The Amazing Azores: From Volcanoes to Vineyards

Breakfast not inclluded on your programs

Transfer from Horta airport to the hotel. NOTE: The Group Leader will be in the Hotel Lobby to meet and welcome participants arriving. He will confirm the timing and place of the introductory walk and the orientation session to be held this afternoon.Check-in after 3:00pm

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Meet the Group Leader in the Hotel Lobby for a guided introductory walk of Horta with a visit to the small but important Museu da Horta to learn of the importance of this island for the communications between America and Europe, also as a stopping point for the first transatlantic flights as well as its strategic role during the second World War. After the walk we willreturn to the Hotel

At a local restaurant

The remainder of the evening is at leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At hotel restaurant

Begin the morning with a brief stop at the Espalamaca viewpoint, looking out onto the bay and town of Horta below and Pico Island across the sea. Continue on a short 15 minutes’ drive to the Faial Botanical Garden where you will be introduced to the Azorean flora. After a short video presentation, we start a guided lecture with one of the garden’s local experts walking around the gardens. Return to our waiting bus and drive to the centre of the Island up to an altitude of 3,422 feet (1,043 meters) to view the famous Caldeira, a vast volcanic crater measuring approximately one mile (1.5 kilometres) wide and more than 1,200 feet (370 meters) deep, now a nature reserve and an impressive reminder of the volcanic origins of the Azores

At a local restaurant.

After lunch, we drive along the north coast to the east of the island to take guided visit to Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre. Located underground, the centre conducts continued research on the volcanic eruption of 1957-58 and monitors activity of the Capelinhos volcano. This unusual and futuristic looking scientific facility was built underground under the ashes of the 1957 eruption to house the research and monitoring facility as well as a permanent exhibition on volcanology featuring volcanoes from all the Azorean islands as well as other islands from around the world.. After the visit and some time to explore the surrounding landscape of the crater. After the visit we return to our Hotel

We’ll walk to a local restaurant where we will cook our own dinner! We’ll choose from a selection of meat, fish, and vegetables and cook them on hot basaltic stone placed before us.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

After an early breakfast we transfer to Horta ferry terminal and take a 30 minutes crossing to Pico Island where we board our waiting bus and start our exploration of Pico Island, named for its dormant volcano. At a height of 7,700 feet the volcano is the highest point in Portugal. One of the most beautiful islands in the Azores. We head first to Lajido da Criacao Velha and take a guided walk inside the vineyards learning about the traditional agricultural methods and the methods production that makes the island wines unique. We continue to Cachorro view point for a photo opportunity before arriving at the Whales factory (Fabrica da Baleia) where our expert, will introduce the various machineries used on this activity that once was the most important economic activity of the islands. Amongst the various products extracted from the whales, perhaps the most important was the oil, used to light the streets of London and New York. We continue to Lajes do Pico for lunch.

Lunch at a local restaurant

After lunch we will have a guided visit of the Whalers museum (Museu dos Baleeiros) where you will hear about these brave men and their way of life, and observe the various instruments and boats used for this now dead trade. This industry has now ended since 1983 when the whale hunt was terminated by the European Union and replaced with very popular tourist activity of whale watching which enhances the preservation of this magnificent aquatic animal. Continuing our drive returning to Madalena, we stop at the Wine Museum( Museu do Vinho) where our expert will explain the interesting display of various farming and wine production equipment used in the various stages of wine making with the grapes harvested from the vineyards like the ones visited in the morning. After the visit we proceed to the ferry terminal in Madalena for our sailing back to Horta.

Tonight dinner is on your own to explore the town restaurants

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning

At the hotel.

After breakfast we checkout of our hotel boarding the bus we drive a short distance to stop at Espalamaca view point looking out onto the bay and town of Horta below and Pico Island across the sea. Return to our waiting bus and drive to the centre of the Island up to an altitude of 3,422 feet (1,043 meters) to view the famous Caldeira, a vast volcanic crater measuring approximately one mile (1.5 kilometres) wide and more than 1,200 feet (370 meters) deep, now a nature reserve and an impressive reminder of the volcanic origins of the Azores. We return to our hotel for lunch

At a local restaurant.

