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Azores

Hiking the Azores: A Nature Lover’s Paradise

Program No. 23579RJ

Learn about the Azores’ island beauty as you join expert naturalists on hikes to the woodlands, thermal spring pools, caves and volcanic landscapes of Europe’s best-kept secret.

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11 days

10 nights

24 meals

10B 8L 6D

In Transit to Program

In Flight

Orientation walk of Angra, check in and welcome meeting

Angra do Heroismo

Serreta Hike, Biscoitos Rock Pools

Angra do Heroismo

Monte Brasil Trail, Coffee Plantation, Lecture

Angra do Heroismo

Lecture-Geothermal energy, Algar do Carvao, Fly to S.Miguel

Ponta Delgada

Orientation of Ponta Delgada,Pineapple farm, Gorreana Tea.

Ponta Delgada

Sete Cidades, Twin Lakes, Oficina Museu

Ponta Delgada

Capelas to Calhetas Hike, Ribeira dos caldeiroes,Furnas

Furnas -Sao Miguel

CIAF and Furnas Lake hike, Cozido Lunch, Terra Nostra Garden

Furnas -Sao Miguel

Sanguinho Hike, Terra Nostra Thermal Pools, Farewell dinner

Furnas -Sao Miguel

Departure day –Return flight home

In Flight

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At a Glance

Lush, green landscapes as far as your eye can see. Waterfalls pouring into cool lakes. Soft footprints along black sand beaches and steamy thermal pools surrounding epic craters. Welcome to the Azores: An adventurer’s wonderland filled with colorful nature, beautiful birds and unspoiled scenery. Join naturalists on hikes through this remote archipelago to learn about its treasures along narrow paths, inside fascinating caves, through botanical gardens and alongside natural pools. Known for its unreal, verdant landscapes, explore the Azores on foot to uncover the precious secrets of this natural paradise.

Activity Level

Outdoor: Spirited

Walking up to 5 miles a day on sometimes uneven terrain with elevations up to 2,460 feet.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

Visit a vineyard for wine tastings paired with local produces, and explore a coffee plantation in the Azores, Europe's only coffee-growing region.
Venture around a volcanic crater and marvel at the Twin Lakes and town below.
Immerse yourself in 31 acres of gardens, grottoes, streams and thermal pools as you explore the world-renowned Terra Nostra Botanical Park.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Pedro Cordeiro

Pedro Cordeiro has a bachelor’s degree in sales and marketing from the University of the Azores. He also attended a two-year exchange program in Spain under Erasmus sponsorship, and has earned a degree in public relations and communication from the University of the Azores. In 2011, after a number of years in the hospitality industry, Pedro became a full-time Group Leader in order to share his love for the outdoors. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and has a good knowledge of French.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Pedro Cordeiro View biography

Filipe Lourenço View biography

Filipe Lourenço was born on Terceira Island. His passion for nature and outdoor activities stems from his childhood, surrounded by the island’s lush beauty. He graduated as a nature guide from the University of the Azores, where he expanded and consolidated his knowledge of the archipelago’s natural and cultural heritage, then became one of the first specialized hiking guides on Terceira. Filipe has dedicated his life to sharing his local landscapes with visitors from around the globe and has worked with Road Scholar since 2019.

Carina Costa View biography

Carina Costa earned a degree in Agronomy from the University of Azores in 2010. Inspired by her father, Chief Gardener at the Terra Nostra Park, she followed in his footsteps and joined the park team. She interned at the Ventnor Botanic Garden on the Isle of Wight (UK) and later obtained her Master’s degree in Agronomic Engineering. In 2019, she began work on her Ph.D. in Agronomic Sciences to expand knowledge of ornamental flora in the Azores. Carina has led Road Scholar groups since 2017.

Diogo Falcao View biography

Diogo Falcao was born and raised on Terceira Island in the Azores. He moved to Portugal to attend university and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in tourism and heritage from the Instituto Politecnico de Leiria in 2009. His love for new cultures inspired him to spend time in the U.K. and Spain, where he became fluent in Spanish and English. With his passion for the Azores, Diogo works as a full time official guide. He has been working as a Road Scholar instructor since 2019.

