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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 5.5 miles (8.8 km), approximately 15 minutes depending on traffic. Walking about 2 miles, approximately 2 hours; cobblestone pavement.
Breakfast: On arrival at the Hotel a Buffett breakfast is available
Morning: Transfer from Ponta Delgada airport to the hotel. You will be able to enjoy a breakfast and check-in to your room on arrival at the hotel and have free time to unpack and rest until the orientation walk this afternoon. NOTE: The group leader will confirm the timing of the Orientation walk and the welcome and information session to be held this afternoon
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: we meet in reception at the time set out by your group leader and will be joined by a local expert for a walking field trip that will begin with a visit to the Municipal market, for an opportunity to see local people and be introduced to local agricultural and food products and get a sense of the Azorean way of life. After some free time to explore on your own, we continue our walk to the former Jesuit College chapel, through the city center and Portas da Cidade( the City gates) we will arrive at Senhor Santo Cristo Sanctuary. We’ll learn about this most important and respected religious image on the Island, a wooden carving of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres (Christ of the Miracles). Brought from Rome in 1530 C.E., it has been venerated for miracles that people of faith have attributed to this “Ecce Homo” image of Jesus. Every year, a great procession follows the image as it is paraded throughout the town. . We’ll stroll on through the main commercial streets and explore the Military Museum. We will walk back to the hotel via the seafront promenade and view traditional artwork left by sailors passing through when crossing the Atlantic. Before dinner, we will have a welcome information and introduction meeting. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a welcome drink and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At a local restaurant
Evening: At Leisure
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 50 miles total, approximately 1 hour. Walking at museum, approximately 1 hour; level surface, few stairs.
Breakfast: In the hotel restaurant.
Morning: We will board the bus and ride to the parish of Faja de Baixo for a field trip to a pineapple farm. Pineapples were brought here from Brazil in the 19th Century, but unlike those of its native land, Azores pineapples are grown in greenhouses and take about two years to mature. This slow process makes them very sweet. We’ll look inside greenhouses to see the plants in different stages of growth. Moving on, we will ride to Vista do Rei, a vantage point overlooking three-mile-wide Lagoa de Sete Cidades — Seven Cities Lagoon — considered one of the most beautiful natural settings in the Azores. Our expert will point out the Twin Lagoons within the crater. Lagoa Azul is the blue lake reflecting the open sky and Lagoa Verde the green lagoon reflecting the lush green vegetation on the surrounding steep walls of the crater. We will then ride down to the village at the edge of the Lagoa de Sete Cidades for a self-directed exploration before continuing to Capelas on the north of the island for lunch.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Next, we will visit the Museu das Oficinas, the Workshop Museum. We will meet the owners who will introduce their private collection. The ethnographic display is a labor of love by a couple determined to preserve for future generations memories of every craft, profession, or traditional labor from these islands and Portugal as a whole. Returning to Ponta Delgada, we meet at the Hotel conference room for a Lecture about the Azores by a professor from the University of the Azores. After the Lecture we gather at the Mezzannine floor for a taste of the wines & cheeses of the Azorean islands.
Dinner: Tonight dinner is on your own and the opportunity to try the local restaurants.
Evening: At leisure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 60 miles (96.5 km), approximately 35 minutes at a time. . Short walk on pathway from bus to Capelinhos Volcano Center. Upon exiting the center, participants must walk a short stretch on sand so suitable footwear is recommended. Few steps located inside the center but wheelchair ramp is also available. Walking on cobbled stones pavement and 32 steep steps at Horta Museum.
Breakfast: At the hotel, and checkout of your room.
Morning: Transfer to Aeroporto Joao Paulo II-Ponta Delgada check-in to your 45 minutes flight to Horta. On arrival we will board our coach and take a field trip to Capelinhos Volcano interpretation Center . Located underground, it conducts continued research on the volcanic eruption of 1957-58 and monitors activity of the Capelinhos volcano. The center also has interesting exhibits on volcanoes from all the Azorean islands as well as other islands from around the world. This unusual and futuristic looking scientific facility was built beneath the ashes of the eruption, adjoining and incorporating the first two floors of the old lighthouse, still standing above upon the barren landscape. Upon exiting the center, participants must walk a short stretch on sand so suitable footwear is recommended. Few steps located inside the center but ramp is also available.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: After lunch we e meet in reception at the time set by the group leader and will set out on a walking field trip to introduce the town and the Museu da Horta. This small local museum details the important historical information of Faial Island and features items of art, transportation, and communication. We will walk back to the hotel via the seafront promenade and view traditional artwork left by sailors passing through when crossing the Atlantic We check in to our rooms at the Hotel and have some time to unpack and refresh before meeting in reception and walk to a local restaurant for our unique dinner tonight.
