The Azores
Self-drive Azores island hopping
10 days from £2,380 pp
Includes: Flights from UK and between islands, ferries, 9 nights accommodation, Group B hire car.
Holidays to The Azores
The nine islands that make up the Azores mark the westernmost boundary of Europe.
Just a 4-hour flight from the UK, this beautiful Portuguese archipelago spans the Mid-Atlantic Ridge around 900 miles west of Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, nestled in the heart of the ocean.
The volcanic origins of the islands are showcased by the deep craters or calderas dominating the landscape, making holidays here a paradise for walking, birdwatching and out door activities.
Although summers are not stifling, the temperature averages an exceptionally pleasant 23°C. Due to the year round sub-tropical climate and volcanic soil, the islands are covered in lush, green vegetation and vibrant flowers.
Experience four of the islands with this fly-drive holiday. All itineraries are tailor made, so get in touch to request a bespoke holiday.
Highlights
- Trek to glaciers, mineral hot springs and extinct volcano craters.
- Taste traditional Azorean food and wine
- Spot whales and dolphins by boat.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic city, Angra do Heroismo on Terciera.
- Visit botanical gardens, tropical forests and flower strewn landscapes
- Excellent birdwatching opportunities
- Diving and snorkelling
“The Azores is an ideal destination for those wanting to enjoy the natural beauty of these unique islands in the Atlantic. Perfect for active families as well as keen birders, divers and botany enthusiasts. Visit during May to September to witness hedgerows drenched in bright blues and pinks as Hydrangeas are at their best! “
Travel at your own pace and enjoy the freedom that a hire car provides. Take the road less travelled and pull over to take in the views to your heart’s content. This is a great way to explore the Azores independently, with all hotels and inter-island transfers pre-arranged.
- Day 1: Fly to Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island and pick up the hire car. Drive to your hotel and check in for 3 nights.
- Day 2: Today, drive to the Sete Cidades Massif, an extinct volcano crater which features an emerald green and an aquamarine lake. Visit Ferraria in the south west of the island with its thermal springs and spa. On the return to Ponta Delgada visit the Gruta do Carvão, the longest lava tunnel in Sao Miguel, measuring 1912 metres. This ancient cave is classified as a Regional Natural Monument.
- Day 3: Drive to the village of Lagoa and visit the OVGA (Volcanology Centre) to learn about the Azores’ volcanic history, before visiting the thermal activity in Furnas, a village with two ancient calderas and a beautiful lake. In the afternoon, visit the fumerols and the hot springs here or enjoy a stroll through the botanical garden. En-route to Ponta Delgada drive to the top of Lagoa do Fogo mountain for an amazing view before stopping for a swim at the natural tepid swimming pool, Caldeira Velha.
- Day 4: Take a short flight to Terceira Island for a two night stay. Consider a drive to Angra do Heroísmo, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage town. Stroll through its cobbled streets and enjoy the view of Monte Brasil across the harbour. Then, drive to Monte Brasil and marvel at the extinct volcano that emerged naturally from the sea to join the city of Angra do Heroísmo.
- Day 5: We suggest a drive to Serra do Cume to take in the landscape, locally known as the ‘Patchwork Quilt’ because it is made up of tiny pastures enclosed with volcanic dry stone walls. Then, visit the Natal Cave, an extensive geological formation composed by fluid lavas solidified that formed several tunnels, ramifications and stalactites.
- Day 6: After breakfast, drive to the airport to catch the flight to Pico. On arrival, collect a new car and drive to your hotel. Check in for 2 night stay.
- Day 7: Today, explore the amazing sites of Pico island. Take a drive through the UNESCO World Heritage listed vineyard landscapes of Santa Luzia for an impressive view of the linear walls called currais, which were hand built to protect the vineyards from the salty winds. Consider a stop at Adega da Buraca where you can do a wine tasting and visit the wine museum. Visit Grutadas Torres in Criação Velha and marvel at the 5 kilometre long cave with its enormous stalactites and lava stalagmites.
- Day 8: Board the morning ferry to Faial Island. In Horta, spend some time sipping a drink in Peter’s Café Sport on the harbour – a favourite haunt of tourists and sailors alike. Also consider visiting the Cabeço Gordo Cauldron, which marks the highest point of the island and offers awe inspiring views of Faial and the ocean.
- Day 9: Drive to Capelinhos, which, in 1957, was the last volcano to erupt in the Azores. Visit the Capelinhos Lighthouse which offers excellent panoramic views of the volcano extension and its rare beauty. It was here that the eruption started and the scenery provides a stark reminder of how the earth is constantly evolving. Today, the former living quarters of the lighthouse have been turned into the Interpretation Centre which provides detail about the eruption and the history of volcanic activity on Faial.
- Day 10: After breakfast, drop off the car at the airport before your flight back to the UK.
This is just one example of a holiday to The Azores. Contact me to create a holiday to suit your interests, either self drive or as part of a group tour. You might like to extend your holiday with a stop over in Lisbon.
A few impressions…
“The holiday was wonderful and so well organised –
Janet M
Azores Garden hotel very comfortable & the view from our room was beautiful. We saw 6 Sperm whales which was very exciting. We had a half day Faial island tour and took the ferry to Pico.
The walk/climb down into the Calderia Crater with our guide was absolutely amazing, a different world — I loved it!“
Let us begin the journey that will create memories to last a lifetime.
