The Nine Wonders of Portugese Volcanos

Upon arrival at Ponta Delgada Airport, your private driver will be waiting for you and escort you to your hotel. You will be able to drop your bags and enjoy breakfast before your Azorean adventure begins.

A mix of modern and exotic influences and a privileged location between the mountains and the sea make Santa Bárbara Eco Beach Resort the perfect place to live an experience that you will not want to end.

You ́ll meet your driver at the hotel lobby and depart to Ponta Delgada, the capital city of São Miguel Island (20 minutes). You ́ll meet with a local Chef and learn about the ingredients and recipes of Azorean gastronomy. Meet the Chef at the market where you ́ll be introduced to the different products that grow on the island, as well as the fish, sausages, cheeses and ways to consume and cook. During the cooking class, you will be asked to prepare soup, meat and fish dishes, and dessert, all under the guidance of the Chef. The menus are presented according to the traditions of the Azores; however, they can be changed and adjusted according to your needs. Lunch will follow, and it will be paired with local wine. After lunch, your private driver will escort you back to your hotel for your check-in. Remain of the day at leisure.

Today you’ll meet your private guide and driver, and together you’ll head to a natural regional monument, Caldeira Velha, where you will have the opportunity to bathe if you wish. The tour continues to the north coast to visit the city of Ribeira Grande, where you’ll have the opportunity to observe the Baroque Architecture from the XVII and XVIII centuries. The drive goes on along the north coast making stops at the viewpoint of Santa Iria, tea plantations at Gorreana, and a view of Pico de Ferro. From this viewpoint, it is possible to see the biggest and oldest volcanic crater where Furnas Lake and spas are located. The lunch, served at a local restaurant, is the famous “Cozido das Caldeiras”. Afterwards, you’ll visit the “Caldeiras” fumaroles and hot springs of the centre of Furnas civil parish, following a visit to Terra Nostra Park with the possibility of bathing.

Then, you will go to Lagoa do Fogo (Fire Lagoon), driving by the south side of the island towards Barrosa mountain. Stop at the belvederes to admire not only the beautiful, quiet lake but also the landscape of the surroundings.

This morning, along with your private guide, you will visit one of São Miguel’s most astonishing places, as you tour the western part of the island, and visit Sete Cidades. The volcanic complex of Sete Cidades has more than a dozen lakes, lagoons, and ponds, with the majority concentrated at Serra Devassa. There are several different locations of interest around the lake of Sete Cidades, where most of the roads are on gravel, such as the roads of Cumeeiras at the top of the mountain around the crater. It offers visitors a panoramic view over the Sete Cidades lagoon and its different colours as the background. You’ll be able to admire the largest Azorean lake and the beautiful North Coast of the island simultaneously. After lunch, you’ll head to the Northeast, to the Natural Park of Ribeira dos Caldeirões (driving distance: 1 hour 10 minutes). São Miguel’s interior hides beautiful waterfalls and streams that are dying to be explored. In the Natural Park of Ribeira dos Caldeirões, is where you will have the opportunity to explore this part of the island in a completely different and radical way, canyoning, which consists of the descent of streams using various techniques from rappel to waterfalls, descents on natural slides and jumps into the water. Adrenaline and fun, in a water park created by nature. The activity will begin with a briefing about safety measures and the presentation of the equipment. Then it is time to begin the adventure! Walk along the waters before you start rappelling, jumping, and sliding until you reach the cascades. In the end, transfer back to the hotel (approx. 30 minutes driving).

Early in the morning, you’ll check out from your hotel, and you’ll have a private transfer to Ponta Delgada Airport (approximately 20 minutes driving distance), where you’ll board your flight to Pico Island.

