Azores Island Hopping

Location: Ponta Delgada

Basing ourselves at Ponta Delgada, the island's capital, we spend our first 3 days exploring Sao Miguel - the largest of the islands we visit. We use a mixture of local and private buses to transfer us to and from our walks. For our first day walking we drive to Sete Cidades. From here we walk within and around some of the crater to Vista do Rei to view the splendid blue and green lakes before returning to Ponta Delgada by bus later that afternoon. Today's easy eight kilometre walk is expected to take around two-and-a-half hours with 270 metres of ascent and descent.

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Location: Ponta Delgada

Our second day exploring Sao Miguel begins by driving to the north side of the island. We make a stop at Gorreana, Europe's oldest and only remaining tea factory and continue to Lagoa das Furnas. Here we take a short walk of approximately forty-five minutes on the shores of the lake, stopping to see the natural ovens (cavities in the rock). Here in the huge hollow of Furnas Valley, diverse volcanic activity has also created thermal springs and boiling mud pools. Today we have an included lunch - a traditional Cozido cooked in the volcanic fumeroles. We also have time to visit the botanical gardens of Terra Nostra, planted over 200 years ago, with an outdoor thermal pool where we can bathe (optional). Back on the bus we continue to a viewpoint to Lagoa de Fogo, the islands highest crater lake, where we will stop to take photos before continuing back to Ponta Delgada.

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Location: Ponta Delgada

Today is left free to explore more of the island on and off shore. You may wish to do one of the many walks around the island, options include the Salto do Cabrito trail (seven-and-a-half kilometres) to the waterfall or a linear route that connects the village of Sao Vicente Ferreira and Calhetas on the north coast (six-and-a-half kilometres). Another option is to take a whale searching trip.

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Location: Praia da Vitória

An inter-island flight brings us to the island of Terceira. During our stay here, our base will be the small harbour settlement of Praia da Vitoria. After transferring to our hotel, we cross the island to the largest settlement on Terceira, the old town of Angra do Heroismo. An afternoon here gives us time to explore the town, with its distinctive architecture, its cathedrals and churches. Angra was the first settlement in the Azores to receive city status, in 1534, and remains one of the finest examples of Renaissance town planning. It was the Azores seat of government until the early 19th century and its palaces and churches are the legacy of it's supremacy. A walk up to the fort gives good views over the harbour and the narrow streets of the old town are well worth exploring at your own pace. Other options this afternoon include walking the circular trail to Monte Brasil (visible from the town) or to visit the Algar do Carvao caves, the only volcanic pit you can visit in the world, before returning to Praia. Today's easy optional seven-and-a-half kilometre walk to Monte Brasil is expected to take around two-and-a-half hours.

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Location: Praia da Vitória

Today we head for the northern regions of the island by private bus. From Quatro Ribeiras the walk follows the contours of the coast with marvellous views out to sea. We arrive at Biscoitos (ther is the option to take the bus for the last section which is along an asphalt road), where there is the chance to swim in the lava rock pools. In the late afternoon we return to Praia da Vitoria stopping at the Serra do cume viewpoint on the way for views over the patchwork interior. Today's moderate 12.5 kilometre walk is expected to take around four hours with 320 metres of ascent and 465 metres of descent.

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Location: Velas

There may be some free time in Praiada Vitoria, depending on the flight time, before we take the short flight to Sao Jorge. This curiously elongated island is some 56 km long, but only 8 km wide, having been created by a series of linear volcanic eruptions. The island remained almost isolated for many centuries, due to the lack of shelter offered to ships. After transferring to our hotel, we are free to wander the streets of the small maritime community of Velas, where we are based. Alternatively we can take an optional walk to the old whale watching tower which is positioned on a volcanic crater from where we can enjoy views down on to Velas town (2hrs).

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Location: Praia da Vitória

We spend two full days walking on Sao Jorge, a place of precipitous cliffs, narrow valleys and tiny coves. On our first day, we'll head from Velas to the north side of the island. A stunning walk starting from the 700m high ridge of Sao Jorge leads us through the beautiful gorge of the Caldeira de Cima and down to the coast. From here we follow the rocky coastline passing the Caldeira de Santo Cristo Lake walking to Faja dos Cubres. Fajas are the small plains at the foot of the steep coastal cliffs which are dotted with traditional hamlets and fertile orchards. Today's moderate 10 kilometre walk is expected to take around two-and-a-half hours with 600 metres of descent.

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Location: Velas

Our second day is left free for optional walks, and your tour leader will advise on the various possibilities. Views of the surrounding islands are excellent from Pico da Esperanca ridge walk (1,053m) in the centre of the island, while a walk along the fajas on the south coast of the island offers a contrast in scenery from the north. Today's moderate optional 12.7 kilometre ridge walk is expected to take around three-and-a-half hours.

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Location: Madalena

This morning we take a ferry to Pico Island and transfer to our accommodation at Madalena. The rest of the day is free to explore this small fishing port, or perhaps take a walk through the coastal vineyards or visit the Grota do Torres Lava Tunnel. Today's easy optional five kilometre walk is expected to take around two hours.

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Location: Velas

Pico is dominated by its volcano, Pico Alto, reaching up to 2350m. The island covers some 42 km by 16 km. For those interested in the history of the island, there are many small fishing ports, several with reminders of the old whaling industry once so vital to the island. Today's walk is along the south coast of Pico. We walk to the village of Lajes, which has a small whaling museum. There is the opportunity to take a whale-watching trip (optional) from Lajes to spot sperm whales as well as several species of dolphins. Today's easy six-and-a-half kilometre walk is expected to take around two hours with 450 metres of ascent and descent. There is the option today for those who wish to make the ascent of Pico volcano. This is a very strenuous and steep 6-7 hour climb. Those interested in walking can take taxis part way up Pico Alto, from where there are fine views across the straits to Faial, while behind the peak of the volcano rises into the clouds. There are dozens of small volcanic cones on the slopes of Pico Alto and some caves created by past lava flows to explore for example, Furnas Frei Mateus. There are magnificent and unforgettable vistas of neighbouring islands. The eight kilometre moderate to challenging trek up Pico, with a local guide, is expected to take three hours each way with 1,000 meters of ascent and descent.

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Location: Horta

This morning, we cross by ferry to the charming island of Faial, where the harbour is often full of yachts, half way through their transatlantic crossing. The remainder of the day is free to stroll the streets and harbour of Horta, there is a circular walk from the hotel on the Monte da Guia headland which provides views over town, our tour leader will provide directions. Our accommodation for the last two nights at the modern Azoris Faial Garden Hotel is a relaxing way to end this walking holiday. Set within an extensive landscaped garden with coastal views and an inviting outdoor swimming pool. Today's optional three-and-a-half kilometre walk is expected to take around one and-a-half hours.

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Location: Horta

Today we explore the Ilha Azul, taking a tour of the island by private bus. We head to the stunning Caldeira often shrouded in cloud, where we view the lush green-carpeted crater and walking along its edge (the Calderia trail will take approximately two-and-a-half hours to walk). The views over the island are particularly impressive in summer, when the wild blue hydrangeas that form many of the hedges are in flower. We then continue to the western end of the island to visit the Capelinhos volcano, now extinct, here there are some walking trails which we could take or visit the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre. Later we return to Horta, an attractive little town with some good restaurants. Today's easy optional five-and-a-half kilometre walk to Varadouro is expected to take around two-and-a-half hours.

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Location: Horta

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Horta. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Horta at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Horta Airport (HOR) which is around 15 minutes' drive from the hotel.

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