Hike, Canyon and Whale Watch in the Azores
Travel by land and sea around the Azorean island of São Miguel and top it off with some spectacular whale and dolphin watching
What's Included?
Small Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 12 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
…
What's it like?
Hike along spectacular coastal trails and get sweeping Atlantic views from the highest point on Sao Miguel
Jump, scramble, slide and abseil the canyons of Ribeira dos Caldeirões and coasteer along the wild, volcanic coastline
Get a close encounter with the Azores' teeming population of whales and dolphins
Bed down in 4-star boutique hotels, perfectly situated for exploring botanical gardens and pretty historic streets
Key Information
Day 1
Welcome to the Azores
Catch your first glimpse of the beautiful Azores archipelago as you approach Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel. Drive through rolling hills forged by ancient volcanoes and powerful trade winds until you reach the town of Furnas, where you can spend the rest of the day enjoying your boutique hotel and the adjacent botanical gardens – plus your choice of indoor or outdoor pools.
Day 2
The highest point on Sao Miguel
Hiking
Kick start your Azores adventure with a big hike to Pico da Vara, the highest point on Sao Miguel Island. Starting at Algarvia in the northeast of the island, you'll ascend for 7km through cedar woodland and open grasslands and see some unforgettable coastal views. Look across the island from the top and you’ll see the valley of Povoação, the majestic crater of Furnas Volcano and the volcanic massifs of Fogo and Sete Cidades.
Day 3
Hike the Agrião Trail
Hiking
Follow the Agrião Trail as it weaves its way through streams and over wooden bridges along the southeast coast, including some steep climbs and narrow descents. Enjoy the views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Povoação volcanic crater, ending the day on the beach at Ribeira Quente. Grab a drink in this quaint village and then head back to the hotel in time for an evening's recharge.
Day 4
Canyoning at Ribeira dos Caldeirões
Canyoning
Set off first thing for Ribeira dos Caldeirões, a protected reserve in the northeast of the island and a 100% natural adventure playground. Hike, scramble, jump, slide and abseil your way across, with your expert guide on hand to help you navigate whilst filming and photographing the adventure. Dry off, grab some lunch and then drive to Ponta Delgada where you’ll check into your second boutique hotel. The afternoon is now yours to explore the town's many cafes, bars and ice cream parlours or just relax at the hotel.
Day 5
Whale watching and Sete Cidades
Wildlife Watching
Witness one of the Azores natural treasures – the huge population of whales found in its nutrient-rich waters. During springtime, you can see migratory species such as fin whales, sei whales and blue whales, while sperm whales and huge numbers of dolphins can be found all year round. A marine biologist will talk you through what to look for out on the water and explain the island’s cutting-edge approach to sustainable and responsible tourism. After lunch, head to Sete Cidades – one of the Azores' picture postcard spots (and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal) – and enjoy an activity of your choice: hike, SUP, kayak or bike.
Day 6
Atlantic coasteering and Lake Fogo
Coasteering
Jump straight into the Atlantic Ocean and coasteer your way along the wild, volcanic coastline. You'll scramble, dive and swim your way along the tideline and cliff dive into the water. In the afternoon, head to Fogo Nature Reserve. Take in epic viewpoints overlooking Lake Fogo and the volcanic crater and bathe in the geothermal pools of Caldera Velha.
Day 7
Say goodbye to the Azores
Enjoy a last breakfast on the Azores and then head back to the airport in time for your flight home.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Ponta Delgada Airport
17:30
Ends
Ponta Delgada Airport
14:00
Transfers
Your host will meet you at 17:30 at Ponta Delgada Airport on Day 1 to start your adventure. On Day 7, your host will drop you back at the airport at 14:00 in time for any flights departing after 15:00. If you arrive or depart at different times, your host can arrange airport transfers for an extra cost.
Travel options
There are regular flights to Ponta Delgada Airport from airports across the UK and Europe.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 6
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 7
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Breakfasts in both hotels are a plentiful, high quality continental-style affair with fresh juices, teas and coffees. Lunches will be picnics in beautiful locations, generally consisting of baguette sandwiches or salads with dried snacks and fruits. There are also plenty of restaurants to choose from in both Furnas and Ponta Delgada for dinner, including traditional Azorean and international cuisine.