After picking up your rental car, self-drive to Madalena village (approx. 15 minutes) and get ready to enter the ocean. You will see the secret side of the Pico Island coast from a different perspective. Jump off your SUP into the crystal clear Atlantic Ocean, and with some luck, you might even see some dolphins and sea turtles. The activity starts with skills training exercises, needed for the expedition in the Atlantic Ocean. You will feel the connection with nature in a pleasant class at a protected and calm place by the coast of Pico Island. Your experienced SUP Guide will teach you the knowledge of the material, security rules, warm-up exercises, coming in and out of the water, paddle lying, paddling on the knees and stand up, balance on the board & how to use the paddle.

This morning, after breakfast, self-drive to Lajes do Pico village, where your adventure with Whales & Dolphins will begin*. In the interface of the North Atlantic, between “hot water” and “cold water”, the archipelago is without any doubt one of the best places for cetacean observation in the northern hemisphere. Also, because the islands are far away from the main merchant navy routes, recreational sailing has not yet made the carnage known in Continental Europe, and the large pollution emitters are relatively far off. Thanks to the lookout techniques from land, you won’t leave the harbour blindly. Before embarking (a semi-rigid boat will be used), a briefing is held during which the observations made by the lookout. The type of cetacean spotted, their groups, their distance from the harbour, the sea conditions, the number of animals in the group, and the absence or presence of smaller whales are all necessary factors in assessing the quality of this tour. Then, you just have to open your eyes wide and enjoy the marine show. If luck is on your side, during this activity you may have the opportunity to watch some of more than 25 cetacean species that can be found in the Azores. After the tour, self-drive to Madalena village for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a memorable adventure. Let yourself be surrounded by unique landscapes created by craters of volcanoes and lagoons that form the Achada Plateau. To make the day even more exciting, you will put your helmet on and hold a lantern to go on an adventure through the largest lava tube in Portugal and other lava cavities with amazing geological formations. In this unforgettable underground experience, you will discover Pico Island in its pure state of preservation! In the end, drive back to your hotel.

This morning, you will self-drive to Madalena village to pick up your rental bikes. You will be able to explore the island on two wheels and discover the Vineyard Route, a route that runs along vineyard pens classed as World Heritage by UNESCO. It begins in Lugar do Monte and crosses the coastal area until it reaches Areia Larga Beach (Wide Sand Beach). Along the route, you will have the opportunity to observe several cultivations of vineyards, as well as windmills and typical wineries. At the end, return your rental bike and self-drive back to your hotel.

Early in the morning, around 6:30 am*, you ́ll be picked up at your hotel for a private guided hiking tour in Pico Mountain. This activity is one of the most symbolic experiences you can take part in during your stay in Pico, and it will certainly provide one of the rarest moments of beauty during your holiday. Challenge yourself physically in a breathtaking landscape and enjoy this unique moment with maximum security. You will start climbing very early, as the sun rises, to make the most of every moment of this challenging activity. Along the way, your guide will give you interesting information about the genesis of the Islands and the Volcano biodiversity. Reaching an altitude of 7713 feet above sea level (2351 meters), Pico Mountain is the highest peak in Portugal. It is a conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and ash. The climb is of medium to great difficulty, but it is definitely worth it, especially on a clear day, where, in addition to everything you see on your way up, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view that covers all the islands of the central group. On average, the climb takes between 6 and 8 hours, depending on your fitness level. The good news is, Pico hasn’t erupted since 1720, so we are fairly confident that you will return safely.

Upon enjoying the morning at leisure (please note your check out is at 11:00 AM), you will drop off your rental car at Pico Airport, where you will board your flight back to São Miguel.

This morning, you will be picked up at your hotel to discover the amazing beauty of the Azorean Ocean and the species that live in it. You’ll board a semi-rigid boat and ride along the south coast of São Miguel, where you will find the Islet of Vila Franca do Campo, a natural reserve located just one km away from the coast. It is formed by the crater of an old underwater volcano that features a saltwater inlet between its walls, which creates an almost perfectly circular natural lake, lined by local vegetation. The water flows freely between the ocean and the lagoon, and its shape prevents waves from entering the crater, which in turn allows for the biodiversity to thrive. The calm, clear waters are excellent for swimming, diving, and snorkelling. When this experience is over, return to your hotel for check-out.