Carlos Afonso Pimentel View biography

Carlos Afonso Pimentel was born in the village of Furnas on São Miguel Island and moved to Canada at a young age. He graduated from Humber Institute of Applied Arts in Toronto with a degree in architecture. With his passion for cuisine, he earned a Chef’s Degree in Haute Cuisine from the George Brown Culinary School in Toronto. Carlos returned with his family 20 years ago and was appointed General Manager of an exclusive golf club. He has helped lead Road Scholar programs since 2019.

Rita A. Martins View biography

Dr. Rita Martins earned a degree in Geology from the University of Lisbon followed by a Master’s in Dynamic Geology. She moved to the Azores in 2003 as a geologist on a short-term contract. Fascinated by the Azores, she extended her stay, working on geothermal projects in the islands of Terceira and Sao Miguel. Since 2017, she has been the Senior Project Manager responsible for the exploration and exploitation of geothermal resources for power production. Dr. Martins has worked with Road Scholar groups since 2019.

Arianna Meschia View biography

Arianna Meschia was born and raised in Genoa, Italy. After studying English, French, and Spanish, she graduated in Film & Creative Writing in London and worked as a Production Manager. Later, she decided to volunteer in a French refugee camp and then in Malawi. She began leading groups and continued her travels in East Africa, crossing six countries to Egypt. She also developed her travel writing portfolio with a wealth of online publications. She leads Road Scholar groups in the Cinque Terre and the Azores.

Altair Silva View biography

Altair Silva was born in Brazil and has always been interested in travel, history, and art of different cultures. He started his career working for Varig (Brazilian Airlines) in Rio de Janeiro and continued his career after moving to London at age 23, working in various capacities for leading airlines. He was a Group Leader for Study Journeys in Spain and Portugal, and is returning as a Group Leader for Azores programs. Al has been a member of British Mensa for more than 40 years.

Suggested Reading List (10 books)

Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop

You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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Hiking the Azores: A Nature Lover’s Paradise

Program Number: 23579

Natural History of the Azores, or Western Islands-

by Frederick Du Cane Godman

Paperback: 371 pages Language: English ISBN-10: 1402165293 ISBN-13: 978-1402165290 Product Dimensions: 13.3 x 2.1 x 21 cm

Baleia! The whalers of the Azores

by Bernard Venables

Hardcover: 206 pages Language: English ISBN-10: 0370003845 ISBN-13: 978-0370003849 Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 14.4 x 3 cm

The Azores, or Western Islands: A Political, Commercial and Geographical Account

by Walter Frederick

ISBN-10: 1334250421 ISBN-13: 978-1334250422

Azores: Nine Islands, One History

by Susana Goulart Costa

Paperback Language: English ISBN-10: 0981933602 ISBN-13: 978-0981933603 Product Dimensions: 22.4 x 15 x 2.5 cm

The Tenth Island

by Diana Marcum

Print Length: 240 pages Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1503941310 Publisher: Little A (August 1, 2018) Publication Date: August 1, 2018 Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC Language: English ASIN: B078974QZV An Amazon Charts Most Read book Listed on The New York Times‘s Holiday Book Suggestions gift guide Featured on The New York Times’s “52 Books for 52 Places” From a Pulitzer Prize–winning writer comes an exuberant memoir of personal loss and longing, and finding connection on the remote Azorean islands of the Atlantic Ocean. Reporter Diana Marcum is in crisis. A long-buried personal sadness is enfolding her—and her career is stalled—when she stumbles upon an unusual group of immigrants living in rural California. She follows them on their annual return to the remote Azores islands in the Atlantic Ocean, where bulls run down village streets, volcanoes are active, and the people celebrate festas to ease their saudade, a longing so deep that the Portuguese word for it can’t be fully translated. Years later, California is in a terrible drought, the wildfires seem to never end, and Diana finds herself still dreaming of those islands and the chuva—a rain so soft you don’t notice when it begins or ends. With her troublesome Labrador retriever, Murphy, in tow, Diana returns to the islands of her dreams only to discover that there are still things she longs for—and one of them may be a most unexpected love.

