ATLANTIC AZORES

Touch down on São Miguel island and make your way to the hotel, where you’ll be greeted by our Local Insider, who will accompany the group throughout the trip. In the afternoon, you’ll set off on a walking tour of Ponta Delgada, the small but lively capital, with whitewashed baroque architecture, a bar-lined harbourfront and a thriving culinary scene. After checking out the sights, enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travellers at a local restaurant.

Today, you’ll venture to the far west of São Miguel to explore the scenic Sete Cidades – two shimmering crater lakes (one blue, one green), surrounded by Japanese cedar, laurel and juniper forests. A Jeep tour is the perfect way to take in the unspoilt volcanic scenery, before tucking into a delicious lunch of Portuguese petiscos (small plates) and wine. Spend the afternoon cycling around the lakes and descending into the crater itself to kayak, before returning to Ponta Delgada.

Wildlife enthusiast? The waters around the Azores are teeming with life, home to some 28 species of whale and dolphin, including blue whales – the largest animals on the planet. Go looking for cetaceans of all sizes on an optional marine safari, or use the time to explore Ponta Delgada further, before an afternoon hike through to the Salto do Cabrito waterfall in Ribeira Grande. Here, you’ll learn all about the geology of the Azores and how the islands harness their natural resources to generate sustainable energy. Don’t forget swimming gear – the rock pools at the bottom of the waterfall are a prime spot for a refreshing dip.

If the idea of rappelling across cascading waterfalls and sliding down rocky ravines gets your adrenaline pumping, you’ll be in your element at Ribeira dos Caldeirões – a protected area in the northeast of São Miguel, carpeted in thick, subtropical forest. It’s an exhilarating experience which allows you to fully immerse yourself in nature as you grapple with the elements. Next, you’ll head to Furnas – one of the most geothermally active areas in the Azores, and your base for the rest of the trip. Come nightfall, enjoy a cocktail-making class and a soothing soak in the area’s natural hot springs.

Now you’re familiar with the volcanic makeup of the Azores, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test by preparing cozido das Furnas. This hearty meat-and-vegetable stew, cooked in an underground pot using nothing but geothermal heat, is an integral part of São Miguel’s food heritage, which takes around six hours to perfect. While it bubbles away, head out on a hike around the Furnas crater lake to work up an appetite. Later, relax and enjoy your geothermally-cooked feast for dinner – a quintessentially Azorean way to round off your trip.

After one final breakfast, it’s time to check out of the hotel and bid farewell to your new friends as you return to the airport to catch your flight home. Alternatively, extend your stay and explore further what the Azores has to offer.