Suggested Itinerary:
 

suggested flight April 8, 2022 – – If you wish to fly direct we suggest you take the Azores Airlines April 8 from Toronto to Azores. (Book YYZ to TER (2hr layover in PDL azores)arrives TER on the morning of the 9th ) S4332 20:40 YYZ – 06:30 PDL (+1) & SP402 PDL to TER 8:40am -9:25am. (some of you of course may want to go early)

Day 1: April 9. Official Trip Meet: We will meet you in Angra do Herisimo on the island of Terceira. (Hotel accom). In order to you allow you to catch up on sleep this will be a low key, free day in City of Angra do Herisimo, World Heritage City. We’d meet as a group in the afternoon for a walk, drinks and dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2: April 10 – Bike tour from the center of the island to the west side, along pastures and landscapes with Japanese Cedars, visiting the Natural Park Interpretation Center and at lunch opportunity to try the very famous Alcatra, a beef stew from cows fed with grass and that is cooked on a wood burning stove for 6 hours (25 km . Easy level). After lunch visit to the volcanic pit, Algar do Carvão, a very unique empty volcano (entrance included). Night at Hotel****
Day 3: April 11 – Hiking tour full day with picnic lunch on Rocha do Chambre and towards Biscoitos and taste the local wine that is produced in small rocky squares in the north area. Night at Hotel****
Day 4: April 12 – Transfer to airport, flight to San Jorge SP610 8:25am TER – 9:00am SJZ, (Hike) Transfer to Topo and walking tour half day in direction of ‘Fajã de Santo Cristo’, a small village near the sea that can only be reached by foot. Picnic lunch and homemade dinner included. Night in a small rural lodge in Fajã.
Day 5: April 13 – – Tuesday Free morning to relax and visit to the interpretation center at Fajã de Santo Cristo (entrance included) Walking tour from ‘Fajã de Santo Cristo’ to ‘Fajã dos Cubres’. Visit a local cheese factory and lunch. Transfer to Rosais and short walk to an abandoned lighthouse. Time to relax and look for endemic plants like the rare Miosotis maritime. Transfer to port for ferry to Pico. Ferry SJ 20:40 – Pico 21:30. Night on Pico.
Day 6: April 14 – Pico Tour visiting the different Museums and enjoying the landscape classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. From São Roque and along the north coast we will visit the Volcanos Center where you can have the experience of simulation of the last earthquakes in Azores (Terceira 1980 and Faial 1998) and visit as well to the Vineyards Interpretation Center. Crossing the center of the island towards Lajes to visit the Whaling Museum ending the day at Cella Bar for dinner classified as one of the most beautiful bars in the world. Night in a local lodge.
Day 7: April 15 – Ferry from Pico to Faial. Free Afternoon in City Horta. Dinner & evening in Horta.
Day 8: April 16 – Full day hike 10 Volcanoes trail and visit to the Capelinhos Volcano, Capelinhos Lighthouse & Interpretation Center – entrance included (last eruption in 1957). Transfer back to Horta and dinner in Horta > have an experience of cooking in a hot volcanic stone (included) Night in a guesthouse in Horta.
Day 9: April 17, Transfer to airport and on to Part to Ponta Delgada or on to your next destination;

**April 17: for those wishing semi direct flight to Toronto (transfer to Airport, Flight Home HOR to YYZ (via pdl) 12:50 to 19:30 Sp 5565 & S4323

for those staying for Sao Miguel Island Add on: April Flights HOR to PDL, 8:55am – 9:50am SP441

End of Azores Program part 1

Included in regular Azores Program : .
8 nights accommodation in hotels, local lodges and guesthouses and early check in the day of arrival . Meals: 1 picnic lunches, 1 typical lunch, 1 dinner . Entrances as mentioned on the itinerary . Ferry boat tickets between the islands . Transfers . Local guide .
Cost $3495, (Single Supplement $275) Flights are not included

We can make suggestions re flights.