After lunch we return to the bus and continue to the airport for our flight to Terceira island. On arrival at Terceira, we board our waiting bus and transfer to our hotel and check-in

Dinner at a local restaurant.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We start the morning with a guided walk led by our local expert through the main streets of Angra do Heroismo the city founded in 1478 and one of the three capitals of the Azores. In 1983 it was recognised as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. We will visit the Town Hall and the local museum. Your local expert will point out and introduce the most important buildings and landmarks, as well as introducing the people and their life in the island. We end our walk at our waiting bus and take a ride up to Monte Brasil viewing point at 500 ft. up affording views over the bay and the city. After learning about this important landmark and the city we continue our drive to a local restaurant

At a local restaurant.

After lunch we return to the bus and continue to “Balneario dos Biscoitos” an area of natural pools by the sea very popular with the locals. We return to Angra do Heroismo and the rest of the afternoon and evening are free for you to explore on your own. Enjoy some free time before a Lecture on Geothermal resources on the Azores by a leading engineer of the Azores Geothermal program.

Tonight dinner is on your own to explore local restaurants.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out, transfer, and flight in the morning.

At the hotel.and chekout.

After breakfast we board our bus to explore the South side of the island, driving through Ribeirinha and Sao Sebastiao up to Miradouro da Serra do Cume, affording views of the South side of the island and the patchwork of fields inside the planes of Lajes inside one of the largest Caldera in the Azores, approximately 9 miles across Serra do Cume. We continue for lunch at a nearby restaurant

At a local restaurant

After lunch we will continue to Algar do Carvao an empty vertical basaltic lava tube with a depth of 90 meters (300 feet), length of 100meters (330 feet) with the entrance at 583 meters (1.913 feet) above sea level. The viewing platform is reached by a man made concrete tunnel, from where you can choose to descend to any of the platforms at four different levels with the bottom at over 360 steps down on the tube at 90 meters (300 feet) below. But please remember how far down you go you have to come up again. We board our bus to explore the Bay and the city of Praia da Vitoria and see the former American village for workers at the American Base nearby, before continuing to the airport and check-in to our early evening 45 minutes flight to Ponta Delgada. On arrival we transfer to our Hotel where a light snack and coffee buffet will be served before checking in.

Light snack buffet at the Hotel

'At leisure

At the hotel.

We will board the bus and ride to Ponta do Escalvado view point. Moving on, we will ride to the village at the edge of the Lagoa de Sete Cidades for a self-directed exploration. We continue up to Vista do Rei, a vantage point overlooking three-mile-wide Lagoa de Sete Cidades — Seven Cities Lagoon — considered one of the most beautiful natural settings in the Azores. Our expert will point out the Twin Lagoons within the crater. Lagoa Azul is the blue lake reflecting the open sky and Lagoa Verde the green lagoon reflecting the lush green vegetation on the surrounding steep walls of the crater. .We board our bus and return to Ponta Delgada for lunch.

At a local restaurant

After lunch, we will be joined in the lobby by our local expert and set off for a walking field trip. We’ll first pass by the Farmers’ Market (if open) and experience the vibrant life of the locals on their weekly family shopping. We’ll then continue to the former Jesuit College chapel before strolling along the main commercial streets. Arriving at Senhor Santo Cristo Sanctuary, we’ll learn about this most important and respected religious image on the island, a wooden carving of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres (Christ of the Miracles). Brought from Rome in 1530 C.E., it has been venerated for miracles that people of faith have attributed to this “Ecce Homo” image of Jesus. Every year, a great procession follows the image as it is paraded throughout the town. We’ll walk through Sao Francisco Square past the Military Fortress Sao Bras, ending the walk at the City Gates where we will have free time to explore on your own or return to the hotel

At a local restaurant.

At leisure

At the hotel.

