Azores Island Hopping Holiday
Combine three of the Atlantic's most-beautiful islands into the perfect two-week trip...
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Our Azores Island Hopping Holiday takes you to Sao Miguel, Flores and Faial
Your holiday begins on the main island of Sao Miguel in Ponta Delgada: capital of the Azores and one of Europe’s most-welcoming cities. You’ll explore the island’s iconic landmarks by car – the great crater at Sete Cidades, the hot springs at Caldera Velha, and the Gorreana tea plantation – and time at sea on a whale and dolphin watching trip.
Leaving Sao Miguel, your first island hop is to Flores: renowned for its arresting landscapes and relaxing isolation. You’ll be staying in the secluded west coast village of Faja Grande, between the lofty cliffs and waterfalls of the Ribeira do Ferreiro and the rolling Atlantic Ocean. You’ll also have a chance to explore the wider island with our resident guide.
From Flores, you’ll fly to the island of Faial for a stay in the harbour town of Horta. Once a crucial resupply point for trans-Atlantic sailing ships, Horta is a picturesque seafront town with a colourful maritime feel. Faial is also home to one of the Azores’ most striking volcanic landscapes: the barren Capelinhos peninsula, created during a year-long volcanic eruption in the late 1950s.
It’s a short hop from Faial back to Sao Miguel, where you’ll end your holiday in semi-tropical Furnas. Furnas is famous for its botanical gardens, its hot springs and its geothermal swimming pools: the perfect location to plan your next island hopping holiday to the Azores.
Day 1
You’ll begin your holiday with a flight to Sao Miguel. You’ll be transferred by our driver to your accommodation at the Hotel do Colegio in the capital Ponta Delgada.
Day 2
You’ll have a day free to explore Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores. It’s a great place to shop for local produce and souvenirs, with an excellent selection of friendly restaurants and cafe bars, attractive mosaic pavements and traditional Portugeuse architecture.
Day 3
You’ll collect a hire car from the nearby Portas do Mar marina. You might like to drive west to Sete Cidades, the largest caldera on the island with its famous viewpoint at Vista do Rei, and the beautiful twin lakes of Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul.
Day 4
You’ll head east today, to the town of Vila Franca for a three-hour whale and dolphin watching trip. In the afternoon, you could take a drive up to the summit of Pico da Barrosa (947m) for panoramic view of the north and south coasts, and a birdseye view of Lagoa do Fogo: the Fire Lake.
Day 5
You’ll return your hire car to the airport before flying to the island of Flores. You’ll be collected by our driver for your transfer to your new accommodation at the Argonauta in the west coast village of Faja Grande.
Day 6
You’ll explore the island with our resident guide, visiting the Ponta de Albarbaz lighthouse, the island’s capital Santa Cruz and Flores’ beautiful crater lakes: Lagoas Branca, Seca, Negra and Comprida.
Day 7
You’ll have a free day to walk the Lagoa dos Patas trail to the secluded lagoon at Poco da Alagoinha and the Ribeira do Ferreiro waterfalls.
Day 8
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Faial. You’ll be collected by our driver once again, for your transfer to your new accommodation at the Estrela do Atlantico in the main harbour town of Horta.
Day 9
You’ll explore Faial with our guide, visiting the Cabeco Gordo caldera and Capelinhos: the site of a major volcanic eruption in the late 1950s.
Day 10
You might like to take the ferry to the neighbouring island of Pico, for a tour of the island’s UNESCO-protected vineyards, or a guided ascent of Mount Pico – Portugal’s highest peak at 2,351m.
Day 11
For your final day on Faial, you could add a guided walk along the Dez Vulcoes trail or you might prefer to head to sea on a second whale watching trip.
Day 12
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Sao Miguel, where you’ll be transferred to your new accommodation at the Terra Nostra Hotel in the eastern village of Furnas.
Day 13
You could spend today exploring Furnas: the most easterly volcano on Sao Miguel. There are over thirty springs and geysers dotted around the village – the remains of the original Furnas volcano. Your hotel’s 200-year-old botanical gardens are home to the town’s most famous geothermal swimming pool.
Day 14
For your final full day on the island, you might like to visit the Gorreana tea planation, the Lombo Gordo seacliffs, and the rustic infinity pools Poca Dona Beija.
Day 15
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Our holidays have a nice balance of activities and free time. Everything’s flexible and you can personalise your trip.
Whale watching
The Azores are one of the premier whale and dolphin watching destinations in the world, with a wide range of species including resident sperm and pilot whales, migratory blue and fin whales, and bottlenose and spotted dolphins.
Walking
Walking is one of the best ways to explore the Azores, and there are guided and self guided walks to suit everyone's level of fitness.