San Miguel Add (April 17-20) (supplemental charge $975, single supplement $150)

San Miguel is the largest of the Azorean Islands, both in terms of geographic size and population. It’s main city Ponta Delgada is the major international airport and port. It also contains the largest crater lakes, 3 in all. The beautiful and contrasting twin craters of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verge seen in many images of the azores. The rugged and stunning Lago do Fogo beside Pico da Barosa and the mystical Lagoa do Furnace with its hot springs and constantly swirling mist.

Suggested Itinerary San Miguel Island Add on
April 17: Flight HOR to PDL, 8:55-9:50am –, Shuttle to Airport , Tour of Sao Miguel Island + several walks, ending in Furnas Village for evening. Night Furnas
Note: Exact itinerary will remain flexible depending on weather and on group interest. Below is a suggested guideline.
April 17: Island Tour by Van + several walks. Visit Lagoa do Fogo(or Lagoa Azul) one of the most amazing volcanic lakes in Azores and natural park area. Perimeter Crater Hike. easy activity. Night Furnas
April 18 : Walking tour of furnace Crater Lake & Hot spring, (easy level) and visit to the Interpretation center. Tour of furnace village & Hot Springs, + Time to enjoy the Terra Nostra garden and the thermal water swimming pool. Night Terra Nostra Garden Hotel Furnace)
April 19: TBA, Optional Visit Tea Plantation, 2nd Crater Lake or Natural Hot Springs(Caldera Velha), picnic lunch and easy day, Night in Ponta Delgada Hotel
April 20: Free Morning Ponta Delgada, afternoon Flights to Toronto S4 323, PDL to YYZ, 16:50-19:30pm
End of Program
San Miguel Add on Cost: $975, Single Supplement $150, Flights not included.

* Please note: It’s the nature of travel that uncontrollable factors like poor weather, pilot judgment, forest fires, and mechanical problems can affect our schedules and cause delays. We regret these situations but cannot accept responsibility for hotels, flight rebookings, and other costs you may incur.

http://www.sata.pt/en”target=”_blank”>Wikipedia, Peel River

Additional Info on Azores

Azoreans have developed their own distinct regional identity and cultural traits, from a combination of continental Portuguese customs brought by various waves of immigration and local political and environmental factors. Because these once-uninhabited and remote islands were settled sporadically over a span of two centuries, their culture, dialect, cuisine, and traditions vary considerably.

The islands were known to exists in the fourteenth century and parts of them can be seen, for example, in the early Atlas Catalan. It is suspected that in 1427, one of the captains sailing for Henry the Navigator, possibly Gonçalo Velho, rediscovered the Azores. After that the archipelago was settled over the centuries largely from mainland Portugal. Portuguese settlers came from the provinces of Algarve, Minho, Alentejo and Ribatejo as well as Madeira. São Miguel, the largest island, was first settled in 1444, the settlers – mainly from the Estremadura, Alto Alentejo and Algarve areas of Portugal, under the command of Gonçalo Velho Cabral – landing at the site of modern-day Povoação.

From a geo-structural perspective the Azores is located above an active triple junction between three of the world’s large tectonic plates (the North American Plate, the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate), hence the existence of the many faults, fractures and volcanoes. The westernmost islands of the archipelago (Corvo and Flores) are located in the North American Plate, while the remaining islands are located within the boundary that divides the Eurasian and African Plates. The island’s volcanism is associated with the rifting along the Azores Triple Junction; the spread of the crust along the existing faults and fractures has produced many of the active volcanic and seismic events. Most of the volcanic activity has centered, primarily, along the Terceira Rift. From the beginning of the island’s settlement, around the 15th century, there have been 28 registered volcanic eruptions (15 terrestrial and 13 submarine). The last significant volcanic eruption, the Capelinhos volcano (Vulcão dos Capelinhos), occurred off the coast of the island of Faial (in 1957); the most recent volcanic activity occurred in the seamounts and submarine volcanoes off the coast of Serreta and in the Pico-São Jorge Channel.