Vegetarian, vegan and most other dietary requirements can be accommodated.
What is the accommodation like?
Furnas
You'll stay in a twin-share room at the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, considered one of the best hotels in the Azores. The hotel is adjacent to the Terra Nostra Botanical Park, complete with a geo-thermal lake and guests are free to wander the grounds. The hotel has a wellness spa with indoor and outdoor pools, perfect for winding down at the end of each day.
Ponta Delgada
On most departures, you'll stay in a twin-share room at the Hotel do Colégio, a boutique hotel set in a 19th century manor house. The hotel has a highly regarded restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and spacious, quiet guest rooms. It's also perfectly located in the historic centre of Ponta Delgada.
Departures starting on 22 July, 23 September and 7 October 2023 will be based at Grand Hotel Açores Atlantico, close to the historic centre and overlooking the marina. It has a heated indoor pool and is just a few minutes' walk to two bathing areas.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge. Your host can also help book additional nights' accommodation before/after the tour in Furnas or Ponta Delgada. Please request these at the time of booking.
Optional extras are subject to availability and prices for both the solo room upgrade and additional nights vary significantly throughout the season (and depending on which hotel you're based at in Ponte Delgada) - the prices shown under Optional Extras are Low Season 'From' prices but High Season rates (and stays at Grand Hotel Açores Atlantico) will be much higher.
fabulous trip, always on the go. Nuno was a great guide and hugely knowledgeable. Canyoning and coasteering were both brilliant and able to be adapted slightly for those with higher levels of intrepidation without reducing others enjoyment
For the adventure lover this trip offers a diverse range of fantastic experiences. From adrenalin fuelled activities to encounters with the amazing marine animals, it has something for everyone.
Great trip! Very easy - low fitness levels required for this one - coasteering is a must-do! The group guide was awesome and knowledgeable, the island is beautiful even when the weather was against us.
I had a great trip. A fun team and Nuno was an excellent, fabulously knowledgeable host with a clear love of the island. Hotels were lovely and there was a good balance of activity and downtime.
Fantastic trip - our guide Nuno's encyclopaedic knowledge of the island, his personality, delivery, strong client experience made a big difference. He is one of the best guides we have met in decades! Our group mates were awesome and this combined with the breathtaking scenery and fun hiking, canyoning, cycling made this holiday one of the best we've had in years.
Back from an incredible trip to the Azores! This was my first trip with MBA and I will certainly be booking another. We had a fantastic group of people and we all got on really well. Our local guide, Thomas, was fantastic and did his best to compensate when the weather went against us. We didn't manage to do the hike to the highest point on the island, but did a coastal walk instead which was still really good (plus we could see!). For the canyoning and the coasteering, we went with some specialist guides who were really good fun but at the same time made a big effort to ensure that we felt safe. My personal highlight was the whale-watching. The weather had been dicey so we weren't sure if we would get to go, but we did and yes, some of us felt a bit seasick, but we saw humpbacks and kills whales - it was amazing! The Azores are beautiful islands and I would love to go again, hopefully when the weather is better. I would 100% recommend this trip!
A wonderful week in a beautiful country with a lovely group of people. This trip is well balanced in terms of adventure and free time to explore.
A welcome meeting/arrival information on the first night would have been helpful but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this trip.
Loved this trip, so many good things to say but will just note that the trip exceeded my expectations. Beautiful country and left with amazing experiences spent with wonderful people. Our guide Rodrigo really made sure we had the best experience!! Highly recommend 👌👌
A fantastic trip with a good range of adventure activities and time to do your own thing as well. Rodrigo was a great host who was able to adjust the trip to suit the weather to ensure we got the most out of our stay. The small group was a great way to meet new people and provided many laughs and good memories.
A fantastic holiday the local guide Paulo made what would have been a great trip even better with local knowledge and recommendations. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to explore the Azores it is a fantastic way to do so.
Fantastic adventures everyday, the pack lunches were delicious. A good mix of holiday comforts and physical exercise.