Highlights
- Eat your way through the heart of São Miguel's unofficial capital
- Go off the beaten path on a 4WD tour around a volcanic crater
- Soak in natural hot springs under the stars
- Learn how to cook traditional dishes inside a volcano
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Ponta Delgada & São Miguel Island, Evening Food & Wine Tour | Ponta Delgada |
| Day 2 | Volcano Cooking Experience, Hot Springs Under the Stars in Furnas | Ponta Delgada |
| Day 3 | Jeep Trip to Sete Cidades & Guided Hiking Adventure | Ponta Delgada |
| Day 4 | Tour the Furnas Valley & Visit a Tea Plantation, Azorean Food Tour | Ponta Delgada |
| Day 5 | Optional Horseback Riding or Snorkeling Excursion, Depart São Miguel |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Ponta Delgada & São Miguel Island, Evening Food & Wine Tour
Welcome to the Azores! You'll touch down on São Miguel, the largest island in this archipelago that stretches over 350 miles (600 km) across the Atlantic. Your driver will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to your accommodations for the next four nights in Ponta Delgada. Drop off your luggage and rest awhile—or get straight to exploring! You can stroll the streets and squares with their iconic black and white tiles, known as calçada Portuguesa, or pop into one of the stately churches that are scattered around town.
Make sure to save your appetite for an endless stream of Azorean bites and sips tonight. You'll kick off the first evening of this food-focused trip with a culinary tour through downtown Ponta Delgada. Follow your local guide, eating a progressive menu of local fruit, honey, bread, pastries, seafood, artisanal meats, and delicious desserts—all paired with local wine. Some of Ponta Delgada's most important sights and historical tidbits will also be pointed out along the way.
Day 2: Volcano Cooking Experience, Hot Springs Under the Stars in Furnas
If there's one dish you can't leave the Azores without trying, it's cozido das Furnas—a savory meat and vegetable stew that's cooked geothermally. Tag along with a local resident this morning who's been whipping up this hearty Azorean staple for decades. You'll sift through the market to collect ingredients and help create her recipe from scratch inside a volcanic stove submerged in the ground. Soon, you'll be savoring it all from the nearby picnic tables.
Tonight, you'll have the unique opportunity to experience the Furnas Hot Springs under the stars. On your way to this relaxing soaking session, your driver will take you toward the town of Furnas, seeing smoking fumaroles (volcanic vents), active lava fields, and the Furnas Caldera along the way. You'll make a pit stop for a traditional dinner in the center of town, where you'll have the opportunity to try favorites like locally-raised steak and queijadas (Portuguese cheesecake) for dessert. Then it's finally time to have the hot springs all to yourself beneath the night sky.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Jeep Trip to Sete Cidades & Guided Hiking Adventure
If you've ever glimpsed pictures of the Azores, it's likely you've seen Sete Cidades—two turquoise lagoons nestled between verdant hills. Today, you'll get access to the area's most scenic spots and secret viewpoints via a 4WD vehicle with a private guide. Set off down dirt roads, stopping at the Carvão and Vista da Princesa overlooks for a birds-eye peek at the rolling landscapes and glimpses of the ocean in the distance.
After taking in the views, you'll set out on a hike along the Cumeeiras Trail, following the rim of a volcanic crater. The path takes you up to magnificent seaside vistas and down to a village that's nestled within the crater itself. Pop into a local café for a quick pick-me-up before completing the hike and heading back to Ponta Delgada to enjoy the rest of your afternoon at your leisure.
Day 4: Tour the Furnas Valley & Visit a Tea Plantation, Azorean Food Tour
It's your last full day in the Azores, and you'll begin by heading back to the village of Furnas on São Miguel's eastern side to witness bubbling mud pits, fumaroles, and steaming hot springs. A local guide will lead you out on a hike that passes the beautiful Lagoa das Furnas and continues up to Pico do Ferro for views that stretch to the horizon. Relax after the hike by taking a dip in the local hot springs at the Terra Nostra Botanical Garden, grabbing a local lunch, and stopping by one of the only tea plantations in Europe, the Gorreana Tea Factory.
Tonight, you'll be treated to a multicourse gourmet dinner, all focusing on the flavors and traditional dishes of the Azores. Kick off the meal with a warm cup of tea—grown in the same fields you visited earlier today. Then, a parade of artisan cheese platters, main courses, and desserts, alongside a few surprises, will make their way out of the kitchen. Your hosts will also be there to explain each dish and its cultural importance so you can both savor and learn along the way.
Day 5: Optional Horseback Riding or Snorkeling Excursion, Depart São Miguel
It might be your last day in the Azores, but if you have time before your flight, why not sneak in one last adventure? Choose from horseback riding with striking coastal scenery or getting up close and personal with São Miguel's abundant marine life on a snorkeling excursion. Either way, this makes for the perfect way to say adeus to the Azores. When it does come time to leave, your private driver will be waiting outside your accommodation to take you to the airport. Safe travels!
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