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.
Fantastic adventures everyday, the pack lunches were delicious. A good mix of holiday comforts and physical exercise.
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.
The trip was amazing, and our local guide, Paulo, was an attentive, dedicated guide who managed the needs of 12 people with ease. No one ever felt like we were moving too slow, nor too fast. The activities covered a range of options, from hiking to kayaking to coasteering. The highlight of our trip was the coasteering day, which we spent on the North Coast of Sao Miguel (incredible!!).
If this trip sounds fun to you, then book it! You won’t regret it if you love beautiful country, fun adventures, good food and good people.
The actual trip itself run by the local hosts was amazing and super fun. Only problem being MBA. Would not advise you to book through them, they don't take ownership or responsibility of the trip logistics, its all very much pass onto the local team and if anything goes wrong, its the local teams fault not theirs. When making the booking, it took me chasing them to find out why it wasnt accepted, and then i got told if you want to go on this trip, we messed up the room allocation, so you'll have to pay more for your own room, which i didnt budget to do. Found out on the trip they said this to others as well, seems rather sneaky. Also the itinerary wasnt followed upon arrival, instead i was told to kill4 hours in town so that the driver doesnt have to go back and forth even though they should have organised that better. No contact available for MBA which is frustrating when you are abroad. No whatsapp group set up to meet other travellers, only excuses from MBA.
I had the most amazing experience in the azores, our host and group were so friendly and welcoming ! Accommodation was wonderful and the days were packed full of a variety of activities. Seeing a blue whale on this trip will be something I'll will never forget!
Great way to experience the Azores
This was such an incredible trip. Our local guide, Rodrigo, was wonderful! He rearranged our activities when the weather wasn't cooperating in order to maximize our trip time. Plus,I met an amazing group of people that I got to have a fun adventure with. I will definitely be taking another MBA trip in the future!
Excellent trip. Really we organised as per usual from MBA. The trip had the perfect mix of relaxing time and activities. Hotels were excellent, particularly the one in Furnas, the hot springs are not to be missed!
Amazing time - well organised and fun
An amazing week away for anyone who loves an adventure! The itinerary was jam-packed and you definitely got your money's worth. The Azores has so much to offer, both in terms of things to do and places to visit. Too hard to pick one specific highlight, but Canyoning and Coasteering were brilliant, and seeing whales and dolphins was incredible. Our local guide, Rodrigo, was fantastic! As were the rest of the group - all very likeminded people and very fun to be around... especially after a few red wines. Another great MBA trip, and I couldn't recommend this one enough.
Great mix of adventures in a beautiful island!
This trip exceeded my expectations. Each day was packed with fun activity, mini informative detours and the opportunity to relax at the right moments. Accommodation was great, our guide Rodrigo was superb and I felt lucky to share it with an awesome group of people.
It was so well organised and even if weather intervened, there was an alternative. I highly recommend this trip! Thank you MBA
Loved this trip. Rodrigo is a super host. Canyoning and coasteering were real highlights - well organised and a lot of fun. We saw a huge pod of dolphins, sperm whale and loggerhead turtle. Great food and amazing scenery. Highly recommend.
Guides
Expert, English-speaking, local guides
Accommodation
6 nights in cosy, art deco hotels
Meals
6 breakfasts and 4 lunches
Transfers
To and from the airport and everything in-between
Equipment
All canyoning and coasteering kit, plus SUP, kayaking or biking equipment for Day 5
Permits
All permits and entry fees
Our trips are hassle-free by design. We include all the activities and equipment, as well as many of the meals, so you can simply rock up with your rucksack and share the adventure with your new pals.
Personal Expenses
You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.
What do I need to bring?
Bags
- Daypack/drybag
Clothes
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Breathable wicking layers
- Fleece jacket or similar
- Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts/T-shirts
- Swimwear (avoid white/ light colours, as they may stain due to the high iron content in the water)
- Sunglasses, sunhat
- Something to sleep in
- Hiking boots (worn-in)
- Sandals
Kit
- Universal travel adapter
- Earplugs
- Suncream
- Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
- Quick-dry towel
- Alcohol hand-gel
- Reusable water bottle x1 litre
- Biodegradable wet-wipes
Single room in Ponta Delgada (Price varies by date/hotel): FROM...
Payable Before Departure
Single room in Ponta Delgada (Price varies by date/hotel): FROM...
…
Twin/Double in Ponta Delgada (Price varies by date/hotel): FROM...
Payable Before Departure
Twin/Double in Ponta Delgada (Price varies by date/hotel): FROM...
…
Single room in Furnas (Price varies by date/hotel): FROM...
Payable Before Departure
Single room in Furnas (Price varies by date/hotel): FROM...
…
Twin/Double in Furnas (Price varies by date/hotel): FROM...
Payable Before Departure
Twin/Double in Furnas (Price varies by date/hotel): FROM...
…
Private Room Upgrade (price varies by date/hotel): FROM...
Payable Before Departure
Private Room Upgrade (price varies by date/hotel): FROM...
… Per person
Private arrival transfer: Airport to Furnas (one way)
Payable Before Departure
Private arrival transfer: Airport to Furnas (one way)
… Per person
Private departure transfer: Ponta Delgada to Airport (one way)
Payable Before Departure
Private departure transfer: Ponta Delgada to Airport (one way)
… Per person
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 217kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000 miles/1609km would be approximately 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person, if there were two of you in it).
- A return economy class flight between London and New York would be approximately 1619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approximately 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
Your luggage can be safely left in both hotels while you're away doing activities. You'll just need a daypack and/or drybag for the daytime.
Tap water in the Azores is completely safe to drink, so you can fill your bottles up at the hotel and at various points throughout the trip. Your guides will factor in water refill spots during the hikes and activities.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but the norm in the Azores means there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice however, we suggest the below as a guideline per person:
Tour guide – 5-10 Euros per day Local specialist activity guides & Driver – 5 Euros per day
Of course, you are free to tip more or less and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Need help finding flights?
From logistics and how to get there, to fitness, group dynamic and trip difficulty, Rory and his team of friendly experts are on hand to help.
We've got your back
Guaranteed to run
All Much Better Adventures trips are now guaranteed to run. Once you’ve booked your spot you can immediately make your travel arrangements, no uncertainty, no hanging about (excludes 'request to book' departures). Full details
Flexible payments
Secure your spot with the minimum deposit and pay off the remaining balance in as many instalments as you like, with no interest or fees. Full details
Happiness Guarantee
We’re so confident you’ll have an amazing time we’ll put our money on it. Full details
Full financial protection
To give you complete peace of mind Much Better Adventures is backed by ABTOT, ABTA and ATOL memberships. Full details
Tried & Trusted
Much Better Adventures is rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with over 1000 verified trip reviews averaging 4.8/5.
Connect before you go
You'll be invited to join a WhatsApp group to get to know each other before your big adventure together. Full details
DEPARTURE DATES