Plants and flowers of the Azores

by Erik Sjögren

translated by David Sayers (Author), Ben Fogle (Foreword) Paperback – 1191 pages

History of the Azores

by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

ISBN-10: 1511516097 ISBN-13: 978-1511516099 Product Dimensions: 15.2 x 1.2 x 22.9 cm

Azores: Rother Walking Guide Paperback

by Roman Martin

The Azores, previously known primarily in connection with weather maps, has drawn more and more visitors in recent years. Nine different islands of volcanic origin belong to this archipelago, which, politically, belongs to Portugal. Corvo, the smallest of the Azores, measures only 17 square kilometres, compared to São Miguel at 757. The island of Pico contains the highest mountain of Portugal, which bears the same name as the island and stands at 2351 m. Sheer coasts and white beaches, picturesque fishing villages, wonderful lakes, lots of wind and a rich array of flowers attract island enthusiasts with a yearning for exploration. The author, Dr. Hannelore Schmitz, has selected a variety of 40 tours for this Rother Walking Guide, spanning from the largest to the smallest of the Azores. The diverse range stretches from coastal walks with the option of bathing, to walks around Caldeira and island crossings, to an ascent of Pico. On the island of São Jorge, the Fajãs, with their fertile plains at sea level, surrounded by cliffs, are especially inviting for walking. Blessed by the climate, even tropical fruit thrives in some of these flourishing gardens. The tour recommendations of this handy walking guide, described in detail, are generously illustrated with colour photos. For easy orientation, each walk is accompanied by a map excerpt on a scale of 1:50,000. Comprehensive introductory chapters familiarise the reader with this exciting archipelago, and several tips on special features and sights complete this excellent guide, which is a must in your suitcase. Paperback: 264 pages Publisher: Rother; 2016 edition (10 May 2016) Language: English, German ISBN-10: 3763348182 ISBN-13: 978-3763348183 Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 1.5 x 16.5 cm

Walking on the Azores

by Paddy Dilan

Walking on the Azores 70 routes across Sao Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo Guidebook to 70 walks on the Azores, a remote archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. Most of the walks are easy or moderate, with a few graded difficult. The selection is spread across all nine islands, offering much variety, from easy village-to-village walks to remote and mountainous walks, including Portugal's highest mountain, Pico. From Amazon: A comprehensive guide to walking in the Portuguese Azores, an archipelago of nine lush green islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. The 70 routes cover the three island groups: the Eastern Group (Sao Miguel and Santa Maria), Central Group (Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico and Faial) and Western Group (Flores and Corvo). Routes range from hour-long strolls to full-day outings and most use the islands' network of official waymarked trails, including sections of the multi-day GR1. Also included is an ascent of Pico, the highest mountain on Portuguese territory. The guidebook gives lots of practical information on travel to the Azores and between the different islands, as well as getting around by public transport. Full route descriptions are accompanied by 1:50,000 map extracts, plus notes on refreshment opportunities and local points of interest. The routes promise verdant green landscapes and astounding volcanic landforms, taking in forests, rocky slopes, cliff coast and waterfalls as well as a rich built heritage including churches, forts, windmills and harbours. Whether you prefer a single-base trip or an island-hopping adventure, you'll find stunning scenery at every turn. The mild climate makes this an ideal destination for year-round walking. ISBN 9781852849085 Availability Not Yet Published Available 15 Nov 2019 Edition First Pages 296 Size 17.2 x 11.6 x 1.7cm cicerone.co.uk/walking-on-the-azores

Saudade

by Miriam Winthrop

Paperback: 360 pages Language: English ISBN-10: 0615982735 ISBN-13: 978-0615982731 Product Dimensions: 15.2 x 2.1 x 22.9 cm

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Hiking the Azores: A Nature Lover’s Paradise

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Protecting the Environment

At a Glance

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