Itinerary

Day 1 - Terceira Island

Transfer service from Terceira airport (aka Lajes) to Angra do Heroismo, about 24 kilometers away. 3 nights at Hotel Terceira Mar (4 stars) in Angra. Terceira translates as "third", the third island to be discovered in the Azores archipelago. It's also the third largest in size. Walk the streets of Angra do Heroismo and you will feel transported back in time. This museum quality city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It's snug harbor is protected by a volcanic cone which made Angra a major staging point for European ships bringing back the wealth of their New World colonies during the 16th to 18th centuries. In Angra, ships formed convoys to Europe as protection from pirates. Climb the hill behind the pretty public gardens for a grand view of the city and the volcanic cone of Monte Brasil.

Day 2 - Full day tour of Terceira

Your driver/guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for a full day tour of the island. Depart by the south coast to Praia da Vitoria via Porto Judeu, a small fishing village. Then stop at Sao Sebastiao and its 15th parish church. Nearby is an "imperio", a small chapel that is characteristic of the towns in the Azores. Imperio are central to the religious festivals of the Holy Ghost (Espirito Santo) popular throughout the Azores. These festivals are of medieval origin but are now seldom seen in mainland Europe. Terceira boasts the most colorful imperio. Praia da Vitoria is a charming town with a main square and a pedestrian shopping street. Time for lunch (not included) in Praia. Take the mountain road up to Serra do Cume for a view of the rolling, multi-hued green fields, bordered by stone walls and hydrangeas and the harbor of Praia in the distance. Then to Algar do Carvao, a huge lava tube about 300 feet long with stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is open June 1 through September 30. Continue to Biscoitos on the north coast to see the natural lava swimming pools and to visit the wine museum. Return to your hotel by way of the typical villages of Altares, Doze Ribeiras and Sao Mateus.

Day 3 - Day at leisure in Angra

Angra is a wonderful city to explore on foot. Take a taxi to Monte Brasil for a panoramic view of the city and follow walking trails past several old fortresses and a castle.

Day 4 - Terceira to Faial Island

Arrival transfer service from the airport to hotel. 3 nights at Hotel do Canal (4 stars) in Horta with daily buffet breakfast included. Since their discovery in the 14th century, the Azores Islands have played an important role as a staging and victualing point for ships crossing the Atlantic, an enviable location for nations with New World colonies. Many conflicts between colonizing nations (Portugal, Spain, England) took place near Horta. Today now-peachful Horta is famous for its yacht harbor, a haven for trans-Atlantic yachts and sailboats. Visiting crews paint the harbor walls with names and pictures of their vessels.

Day 5 - Faial Tour

Your driver/guide will meet you in the lobby for your half-day island tour. Depart the hotel on the mountain road overlooking the Valley of Flamengos, toward Caldeira, the highest point on the island. Continue north to Capelinhos, site of the last volcanic eruption in the Azores. This 1957-58 event added 2 square km to the island. Earthquakes and ash destroyed much of the west side of the island prompting many islanders to immigrate to North America. The elements are slowly eroding the ash. There is a nearby museum detailing the eruption.

Day 6 - Full day tour to Pico Island (by ferry from Horta)

The ferry terminal is across the street from the Hotel do Canal. The cost is about 3.5 euros each way per person for the 30-minute trip to Pico. Pronounced "Peak" by Azoreans, the translation is exactly that. Meet your driver at the ferry dock in Madelena on Pico for a full day tour of the second largest island in the Azores. The island is dominated by the great bulk of Pico mountain. Islanders make good use of the black volcanic rocks to build houses and walls in a distinctive fashion. Pico was an important whaling station and there is a museum showing how islanders took to the seas in open boats in pursuit of the leviathans. Fortunately, tourists are now the only ones who go to sea to see the many species of whales in the islands. An unusual feature of Pico is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of acres of vineyards encircled by small, black volcanic rock walls to protect them from the salt winds and to collect extra heat. Return to Madelena in the afternoon for the ferry trip back to Horta.

