Azores Island Odyssey

PONTA DELGADA | FAIAL | TERCEIRA | FURNAS

Experience the wild beauty of the Azores, starting in vibrant Ponta Delgada. Hike dramatic crater lakes at Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo, spot whales near Faial Island, explore historic Terceira, and unwind in the geothermal paradise of Furnas.

Overview
Itinerary
Included

Home > Europe > Portugal > Azores Island Odyssey

PONTA DELGADA | FAIAL | TERCEIRA | FURNAS

Discover the magic of the Azores, where emerald landscapes meet the vast Atlantic. Begin in Ponta Delgada before exploring crater lakes, lush forests, and dramatic coastal views across the island of São Miguel. Journey onward to Faial Island and Pico Island for ocean adventures and volcanic vineyards, then discover the colourful heritage of Terceira. End your island-hopping escape in enchanting Furnas, where steaming springs, botanical gardens, and timeless traditions create a truly unforgettable finale.

Highlights:

Mercado da Graça market tour in Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Sete Cidades volcanic lakes hike on São Miguel Island, Portugal
Lagoa do Fogo crater lake hike on São Miguel Island, Portugal
Pico Island volcanic vineyards with wine tasting, Portugal
Whale and dolphin watching off Faial Island, Portugal
Algar do Carvão* volcanic cave visit on Terceira Island, Portugal

*Algar do Carvão and its visitors centre are closed due to construction, and will reopen in June 2026 (exact date subject to change).

Itineraries are fully customizable. Pricing available upon request, based on two (2) passengers travelling together sharing one room.
Subject to availability at time of booking. Blackout periods apply. Not valid during trade shows, bank holidays and other special events.
International airfare not included. **European city/tourist taxes collected locally unless otherwise indicated.
For full terms and conditions, click here.

Azores Island Odyssey

Travel itinerary

PONTA DELGADA | FAIAL | TERCEIRA | FURNAS

Day 1

PONTA DELGADA, PORTUGAL

Arrival in Ponta Delgada, the capital of São Miguel in Portugal’s Azores archipelago, a city where old-world charm meets island adventure. Transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the balance of your day at leisure.

Açores Atlântico Grand Hotel

★★★★★

Day 2

Breakfast

PONTA DELGADA

After breakfast, enjoy a private half day walking tour of Ponta Delgada. Walk along the main avenue to the Mercado da Graça, where you’ll find regional products ranging from pineapple to local cheeses. Continue to the city centre to discover the monuments and history that shape the character of both the city and its people. Proceed toward Campo de São Francisco, home to the Santo Cristo dos Milagres Festival, the second-largest religious festival in the country. Here, we will also see the Fort of São Brás, the Statue of the Emigrant, the Church of São José, and the Convento da Esperança. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon at leisure.

Açores Atlântico Grand Hotel

★★★★★

Day 3

Breakfast

PONTA DELGADA

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Take the day at leisure exploring this magnificent city.

Açores Atlântico Grand Hotel

★★★★★

Day 4

Breakfast

PONTA DELGADA

After breakfast, embark on a small group half day walking tour of Sete Cidades. On this walking trail, you’ll discover scenic lagoons, climb to the top of a mountain, and enjoy sweeping views over the central part of São Miguel, while spotting a variety of endemic flora. The walk explores several lakes and wetlands on the island’s western side. The hike lasts approximately 2.5 hours and includes views of Lagoa das Éguas and Lagoa Rasa, before ascending to one of the island’s highest points, Serra Devassa. The trail then continues toward Lagoa das Empadadas, passing through a forest of Cryptomeria, before returning to the starting point. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon at leisure.

Açores Atlântico Grand Hotel

★★★★★

Day 5

Breakfast / Boxed Lunch

PONTA DELGADA

After breakfast, begin your small group full day walking tour of Lagoa do Fogo. The hiking route begins along a dirt track that climbs through the forest. The trail then follows a levada before opening into a wider area with steep slopes on both sides leading down to the shores of Lagoa do Fogo. During the ascent, you may catch views of Vila Franca do Campo and its offshore islet. Lunch is enjoyed along the banks of the lagoon. The return journey follows a trail through areas of endemic vegetation before descending into open pasture as we gradually lose altitude. The return to Ponta Delgada includes a stop at the seaside bathing area of Caloura or Praia de Água D’Alto.