After our breakfast, we will check out of the hotel, board our bus and drive to Faja de Baixo to visit a local pineapple farm. Pineapples were brought here from Brazil in the 19th Century, but unlike those of its native land, Azores pineapples are grown in greenhouses and take about two years to mature. This slow process makes them very sweet. We’ll look inside greenhouses to see the plants in different stages of growth. Returning to our bus we continue to Capelas for our last field trip visiting Museu das Oficinas, the Workshop Museum. We will meet the owners who will introduce their private collection. The ethnographic display is a labour of love by a couple determined to preserve for future generations memories of every craft, profession, or traditional labour from these islands and Portugal as a whole. After the visit we return to Ponta Delgada for lunch

At a local restaurant

Take time at leisure to explore on your own or relax. At the end of the afternoon we meet in the hotel conference room for a lecture by a local professor on the History and the importance of these nine volcanic island known as “Acores”

Tonight dinner is on your own to explore the town restaurants.

At leisure to prepare for tomorrow’s transfer to Furnas.

Breakfast at the hotel and checkout

After our breakfast we check out of the hotel and board our bus to start our drive up the mountain to 776 meters (2560 Feet) stopping at Mirador da Barrosa overlooking Lagoa do Fogo for a photo opportunity. Back on the bus we drive to the North side of the island down to Ribeira Grande and enjoy some free time to explore on your own before walking to a local restaurant for lunch.

At a local restaurant

After lunch returning to the bus we continue to our next Hotel with a stop at Santa Iria view point overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the North side. Arriving in Furnas we check-in to our Hotel and have some free time to unpack and settle.

Tonight dinner is at a local restaurant

At leisure

At the hotel.

After breakfast we take a guided walk to central Caldeiras of the volcanic complex of Furnas to see the Caldeiras and try some of the 32 thermal springs around. Boarding our bus we drive to CIAF (Centro de Interpretacao Ambiental das Furnas) for a visit. One of the centre expert will lead a private tour of the centre and explain their ongoing projects to preserve the lagoon and surrounding areas. After the visit we drive again a short distance to the Fumaroles where we’ll watch our own lunch the famous Azorean delicacy, known as ‘Cozido’ being retrieved from the cooking place, underground. This varied selection of meats or fish with vegetables is prepared in a special layered manner, in a big pot and lowered into underground holes for up to six hours where volcanic steams will cook the dish. Back aboard the bus we then ride back to the Hotel to have our ‘Cozido’ for lunch

We will have the traditional 'Cozido' meal. The meat and vegetables cook together for hours. The gravy comes from the natural juices of the ingredients.

After lunch we meet in the hotel lobby for a walk around the hotel private Terra Nostra Botanical garden guided by one of the botanist expert through gardens and thermal pools (approximately 1.5 hours) The remainder of the afternoon is free. You might like to enjoy the hotel spa facilities, take a dip in one of the thermal pools on the park, or stroll around the Terra Nostra Park that is closed to the public and reserved exclusively for hotel guests between 5:00 pm and 10.00 am.

Tonight dinner is on your own.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

After breakfast and checkout of the Hotel, we board our bus and drive a short distance to Gorreana Tea Factory next to its plantation. Our local expert will point the vast plantation next to the factory before lead the guided visit of the factory explaining the various machineries used during the tea processing. At the end of the visit, we will have the opportunity to taste some of the teas they produce. We board our bus and ride to Ribeira dos Caldeiroes to explore this natural park and waterfalls before continuing to a local picnic area for our lunch,

Enjoy a picnic lunch

After our picnic lunch we return to the hotel in Furnas and the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax enjoy the Hotel gardens, thermal pools and spa facilities We meet tonight to say our farewells and enjoy our farewell dinner. The Group Leader will also give instructions for tomorrow’s departure.

At the hotel. Enjoy a dinner while sharing favourite experiences with new Road Scholar friends and join the toast after desserts.

At leisure. You might like to have a drink at the bar with fellow Road Scholars. The Group Leader will also provide information about transfer arrangements for tomorrow. The Group Leader will also provide information about arrangements for tomorrow’s departure.

At the hotel followed by checkout. The Group Leader will be at hand to confirm departure instructions.

After breakfast time is at leisure. Checkout time is 11:00am. Transfers to airport and check-in to your flight. Your Group Leader will be at hand to assist and advise. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to login in to the Tripcast album created by your Group Leader and load you pictures to share with your fellow participants the memorable moments you have registered of this exciting Road Scholar experience, and to join our Facebook page and the and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys

This meal is not included oin your program

Transfer to airport according to your flight time in the afternoon or evening and check-in to your flight