missed. The accommodation was good but a bit 'corporate' - i.e. we could have been anywhere in the world, I would have preferred a more authentic and local feel. we were introduced to local cuisine, which was interesting, but not to everyone's taste! Overall very enjoyable and efficiently run.
Our hard working tour leader Tania looked out for us and did her best to make this holiday an amazing experience for everyone. She has a skill to pivot and adjust the itinerary around weather conditions and the hiking ability of the group to help everyone enjoy as much as possible. She had a great rapport with everyone she dealt with and a tremendous amount of enthusiasm, knowledge and love of the Azores. Trust the guide--she knows what she's doing!.. I felt like I was traveling not only with a tour guide but a friend as well. The Azores are unspoiled and beautiful! Don't miss this opportunity to be there. Thank you Tania and Explore for this amazing experience that I will always remember!
Some accommodations were a bit tired and needing repair or updating. Itinerary was good, glad there was the option to not do a hike or do part of a hike. Tania was excellent, always making sure we were all ok. She was fun, made everyone feel included and very knowledgeable about the history of the Azores and good hiking skills.
Tania Andrade was an excellent guide. We learned about the islands of the Azores, how to stay safe while hiking and were given choices if we felt a hike was going to be too difficult. She made everyone feel welcome and worked hard to make sure everything went well. Thank you Tania.
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