Açores Atlântico Grand Hotel

★★★★★

Day 6

Breakfast / Lunch

PONTA DELGADA

After breakfast, start your small group full day van tour of Nordeste. This van tour explores one of the most remote and scenic regions of São Miguel. Following the south coast, we arrive at the picturesque village of Povoação, where we’ll walk along the paths of the island’s first settlers. Here, we’ll stop for lunch and enjoy a taste of the famous local pastry, fofas da Povoação. We then continue to the lush and flower-filled municipality of Nordeste. Along the way, we’ll admire spectacular coastal scenery from the viewpoints at Ponta do Sossego and Ponta da Madrugada. The tour also includes a stop at Gorreana Tea Factory, the only industrial tea plantation in Europe. We return to Ponta Delgada along the north coast, stopping at the Santa Iria Viewpoint for one last sweeping view of the island.

Açores Atlântico Grand Hotel

★★★★★

Day 7

Breakfast

PONTA DELGADA – FAIAL, PORTUGAL

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your flight to Faial. This is a striking island in Portugal’s Azores archipelago, known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes and deep maritime heritage. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the balance of your day at leisure.

Pousada Forte da Horta

★★★★

Day 8

Breakfast / Wine Tasting

FAIAL – PICO – FAIAL

After breakfast, board the ferry to Pico Island for a private full day tour with wine tasting. Discover the remarkable Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique volcanic vineyards. Stop at the local cooperative to learn more about the region’s winemaking traditions and enjoy a wine tasting. Continue to São Mateus to visit the Bom Jesus Milagroso Sanctuary, one of the island’s oldest churches. You will also visit a local craft house before continuing to Lajes do Pico, the island’s first settlement, where you’ll explore the Lajes do Pico Whaling Museum (closed on Mondays). The tour continues to São Roque do Pico, with a stop at Lagoa do Capitão, one of the island’s largest and most scenic lakes, offering views of the village of São Roque, Mount Pico, and nearby São Jorge Island. We then descend to the village of São Roque, continue through the parish of Bandeiras, and finish at Arcos do Cachorro, where dramatic volcanic sea caves create a striking coastal landscape.

Pousada Forte da Horta

★★★★

Day 9

Breakfast

FAIAL

After breakfast, embark on an exhilarating small group half day Whale Watching tour. During this excursion, you will have the opportunity to observe whales and dolphins in their natural habitat around Faial Island. The main whale-watching season runs from April to October, and the activity is suitable for most ages and fitness levels. If special assistance is required, advance notice is recommended. Local guides work with traditional lookout stations on Faial Island and nearby Pico Island, a system dating back to the historic whaling era. These lookouts scan the ocean daily to help locate whales and dolphins and guide boats toward recent sightings. Species that may be seen include sperm whales, common dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins. During spring migration, blue whales, fin whales, sei whales, and humpback whales may also appear, while summer often brings groups of spotted and striped dolphins. Sightings of false killer whales, pilot whales, and beaked whales are less predictable, and sea turtles and seabirds are sometimes seen as well. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Pousada Forte da Horta

★★★★

Day 10

Breakfast

FAIAL – TERCEIRA, PORTUGAL

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your flight to Terceira. This is one of the Azores’ most vibrant islands, where historic streets, lively traditions, and volcanic landscapes reveal centuries of culture and seafaring heritage. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the balance of your day at leisure.

Terciera Mar Hotel

★★★★

Day 11

Breakfast

TERCEIRA

After breakfast, begin your private half day walking tour of the Monte Brasil trail. Starting at the marina in Angra do Heroísmo, you will be captivated by the beauty and grandeur of Monte Brasil, an extinct volcano rising from the sea. This natural area features a caldera surrounded by four peaks and preserves remnants of the island’s original vegetation. Today, it is classified as a Recreational Forest Reserve. As you explore Monte Brasil, you will pass its four peaks: Pico das Cruzes, Pico do Facho, Pico da Quebrada, and Pico do Zimbreiro. At the end of the walk, you will visit the 16th-century Fort of São João Baptista, where you can observe the interior ramparts, former dungeons, and historic church. On the return, there may also be an opportunity to visit the Military History Museum, located in the former Boa Nova Military Hospital. This collection illustrates the evolution of the Portuguese Armed Forces through the centuries. The experience concludes with a tasting of one of the island’s traditional sweets, the famous Queijada da Dona Amélia, at a local pastry shop. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Terciera Mar Hotel