Dinner: We’ll walk to a local restaurant where we will cook our own dinner! We’ll choose from a selection of meat, fish, and vegetables and cook them on hot basaltic stone placed before us.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on-off the bus, short drives no more than 25 minutes at a time, in the morning. Walking up to 0.5 miles, approximately 1 hour at Botanical Garden, mostly level terrain with short incline at entrance. Caldeira situated at altitude, colder temperatures to be expected. Level ground at main viewpoint, may be slippery when wet. Optional steps for secondary viewpoint mostly level terrain, some cobblestones, some gentle slopes.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Depart the hotel by motor coach for a full day of excursions and field trips. Begin with a brief stop at the Espalamaca viewpoint, looking out onto the town of Horta below and Pico Island across the sea. Continue on a short 15 minutes drive to the Faial Botanical Garden where you will learn about the Azorean flora. After a short video presentation we start a guided lecture with one of the garden’s local experts walking around the gardens. Return to the motor coach and drive to the center of the Island up to an altitude of 3,422 feet (1,043 meters) to view the famous Caldeira, a vast volcanic crater measuring approx. a mile (1.5 kilometres) wide and more than 1,200 feet (370 meters) deep, now a nature reserve and an impressive reminder of the volcanic origins of the Azores
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: After lunch at Peter Café a renowned local restaurant and an historic stopping point for boats and sailors from around the world. We will visit the private scrimshaw collection located in a small museum above the premises. After the visit walk back to the hotel and the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure
Dinner: At the Hotel
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 60 miles (96.5 km), approximately 35 minutes at a time. Walking up to 1/2 mile, approximately 1/2 hour; mostly level terrain, some hilly areas and uneven surfaces. Carrying your own luggage, getting on/off a ferry and an airplane riding about 4.5 nautical miles to Pico Island, approximately 1/2 hour sailing.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After our very early breakfast we check out of the hotel and transfer by bus to the ferry terminal for a 30 minutes sailing across to Madalena the principal town of Pico Island, named after its dormant volcano.. At a height of 7,700 feet (2,350 meters), the volcano is the highest point in Portugal. One of the most beautiful islands in the Azores, Pico is on the UNESCO World Heritage List for the landscape of its vineyard culture: “an outstanding example of the adaptation of farming practices to a remote and challenging environment. We board our waiting bus for a full day exploration of the island. First a 5 minutes drive to Lajido da Criacao velha to walk amongst the long stone walls called “currais” running inland around the northern and western edges of the island, built to form and protect thousands of small plots for grape vines and other crops. Returning to our bus we drive 45 minutes passing small villages along the way to Lajes do Pico where we will have a guided visit of “Museu dos Baleeiros – whalers museum.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Back to our bus we drive along the North side of the island stopping the Cachorro view point before arriving at the local Museu do Vinho for a guided visit to see and learn about the wine industry of the island and their instruments used. After the visit we arrive at the hotel and check –in to our rooms. After some time to rest and refresh we depart to a local winery where you will meet some of the local people for a chat and join them for dinner
Dinner: At a local restaurant. and winery where you will meet and dine with local people.
Evening: At leisure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus and an aircraft, flight to Ponta Delgada – 55 minutes. Driving about 30 miles (52 km), approximately 45 minutes. Walking up to 1 mile, approximately 1,5 hours; at the Botanical garden ,mostly level terrain, some hilly areas, uneven surfaces and few steps.
Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel & Checkout
Morning: After breakfast, check out of the Hotel and transfer to Pico airport. Check-in to our flight to Ponta Delgada, where we board our waiting bus and drive to Furnas de Sao Miguel, approximately 45 minutes and stop at the Fumarolas where we’ll watch the retrieval of a famous Azorean delicacy, known as Cozido. This varied selection of meats or fish with vegetables is layered in a big pot and lowered into underground holes for up to six hours where volcanic steams will cook the food. We board the bus and drive a short distance to our Hotel.
Lunch: At the Hotel restaurant, we will have the traditional Cosido meal. The meat and vegetables cook together for hours. The gravy comes from the natural juices of the ingredients.
Afternoon: After lunch we will gather in the hotel lobby for a walk with a local botanical expert through the Hotel Terra Nostra private gardens and thermal pools. We’ll then check in to our rooms. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to unpack, rest or you may prefer to enjoy the Hotel spa facilities or take a dip in one of the garden natural thermal pools, or stroll on your own around the Terra Nostra Park that is closed to the public and reserved exclusively for hotel guests from 6:00 pm until 10:00 am
Dinner: On your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Everyone is invited to gather first for a drink at the hotel bar and discuss choices for dinner on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus for a short drive,walking up to 1 mile, approximately 1 hour, mostly level terrain, some gentle slopes, uneven cobble stones surfaces and few steps.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We board our bus for a short drive to the center of the village of Furnas to explore and learn about the over 32 types of hot and cold mineral waters spring, and even taste some of them. Returning to the bus we drive 15 minutes to CMIF(Centro de Monitoramento e Interpretacao da Lagoa de Furnas) for a visit. One of the center expert will lead a private tour of the center and explain their activities preserving the lagoon and surrounding areas. After the visit we ride back to the hotel.
Lunch: At the hotel restaurant,
Afternoon: This afternoon is left free for you to enjoy the hotel facilities, the Botanical garden and its thermal pools, walk around and explore the village on your own, or perhaps just relax and indulge in one of the spa treats The Terra Nostra Gardens is closed to the public and reserved exclusively for hotel guests from 6:00 pm until 10:00 am. At the end of the afternoon meet your group leader and fellow participants at the Hotel bar for a farewell drink and share your memories of this and other trips. Your group leader will also give you instruction for the departure tomorrow.
Dinner: At the hotel bar share favourite experiences with new Road Scholar friends before our farewell dinner.
Evening: At leisure. The Group Leader will also provide information about tomorrow.'s activities and departure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus walking up to 1 mile, approximately 1 hour, mostly level terrain, some gentle slopes, uneven cobble stones surfaces and few steps.
Breakfast: At the hotel followed by checkout.. The Group Leader will be at hand to confirm departure instructions.
Morning: We will check out of our rooms, board the bus, and take a short drive to the famous Gorreana Tea Factory & Plantation, the only one of its kind in Europe, for an expert-led exploration. We’ll learn about the different types of tea and how they’re made. We’ll then ride to Sao Miguel’s second largest town, Ribeira Grande, for a walk through the town before driving to a local restaurant for our last lunch
Lunch: At a Local restaurant
Afternoon: After lunch transfer to the airport for check-in to your return flight home. Your group leader will be at hand to assist For those who purchased airfare through Road Scholar, a transfer to the airport is included. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that 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!