Canyoning
Canyoning is fast growing in popularity and the Azores have excellent routes on Sao Miguel, Sao Jorge and Flores.
Cycling and mountain biking
Cycle from village to village along the quiet roads or take an adrenaline fuelled guided mountain biking ride down from the crater lakes, the Azores have lots of exciting two wheel options.
Jeep tours
Get off-road with our friendly knowledgeable guides along the dirt tracks of the Azores.
Kayaking and Paddle boarding
Kayak and paddleboard on the breathtaking crater lakes or along the rugged coastline of Sao Miguel and Terceira.
Horse riding
From one hour lessons in an indoor arena to full day rides, riding is one of the best ways to explore the Azorean countryside. You'll be riding beautiful pure and cross bred Lusitano horses and be in the safe hands of our experienced guides.
Surfing
With its year round mild climate and sea temperatures, the Azores is starting to become more popular with surfers. Working with a school on the north coast of Sao Miguel, we can provide lessons with our friendly instructors or just hire the boards and wetsuits and ride the waves on your own.
Diving
As well as offering unique diving experiences for qualified divers, beginners can also learn at the excellent schools on the islands. Dive sites are varied from offshore reefs and volcanic caves to drop-offs, impressive arches and flat seabed. Most dives rarely go deeper than 15m and average sea temperatures are 17-22°C. Visibility is very good at 20-25m.
Birdwatching
With close to 400 species sighted in the archipelago, this is a rewarding yet quiet bird watching destination. For many the highlight is spotting the endemic Azores Bullfinch found only in a small part of the main island of Sao Miguel. There's also the large Cory Shearwater and Roseate Tern colonies, Atlantic canary, several subspecies of the Common Chaffinch, the São Miguel Goldcrest and the Azores Woodpigeon. In October, the Azores become the undisputed rarity hotspot of the Western Palearctic with a wealth of America vagrants on offer from shorebirds and wildfowl to wood-warblers and vireos.
Golf
Golfing in the Azores is a real pleasure. Courses are quiet and spectacular offering views over the ocean and volcanic craters. On São Miguel, Batalha overlooks the sea and is the newest and most challenging course while Furnas (located in the mountains at an altitude of 500m) is sprinkled with lakes and stands of Japanese Cryptomeria and then there's the heavily wooded course on Terceira close the beautiful town of Angra.
Our Azores Island Hopping Holiday takes you to Sao Miguel, Flores and Faial
Your holiday begins on the main island of Sao Miguel in Ponta Delgada: capital of the Azores and one of Europe’s most-welcoming cities. You’ll explore the island’s iconic landmarks by car – the great crater at Sete Cidades, the hot springs at Caldera Velha, and the Gorreana tea plantation – and time at sea on a whale and dolphin watching trip.
Leaving Sao Miguel, your first island hop is to Flores: renowned for its arresting landscapes and relaxing isolation. You’ll be staying in the secluded west coast village of Faja Grande, between the lofty cliffs and waterfalls of the Ribeira do Ferreiro and the rolling Atlantic Ocean. You’ll also have a chance to explore the wider island with our resident guide.
From Flores, you’ll fly to the island of Faial for a stay in the harbour town of Horta. Once a crucial resupply point for trans-Atlantic sailing ships, Horta is a picturesque seafront town with a colourful maritime feel. Faial is also home to one of the Azores’ most striking volcanic landscapes: the barren Capelinhos peninsula, created during a year-long volcanic eruption in the late 1950s.
It’s a short hop from Faial back to Sao Miguel, where you’ll end your holiday in semi-tropical Furnas. Furnas is famous for its botanical gardens, its hot springs and its geothermal swimming pools: the perfect location to plan your next island hopping holiday to the Azores.
Day 1
You’ll begin your holiday with a flight to Sao Miguel. You’ll be transferred by our driver to your accommodation at the Hotel do Colegio in the capital Ponta Delgada.
Day 2
You’ll have a day free to explore Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores. It’s a great place to shop for local produce and souvenirs, with an excellent selection of friendly restaurants and cafe bars, attractive mosaic pavements and traditional Portugeuse architecture.
Day 3
You’ll collect a hire car from the nearby Portas do Mar marina. You might like to drive west to Sete Cidades, the largest caldera on the island with its famous viewpoint at Vista do Rei, and the beautiful twin lakes of Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul.
Day 4
You’ll head east today, to the town of Vila Franca for a three-hour whale and dolphin watching trip. In the afternoon, you could take a drive up to the summit of Pico da Barrosa (947m) for panoramic view of the north and south coasts, and a birdseye view of Lagoa do Fogo: the Fire Lake.
