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Azores

The Amazing Azores: From Volcanoes to Vineyards

Program No. 22755RJ
Venture to the extraordinary volcanoes of the Azores, and explore the islands’ dramatic lakes and craters. Join experts to learn the islands’ fascinating history of wine and whaling.
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  • Amazing Azores, Portugal
Small Group
Length
13 days
Rating (4.95)
Activity Level
Starts at
5,449
Special Offer
Flights start at
FREE
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
13 days
12 nights
What's Included
28 meals ( 11B, 10L, 7D )
2 expert-led lectures
28 expert-led field trips
2 flights during the program
1 hands-on experience
An experienced Group Leader
11 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Fly to Horta (HOR), Azores. Refer to your personal air itinerary for specific flight information.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving 5.3 miles/15 minutes to the hotel in Horta. Walking about 2 miles, approximately 1.5 hours (with stops and visits); cobblestone pavement.
Breakfast:
Breakfast not included on this day.
Morning:
Transfer from Horta airport to the hotel. NOTE: The Group Leader will be in the Hotel Lobby to meet and welcome participants arriving. He will confirm the timing and place of the introductory walk and the orientation session to be held this afternoon.Check-in after 3:00pm
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
Meet your Group Leader in the hotel lobby to set out on a guided orientation walk through the town of Horta. Walk along the famous marina, passing by the iconic painted sea front walls, stopping enroute to visit the Horta Museum, home to a beautiful Fig Tree, Pith art collection and important items from the times of the trans-Atlantic flights and communication cables.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant
Evening:
The remainder of the evening is at leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 44 miles, 2.5 hours, approximately up to 45 minutes at a time. Walking up to 2 miles, approximately 1.5 hours. Botanical Garden mostly level terrain with steps and an incline at entrance. Short walk from bus to Capelinhos Volcano Center. - steps or ramps to enter and exit the center.
Breakfast:
At hotel restaurant
Morning:
Meet in the hotel lobby and depart by bus to the most western tip of Faial Island for a guided visit of the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre. Built underground, beneath the surviving lighthouse, you will learn about the eruption of 1957/58 and have some free time to explore the iconic ash covered landscape surrounding the center.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, drive to the Faial Botanical Gardens, for a guided visit with a local expert and enjoy some free time to walk around the gardens and to visit their Orchidarium. After the visit, board the bus and return to your hotel.
Dinner:
Take a short walk from your hotel to a nearby restaurant, where you will “cook your own dinner”! Choose from a selection of fish and meats and cook on a hot lava basalt stone placed in front of each customer.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off ferry boat; 5 miles each way, 30 mins each way; Getting on/off bus; driving about 58 miles; approximately 3 hours; up to 45 mins at a time; Walking up to 1-2 miles; mostly level terrain
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After an early breakfast, transfer to Horta ferry terminal for a 30-minute ferry ride to Pico Island, home to Mount Pico, the highest point in Portugal. Meet your bus and take a short drive to the vineyards at Criaçao Velha, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO! Enjoy a guided visit through this stunning landscape and learn about the traditional agricultural and production method that make this island’s wines so unique. Continue to the town of Lajes, where you will have a guided visit of the Whaler’s Museum, before stopping at a local restaurant for lunch.
Lunch:
Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon:
After lunch, drive to the northern side of Pico Island to the village of Cachorro, with great views over the ocean and home to a natural rock formation in the shape of a dog. Stop for one final visit at the Wine Museum before catching the ferry back to Faial Island.
Dinner:
This evening you are free to discover some local restaurants as dinner is on your own (your Group Leader will be happy to provide recommendations if needed).
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning
Activity Note
Getting on/off an airplane carrying your on hand luggage. Flight to Terceira 30 minutes. Driving about 18 miles approximately 30 minutes to Hotel in Terceira.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Enjoy the morning free in the town of Horta before checking out of your rooms. Take this opportunity to hike around Monte de Guia located close by your hotel or take a short walk to the Porto Pim beach. Alternatively, you can visit some local museums or visit the local marina. Return to the hotel to check out before meeting in the hotel restaurant for lunch.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
After lunch, board the bus and drive to Horta Airport for your flight to Terceira Island. Upon arrival, board your bus and transfer to your hotel for check-in.
