Premium: Hike, E-Bike and Whale Watch in the Azores

Your host is a true Azores specialist, with many years of experience operating a variety of activities on all parts of Sao Miguel. They use their knowledge and experience of adventure activities on the island to carefully manage each trip, tracking the weather and ocean conditions to check whether activities can go ahead. This trip has a variety of activities in different parts of the island, so the itinerary is subject to some reordering depending on weather conditions, if required.

You'll have a tour leader throughout the trip as your main guide, plus additional activity guides will join the group at various stages throughout the trip as you tuck into the smorgasbord of activities on this adventure.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip, depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

Azorean and Portuguese cuisine is rooted in simple, hearty cooking shaped by the Atlantic climate and centuries of rural traditions. Meals often centre around grilled meats, fresh fish and seafood, vegetables, soups and bread, with olive oil, garlic and herbs used generously. In the Azores, dishes such as vegetable soups, stews, grilled fish, salads and side dishes are common, and meals are typically straightforward and filling rather than heavily processed.

While Portugal is not traditionally as plant-based as some Mediterranean countries, vegetarian and lactose-free diets are increasingly well understood. Vegan and gluten-free options are available but can be more limited and at times repetitive, particularly in smaller or more traditional restaurants. Your guide will help communicate your requirements, but it’s important to be flexible and prepared, especially in more rural or remote areas of the island.

Having said all this, the accommodation bases where you stay for the entire trip are well used to international travellers and therefore well versed in provision for special dietary requirements, so any meals there will generally not be an issue for those with dietary requirements.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian

Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. While many traditional Portuguese dishes include meat or fish, vegetarian options are available and may include vegetable soups, salads, omelettes, rice and bean dishes, grilled vegetables, cheese, bread, and side dishes prepared with olive oil and herbs. Restaurants are generally happy to adapt dishes where possible; however, please note that vegetarian diets are not common in rural Azores, so meal options in certain locations can be basic, repetitive and lacking in protein. Packed lunches are carefully prepared under the guidance of your local host, so are always of good quality and variety.

Vegan

Vegan diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Options may include vegetable soups (without meat stock), salads, rice, grilled or sauteed vegetables, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and dishes prepared with olive oil, garlic and herbs. However, vegan-specific options are much more limited than vegetarian ones, particularly in traditional eateries, so flexibility is important and you should be aware that meal options can be basic, repetitive and lacking in protein. Packed lunches are carefully prepared under the guidance of your local host, so are always of good quality and variety. Please do consider bringing your favourite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure.

Kosher

Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are extremely rare in Azores, therefore a Kosher diet cannot be accommodated on this trip. Vegetarian or vegan options are often the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal

Certified Halal meat is generally not available in Azores. Vegetarian or vegan options are often the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten-Free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below)

Gluten-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. However, options will be more limited than for those without dietary requirements. Portuguese cuisine frequently includes bread, pastries and flour-based products, and awareness of cross-contamination can vary. Meals will typically rely on naturally gluten-free foods such as grilled fish or meat, vegetables, rice, potatoes, salads and vegetables rather than specialist substitutes. Lunch boxes are, however, carefully prepared under the guidance of your local host, so are always of good quality and variety. Gluten-free specialist products are generally limited outside major supermarkets, so please do consider bringing your favourite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure.

Lactose-Free

Lactose-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. While dairy products such as cheese, butter and milk are commonly used, many traditional dishes are naturally lactose-free or can be prepared without dairy. These include grilled fish or meats, vegetable soups, rice dishes, vegetables, salads and vegetables prepared with olive oil rather than butter or cream. Lunch boxes are carefully prepared under the guidance of your local host, so are always of good quality and variety. Please do consider bringing your favourite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that provision for certain mild and severe or life threatening food allergies on this trip may be unreliable. Please get in touch with our Customer Experience team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip.

This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Tap water in the Azores is completely safe to drink, so you can fill your bottles up at the hotels and at various points throughout the trip. Your guides will factor in water refill spots during the hikes and activities.

Your luggage can be safely left in your hotels while you're away doing activities. You'll just need a daypack and/or drybag for the daytime.

The peak whale watching season in the Azores runs from April to October, offering calmer seas and a high diversity of cetaceans. Spring (April to June) is ideal for spotting massive migratory baleen whales like blue, fin, and sei whales, while summer (July to September) brings reliable sightings of resident sperm whales and playful pods of dolphins.

The chances of seeing cetaceans on a trip in the Azores are very high, often estimated between 90% and 98%. However, seeing actual whales specifically – rather than just dolphins – varies by season, and sightings are never fully guaranteed.

Your local host will provide a suitable helmet that conforms to recognised safety standards. If you have sizing concerns, contact your local host in advance so they can advise on fit and availability.

If you wish to bring your own helmet it must be suitable for the activity and conform to recognised safety standards. Please see our Cycling safety guidance for further information.

Your e-bike will assist with about 25% of the effort on an average ride, meaning you'll provide about 75% of the effort. There will be moments when you'll need to switch to Boost mode for short bursts of power, especially on challenging terrain or steep sections. However, most of your ride will be in Eco and Trail modes, with Eco mode often being your go-to on climbs to conserve battery life throughout the day. This balance ensures a smooth, enjoyable ride while still giving you the thrill of exploration on two wheels.

In terms of speed, the power assistance on e-bikes is typically capped at around 25kph (15mph). If you want to go faster, you'll need to pedal harder! You can adjust the power levels to match your pace and terrain. Your cycling guide will brief you on how to use the different modes to optimise your ride and make the battery last:

Eco Mode: Low power for energy efficiency, giving you longer battery life on flat terrain.
Auto Mode: Automatically adjusts the power based on terrain and your pedalling effort for a more balanced ride.
Sport Mode: Provides mid-range power, ideal for moderate hills and faster cruising.
Turbo Mode: Delivers maximum power, perfect for steep hills or when you want to ride fast.

When it comes to battery power, the e-bike batteries are typically charged overnight, usually at your accommodation. There will be a couple of spare batteries in the support vehicle just in case. However, if you manage your battery usage throughout the day (for example, by avoiding using turbo mode all the time), you’ll find that the battery lasts long enough for most rides without any issues.

Please check that e-biking is covered under your travel insurance. Our e-bikes are pedal-assist and comply with UK/EU regulations on power limits (unless stated otherwise for specific destinations).

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. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

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.

Sao Miguel has a mild, Gulf Stream-influenced climate with relatively small temperature swings year-round, though conditions can change within the same day. We currently run this trip in the shoulder months of April-May and October-November.

April: 13-18°C (55-64°F); with sea temperature at a cooler 16-17°C (61-63°F). Weather can be unpredictable, with a mix of sun, cloud and rain more likely than in the following months. May: 14-22°C (57-72°F); with the sea warming to around 19°C (66°F). Generally good weather with less rainfall than earlier spring months. October: one of the best months to visit, as it's typically sunny and warm with relatively low rainfall. The sea is at its warmest, around 23-24°C (73-75°F), ideal for the whale-watching and canyoning days. November: cooling further, with an increased chance of rain – pack accordingly for the outdoor activity days.

As with any Atlantic island destination, the weather in the Azores can be changeable, even within the same day. Your local hosts are experts at working with these conditions and will often adjust the order of the itinerary to make the most of the weather and sea state, ensuring the best possible experience.