★★★★

Day 12

Breakfast / Lunch

TERCEIRA

After breakfast, start your small group full day van tour of Terceira. We begin the tour at Monte Brasil, a natural park offering exceptional views over the bays and the historic city of Angra do Heroísmo. Next, we head toward the island’s east coast, visiting the parishes of Porto Judeu and São Sebastião. We then stop in the island’s second-largest city, Praia da Vitória, where you will have some free time to explore this charming seaside town. Afterwards, we continue to Serra do Facho, which offers sweeping views over the city. Before lunch at a local restaurant, we will also stop at the famous Serra do Cume, home to one of the island’s most iconic viewpoints. After lunch, the journey continues into the island’s interior, passing Caldeira de Guilherme Moniz and stopping at Algar do Carvão*, one of the few visitable volcanic chimneys in the world and a true highlight of the tour. We then continue to Furnas do Enxofre, an area known for its geothermal activity. To conclude the day, the final stop will be in the parish of Biscoitos.

*Algar do Carvão and its visitors centre are closed due to construction, and will reopen in June 2026 (exact date subject to change).

Terciera Mar Hotel

★★★★

Day 13

Breakfast

TERCEIRA – PONTA DELGADA – FURNAS, PORTUGAL

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your flight back to Ponta Delgada. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Furnas, a lush volcanic valley in Portugal known for its steaming fumaroles, thermal springs, and the tranquil beauty of Lagoa das Furnas, where nature and tradition come together in one of the Azores’ most enchanting landscapes. Enjoy the balance of your day at leisure.

Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

★★★★

Day 14

Breakfast / Lunch

FURNAS

After breakfast, start your private full day tour of Furnas. We will visit Terra Nostra Garden, one of the finest examples of 18th-century romantic gardens in the Azores. Here, you can stroll along paths surrounded by vegetation from around the world and enjoy a relaxing thermal bath in the outdoor pool. Before lunch, we will visit the caldera area beside Lagoa das Furnas, where you will observe secondary volcanic activity and see the famous “cozido das Furnas” being cooked underground. This traditional dish will be served for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will discover how the residents of Furnas live alongside a dormant volcano while visiting areas of hot springs and fumaroles, where you can sample mineral waters that flow naturally from the rocks.

Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

★★★★

Day 15

Breakfast

FURNAS — PONTA DELGADA — HOME

After breakfast, transfer from your hotel to the Ponta Delgada Airport for your flight home.

Azores Island Odyssey

PONTA DELGADA | FAIAL | TERCEIRA | FURNAS

Package Includes:

Total 14 nights accommodation at 4 & 5-Star hotels
- 6 nights in Ponta Delgada, Portugal at Açores Atlântico Grand Hotel ★★★★★
- 3 nights in Faial, Portugal at Pousada Forte da Horta ★★★★
- 3 nights in Terceira, Portugal at Terciera Mar Hotel ★★★★
- 2 nights in Furnas, Portugal at Terra Nostra Garden Hotel ★★★★
Domestic airfare: Ponta Delgada – Faial – Terceira – Ponta Delgada
Private transfers and private/small group tours as per itinerary
Continental breakfast daily
Hotel taxes and service charges

Not Included:

International airfare; airport or departure taxes
Gratuities to guides and drivers
Items of a personal nature
Travel insurance
Reciprocity and/or local city taxes if applicable
Visas required for entry into the country as necessary. Please discuss this with your travel agent to determine your requirements prior to departure.

15 days

On Request

Comments about their recent trip to Portugal

"On behalf of all four of us, I would like to thank you for a trip that was long overdue and enjoyed by us all. Your planning and organizing excursions, transfers etc were incredible. We enjoyed each excursion and we all agreed they were all amazing and different in their own way. Overall, it was an unbelievable 9 days and we look forward to our next trip! Thanks so much for everything. - K +D

K & D, Toronto

June 11, 2024

Proudly Celebrating 40 Years in 2026!

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PONTA DELGADA | FAIAL | TERCEIRA | FURNAS