Family Trip to Azores outstanding!
the Azores | Aug 3 - Aug 11, 2024

Amy
Amy P.
Panama | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2024

Rita collaborated with me and my family every step of the way and was very flexible. She found a trip itinerary that was pleasing to multiple age levels ranging from age 83 to age 11. Our time in the Azores was fabulous. It is heaven on earth. She arranged guided tours for two days, a beach tour, a sunset boat cruise, and a walking food and wine tour. She also helped with other suggestions throughout our time there and responded quickly to any questions or concerns. I found the process to be very smooth.

Activity Reviews
Sete Ciudades Jeep Adventure
Sete Ciudades Jeep Adventure
São Miguel Island

Natasha and Jose our drivers were very knowledgeable. The sights were out of this world. I think that it might have been nice to give the young people in our group the option to do the hiking portion (boca do inferno) while the older group members just do the lookout point but we were not aware that this was an option. If I were doing it again, I would have asked to have us split up possibly for that portion. Also, our description from Kim Kim that day did not say anything about going swimming at termas de Ferraria. So on the day of our tour, Natasha had us go grab our things for swimming. It wasn’t a big deal, but I felt like the Kim Kim description and the detailed itinerary from our in country guide didn’t quite match. Better communication advised for this in the future for this excursion and for all of the excursions.

Quality of Experience
Good drivers with good knowledge and great English speaking
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We could maybe have used two larger vehicles for more leg room, or perhaps three smaller?
Sunset Boat Experience
Sunset Boat Experience
São Miguel Island

Great! They provided good food and wine, and the guides even let our kids try out their fishing poles for a while. We brought our own music. If I could do it again, I may have wanted to do this on our second night since we were tired from traveling but we all loved it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Furnas & Lagoa do Fogo Full Day Experience
Furnas & Lagoa do Fogo Full Day Experience
São Miguel Island

Loved seeing the fumaroles in furnas. Guides were excellent again, Natasha and Jose. We were supposed to go to a thermal baths but these were closed due to a bacteria. Lagoa do fogo was breathtaking. Lunch at alabote was delicious in ribiera grande, on the coast delicious seafood.

Quality of Experience
Just dissapointed about the baths but that was not in our control.
Food
Alabote.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Azorean Culinary & Wine Experience & Get to Know Ponta Delgada with a Local
Azorean Culinary & Wine Experience & Get to Know Ponta Delgada with a Local
São Miguel Island

Hungry whales, Fred was our guide and we loved him! He was fun with the kids!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Na
Volcano Cooking Experience
Volcano Cooking Experience
the Azores

The Kim Kim description of this tour was not accurate. Was described as a hands on cooking class, going to market for ingredients, chopping and cooking etc. Luckily we asked for a specific detailed itinerary from the guide as it turns out it was a demonstration and presentation instead. It was also a total repeat of our full day furnas experience. Kim Kim gave us a partial refund and did not charge us for making last minute change. Ended up have the same drivers take us to a beach and some other stops.

Quality of Experience
Better understanding of what the guides are offering
Food
Best food at Bar Caloura which was picked by us.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Manuel was our driver, and valdamar. Neither spoke great English. Lovely people, they were passionate about their culture and wanted to show us a good time. Unfortunately, we kept saying we wanted to explore beaches and instead he took us to one beach and then drove us to see multiple beaches but never stopped at any. He also took us to the tea plantation even though we said we weren’t sure we wanted to go there. He was LOVELY, but he kind of had a plan of his own.
Transport
Cars were perfect
Adventure in Gruta do Carvão
Adventure in Gruta do Carvão
São Miguel Island

We did not end up going here this was a free day

Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Aug 26, 2024

Hi Amy, thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you all enjoyed your trip to the Azores. Your feedback means a lot to us, and I will make sure to forward it to our local guides! It was a pleasure for me to work with you and your family. Hopefully, we will keep in touch for your future family adventures. All my best, Rita 🥰