Dinner:
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 37 miles, approximately 30 minutes at a timeWalking up to 1-2 miles; approximately 2 hours (with stops and visits); mostly level terrain but some steeper parts in Angra, some steps, cobble stones, and uneven surfaces.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Meet in the hotel lobby to set out on an Orientation Walk of Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stroll through the beautiful gardens and appreciate the local architecture while learning about the historical and geographical importance of Terceira Island.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we drive to Biscoitos natural pools - weather and sea conditions allowing, we may have an opportunity to swim in the rock pools. We will then, take a short walk to visit the Materramenta Project a family-run initiative dedicated to wine production in the Biscoitos region of Terceira Island, Azores. The local volcanic stones protect the vines and contribute to the wine's distinctive characteristics. Enjoy a wine tasting paired with toasts, Azorean cheese, and homemade jam. Returning to the Hotel enjoy some free time before a Lecture on Geothermal resources on the Azores by a leading engineer of the Azores Geothermal program.
Dinner:
This evening you are free to discover some local restaurants as dinner is on your own (your Group Leader will be happy to provide recommendations if needed).
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out, transfer, and flight the next day.
Activity Note
Getting on/off bus, driving about 43 miles, approximately 2 hours, up to 30 mins at a time. Walking up to ½ mile, approximately ½ hour, Mostly level terrain, some steps and uneven surfaces. Getting on/off an airplane carrying your own hand luggage. Flight to Ponta Delgada (45 mins).
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Meet in the hotel lobby and depart by coach to the top of Monte Brasil, taking in some of the island’s best viewpoints over the town of Angra do Heroísmo below. Home to one of Portugal’s most important military fortresses, it is also the city’s natural park and a protected landscape. Drive to a local coffee plantation, and learn about the coffee production process, from growing to roasting. As the largest producer in the Azores and the only coffee producing country in Europe, the plantation is also a fully organic farm, growing a variety of exotic fruits. At the end of the guided visit, you will have an opportunity to taste some of the organic coffee at their onsite café, Coffee Cabana.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant
Afternoon:
After lunch, board your bus and head across the island towards the town of Praia da Vitoria where you will catch a flight to Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel Island. Weather permitting, stop en-route at the Serra do Cume viewpoint before driving past the old abandoned military village, located behind the American Air Base at Lajes Airfield.
Dinner:
Coffee Station at the Hotel with soup, sandwiches, fruit and hot and cold drinks.
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
Getting on/off bus; Driving about 19 miles; approximately 1 hour; up to 25 mins at a time; Walking 1-2 miles; approximately 2 hours (with stops and visits); Mostly level terrain with some steps, cobble stones and uneven parts.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast, meet your loal expert instructor in the hotel lobby and set out an Orientation Walk of Ponta Delgada. Learn about the history of the town as we view some of the most important landmarks, including the Chapel of Our Lady of Hope, the former Jesuit College and the City Gates. End the morning walk at a local restaurant where you will have lunch.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant
Afternoon:
After lunch, drive to the Ananases Arruda Pineapple Plantation for a guided field trip around the traditional whitewashed greenhouses, where you will learn about the two-year growth process that makes this local fruit so unique. Continue to the village of Capelas, where you will visit the Oficina Museu, a family home that has been converted into a unique museum, preserving items and traditions from days gone by.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
Getting on/off bus; driving about 50 miles; approximately 2 hours; up to 45 minutes at a time; Walking on mostly level terrain at viewpoints and for free time in the village of Sete Cidades.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Morning free.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
Meet in the hotel lobby and depart by bus to the village of Sete Cidades, home to arguably one of the most famous landscapes of the Azores Islands. Weather permitting, stop at the iconic Vista do Rei (King’s View) viewpoint, before descending into the village below for some free time and an opportunity to see the famous Twin Lakes. Board the bus and return to Ponta Delgada.