Day 7 Faial to Sao Miguel Island

Transfer service from your hotel to the airport for the short flight to Sao Miguel, the largest and most geographically diverse of the islands. Upon arrival in Ponta Delgada, you will be transferred to your hotel, Royal Garden (4 stars) for the next 3 nights with daily buffet breakfast. Ponta Delgada is the largest city as well as the capital of the Azores. Urban sprawl is beginning to set in but the historic central part of the city is still charming. The hotel is well located for walks through the old section. Balance of the day at leisure.

Day 8 - Full day tour to Furnas

Your driver/guide will pick you up at your hotel for your full day trip to Furnas. Just outside of Ponta Delgada, the rural life of Sao Miguel dominates. Depart along the south road passing the village of Lagoa for a viewpoint at Caloura. Continue to Vila Franca, once the capital. Upon arrival in the Furnas area, visit the lake, hot springs and to see holes in the ground where meals are cooked by underground steam. Pots full of various meats, sausages, potatoes and vegetables are steamed for 7 hours to produce "Cozidos nas Caldeiras" (Caldera Stew). Continue to the charming town of Furnas for a lunch stop (lunch not included). Visit the beautiful botanical gardens begun in the 18th century (entry fee not included) with the opportunity to swim in the hot springs swimming pool. Cross the island to the north coast, stopping for a fine view of both the south and north coasts from an interior highland. On the way, you will visit a tea plantation, the only one in Europe. Return to your hotel about 5:30pm.

Day 9 - Half day tour to Sete Cidades

After meeting your driver/guide in the hotel lobby, head west to one of the most awesome natural sights in the world, the twin caldeira lakes of Sete Cidades. The view from "Vista do Rei" (King's View) high on the crater's rim is stunning. Far below, next to the lakes, is the pretty village of Sete Cidades (Seven Cities, named for a mythical kingdom). Descend into the caldeira to visit the town. Before returning to Ponta Delgada, stop at a pineapple plantation. The Azores are not warm enough to grow pineapples in the open but they thrive in the greenhouses with careful cultivation methods. Afternoon free in Ponta Delgada.

Day 10

Check out in the late morning. The hotel will store your baggage for you.
Day free for last minute shopping and sightseeing in Ponta Delgada before your transfer to the airport. An optional half-day morning tour to Lagoa do Fogo (Fire Lake) with a stop at a ceramics factory in the town of Lagoa is available.

2008 Prices

2008	Nov 1, 07 - Mar 31, 08	Apr 1, 08 - Jun 15, 08	Jun 16, 08 - Sep 30, 08	Oct 1, 08 - Oct 31, 08
Triple	1,079.00	1,159.00	1,299.00	1,159.00
Double/Twin	1,379.00	1,489.00	1,649.00	1,489.00
Single	2,619.00	2,849.00	3,059.00	2,849.00

Prices per person and does not include airfare. Airfare will be quoted upon request.
Prices are in US dollars and are subject to currency exchange rates.

Three Island Package Includes:

• 3 nights at Hotel Terceira Mar (4 stars) in Angra do Heroismo, Terceira
• 3 nights at Hotel do Canal (4 stars) in Horta, Faial
• 3 nights at Royal Garden Hotel (4 stars) in Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel
• Half day tour of Terceira
• Full day tour of Faial
• Full day tour of Pico
• Full day tour to Furnas, Sao Miguel
• Half day tour to Sete Cidades, Sao Miguel
• Airport-hotel-airport transfers
• Daily buffet breakfast, hotel taxe and hotel service charge.

Not Included:

• Airfare (please enquire about current fares)
• Entrance fees to museums, gardens
• Ferry ticket to Pico. 4.7 euros each way (subject to change) when purchased at port.
• Meals other than breakfast

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, sightseeing tours are by private car with English speaking driver.

For reservation and information click here to submit a request

You may call us at 800-652-9151 if you reside in the United States. From other countries call 1-209-667-2405