Day 5
You’ll return your hire car to the airport before flying to the island of Flores. You’ll be collected by our driver for your transfer to your new accommodation at the Argonauta in the west coast village of Faja Grande.
Day 6
You’ll explore the island with our resident guide, visiting the Ponta de Albarbaz lighthouse, the island’s capital Santa Cruz and Flores’ beautiful crater lakes: Lagoas Branca, Seca, Negra and Comprida.
Day 7
You’ll have a free day to walk the Lagoa dos Patas trail to the secluded lagoon at Poco da Alagoinha and the Ribeira do Ferreiro waterfalls.
Day 8
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Faial. You’ll be collected by our driver once again, for your transfer to your new accommodation at the Estrela do Atlantico in the main harbour town of Horta.
Day 9
You’ll explore Faial with our guide, visiting the Cabeco Gordo caldera and Capelinhos: the site of a major volcanic eruption in the late 1950s.
Day 10
You might like to take the ferry to the neighbouring island of Pico, for a tour of the island’s UNESCO-protected vineyards, or a guided ascent of Mount Pico – Portugal’s highest peak at 2,351m.
Day 11
For your final day on Faial, you could add a guided walk along the Dez Vulcoes trail or you might prefer to head to sea on a second whale watching trip.
Day 12
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Sao Miguel, where you’ll be transferred to your new accommodation at the Terra Nostra Hotel in the eastern village of Furnas.
Day 13
You could spend today exploring Furnas: the most easterly volcano on Sao Miguel. There are over thirty springs and geysers dotted around the village – the remains of the original Furnas volcano. Your hotel’s 200-year-old botanical gardens are home to the town’s most famous geothermal swimming pool.
Day 14
For your final full day on the island, you might like to visit the Gorreana tea planation, the Lombo Gordo seacliffs, and the rustic infinity pools Poca Dona Beija.
Day 15
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Our holidays have a nice balance of activities and free time. Everything’s flexible and you can personalise your trip.
Whale watching
The Azores are one of the premier whale and dolphin watching destinations in the world, with a wide range of species including resident sperm and pilot whales, migratory blue and fin whales, and bottlenose and spotted dolphins.
Walking
Walking is one of the best ways to explore the Azores, and there are guided and self guided walks to suit everyone's level of fitness.
Canyoning
Canyoning is fast growing in popularity and the Azores have excellent routes on Sao Miguel, Sao Jorge and Flores.
Cycling and mountain biking
Cycle from village to village along the quiet roads or take an adrenaline fuelled guided mountain biking ride down from the crater lakes, the Azores have lots of exciting two wheel options.
Jeep tours
Get off-road with our friendly knowledgeable guides along the dirt tracks of the Azores.
Kayaking and Paddle boarding
Kayak and paddleboard on the breathtaking crater lakes or along the rugged coastline of Sao Miguel and Terceira.
Horse riding
From one hour lessons in an indoor arena to full day rides, riding is one of the best ways to explore the Azorean countryside. You'll be riding beautiful pure and cross bred Lusitano horses and be in the safe hands of our experienced guides.
Surfing
With its year round mild climate and sea temperatures, the Azores is starting to become more popular with surfers. Working with a school on the north coast of Sao Miguel, we can provide lessons with our friendly instructors or just hire the boards and wetsuits and ride the waves on your own.
Diving
As well as offering unique diving experiences for qualified divers, beginners can also learn at the excellent schools on the islands. Dive sites are varied from offshore reefs and volcanic caves to drop-offs, impressive arches and flat seabed. Most dives rarely go deeper than 15m and average sea temperatures are 17-22°C. Visibility is very good at 20-25m.
Birdwatching
With close to 400 species sighted in the archipelago, this is a rewarding yet quiet bird watching destination. For many the highlight is spotting the endemic Azores Bullfinch found only in a small part of the main island of Sao Miguel. There's also the large Cory Shearwater and Roseate Tern colonies, Atlantic canary, several subspecies of the Common Chaffinch, the São Miguel Goldcrest and the Azores Woodpigeon. In October, the Azores become the undisputed rarity hotspot of the Western Palearctic with a wealth of America vagrants on offer from shorebirds and wildfowl to wood-warblers and vireos.
Golf
Golfing in the Azores is a real pleasure. Courses are quiet and spectacular offering views over the ocean and volcanic craters. On São Miguel, Batalha overlooks the sea and is the newest and most challenging course while Furnas (located in the mountains at an altitude of 500m) is sprinkled with lakes and stands of Japanese Cryptomeria and then there's the heavily wooded course on Terceira close the beautiful town of Angra.