Dinner:
This evening you are free to discover some local restaurants as dinner is on your own (your Group Leader will be happy to provide recommendations if needed).
Evening:
At leisure to prepare for tomorrow’s transfer to Furnas.
Activity Note
Getting on/off bus; Driving about 29 miles; approximately 1 hour 30 minutes; up to 50 mins at a time; Walking 1-2 miles during guided visits and free time stops; Mostly level terrain, some cobble stones, some steps and uneven terrain, grass during garden walk.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel and checkout
Morning:
Depart the hotel by coach and drive to Furnas Lake to visit the CIAF (Furnas Environmental Interpretation Centre). Take a guided visit led by one of the center's experts, to learn about the important preservation work being done in the region. Take a short drive around the lake to visit the fumaroles and watch your Cozido lunch being retrieved from the earth below where it has been cooking for up to 6 hours in the volcanic steams. Continue by bus to the village of Furnas where you will taste the famous Azorean dish for lunch at your hotel.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
After lunch, meet in the hotel lobby and set out on a guided visit of the Terra Nostra Garden. One of the local experts will lead you around the grounds, introducing the history of its creation and explaining the various endemic and introduced species growing in the garden. Return to the hotel and check in to your rooms. The remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner:
At the hotel bar.
Evening:
At leisure
Activity Note
Getting on/off bus. Driving about 63 miles, approximately 2 ½ hours, up to 50 mins at a time. Walking on mostly level terrain during visits. Cobble stones, steps and some optional descents/ascents at Ribeira dos Caldeiroes.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Meet in the hotel lobby and depart by motor coach to the Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Natural Park. Enjoy the stunning landscapes in this protected area of the island before driving to the famous Gorreana Tea Factory & Plantation. Owned by the same family for five generations, it is the only place in Europe that both grows and manufactures tea. Enjoy a guided visit of the factory, learning about the different types of tea and how they’re made, and take some free time to explore the plantation in the fields surrounding the property.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, weather permitting, drive up to the Lagoa do Fogo (The Fire Lake), a crater lake within the Água de Pau Massif stratovolcano located in the center of the island and one of the most iconic viewpoints on the island.
Dinner:
This evening you are free to discover some local restaurants as dinner is on your own (your Group Leader will be happy to provide recommendations if needed).
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off bus; Driving about 47 miles; approximately 2 hours; up to 40 mins at a time; Walking on mostly level terrain during guided visits; Cobble stones, steps and uneven terrain possible during free time visits.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast, board the bus and drive along the southern coast towards the village of Vila Franca do Campo, the first capital of Sao Miguel Island. Enjoy some free time to explore the local marina or to stroll along a black sand beach before driving to a local ceramic factory in the town of Lagoa for a guided visit. Continue towards the town of Ribeira Grande and enjoy some free time there to visit the local churches, square and gardens or to taste some of the traditional liqueurs and chocolates on the local high street.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, return to the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel in Furnas. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy the hotel spa facilities and explore the surrounding area or to take a dip in the thermal pools! In the early evening, meet your Group Leader and fellow participants for a farewell meeting. This is an opportunity to share your experiences about the program and discuss details of the next day’s departure.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Hotel check out is at 11:00am! An airport transfer will be provided to all participants who purchased international air tickets with Road Scholar. Your Group Leader will advise on meeting times and places.
Breakfast:
At the hotel followed by checkout. The Group Leader will be at hand to confirm departure instructions.
Morning:
After breakfast time is at leisure. Checkout time is 11:00am. Transfers to airport and check-in to your flight. Your Group Leader will be at hand to assist and advise. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Lunch:
This meal is not included on your program.
Afternoon:
Transfer to airport according to your flight time in the afternoon or evening and check-in to your flight.
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