Discover the Azores by visiting the four most emblematic islands of the archipelago. All different, they represent the incredible diversity of landscapes of the Atlantic islands. Your journey begins in São Miguel, the largest island in the Azores, with its three craters and lakes with amazing colours and steaming waters. Local legend has it that the mythical lost continent of Atlantis is buried under one of them. Several hikes are available for you to pick and choose from as you please thanks to the freedom of your rental car.
You then head to the islands in the centre of the archipelago: São Jorge, wild and authentic, Pico and its majestic volcano which culminates at 2351m and finally Faial, nicknamed "the blue island" for its many hydrangeas, but it is no less green with its lush vegetation and its primitive forest. During the hikes, you will walk along volcanic or coastal paths that reveal sublime landscapes.
Throughout your trip, the ocean is omnipresent, and a sea excursion even offers you the opportunity to observe whales and dolphins. A magical discovery in an archipelago that is both well-known, yet discrete.
Arrive at Ponta Delgada airport on the island of São Miguel, the largest island of the archipelago. It is home to Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores, but also and above all, 3 unique crater lakes. Pick up your rental car and drive to Ponta Delgada, with its many historical monuments, its typical cobbled streets and its beautiful marina. Accommodation for 2 nights in the city centre.
Meals included : none
Night : Ponta Delgada
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A choice of two loop hikes or combine the two for a sportier day.
This day will take you from volcano to volcano, along the ridge track. The path crosses the plateau through the pastures and allows you to discover the agricultural life of the island. The (easy) ascent of Pico da Esperança, the highest point on the island (1053 m), offers in good weather a panoramic view of the majestic Pico volcano on the neighboring island and the ocean, all amid a ballet of clouds! Great descent to the pastures on the north coast to the magnificent Faja de Ouvidor with its terraced dwellings to the sea and its beautiful natural pools nestled in wild massifs. Transfer back to Velas.
Today, several options (at an additional cost) are possible to discover this fascinating island at your own pace.
Ferry in the morning to reach Faial (30-minute crossing) and the small town of Horta. Horta is a stopover for transatlantic navigators. The colonial architecture, the history of American whalers, the telegraph companies and the first flights of the Pan Am, make for a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Transfer to the volcanoes of Capelinhos. In 1957, in the open sea one kilometre from the western end of the island, a volcanic eruption took place that lasted a year. The emergence of volcanoes, the accumulation of lava and ash formed a peninsula connecting the land and burying the fishing village of Capelinhos. An impressive lunar site, dominated by the remains of the lighthouse which now houses a vulcanology interpretation centre in the basement (visit not included). Transfer back to Horta.
Transfer to the top of the island. A beautiful walk from the crater to the ocean. At about 900m above sea-level, you will discover a 2000 metre-long and 300m deep “caldeira”, an emblematic volcano of the Azores. The panoramic walk along the crater gives you an outstanding vantage point over the island, the ocean and the islands of Pico and São Jorge. The path down the northern slope to the village of Praia da Norte goes through some stunning forests, follows a Levada – an irrigation canal – and hortensia adorned pastures.
