Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of The Artisan Travel Company.
To view Artisan Travel’s supplier’s terms and conditions click here.
Spend ten wonderful nights in the Azores island 'triangle' of Faial, São Jorge and Pico. Guided tours will show you the highlights, from the great volcanic Caldeira crater to the forested slopes and waterfalls of Sao Jorge.
This ten-night holiday gives you a wonderful insight into the region, with a few nights on each of the three islands, all while based in cosy coastal hotels.
On Faial, you'll visit the Capelinhos volcano and the iconic Ponta dos Capelinhos lighthouse. On Sao Jorge, discover the greenery of Sete Fontes Forest Park and the viewpoints of Fajã dos Cubres and Fajã do Ouvidor. On Pico, you'll see Portugal's longest lava tube and witness rich flora and fauna as you soak in views across the ocean.
There'll be some free time for you to explore the Azores at your own pace. Perhaps you'll choose to go whale and dolphin watching or explore more of the scenery on foot.
* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability and based on departures between 1-20 April 2024. Call for alternative departure dates. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement on request. Deposit £400pp. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Travel insurance is not included but required for most of our overseas trips, and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Artisan Travel Company ABTA No. Y6261, ATOL No. 6865.
On arrival, you'll be met by a representative and transferred to Hotel do Canal, on the atmospheric Atlantic seafront.
After checking in and settling into your room, why not head to one of the nearby restaurants for a delicious seaside dinner?
After your first Azorean breakfast, you'll head off by minibus for a fascinating day tour of Faial Island. Your guide will take you to the volcanic Caldeira, an immense crater where you can look out to the ocean and admire the neighbouring Pico Island.
You'll also visit the volcano of Capelinhos on the tip of the Capelo peninsula, the famous Ponta dos Capelinhos lighthouse and see the newest section of Faial Island, whose dark, rocky terrain was formed in 1957 during an eruption. There'll be time to visit the volcano information centre to learn more about these intriguing landscapes.
After breakfast, you'll take a ferry ride to São Jorge via Pico Island. The journey takes around two hours in total. Have your cameras at the ready for snapshots of the Atlantic as you make your way across.
You'll check in at Hotel São Jorge Garden, where your room will have a balcony, overlooking the hotel garden and the Atlantic waters.
Then it's time for the day's activities. You can abseil down waterfalls and slide along streams during a canyoning session, or you might choose to take some of the hiking trails in the area, enjoying all the verdant scenery this island has to offer. All these optional activities can be booked in advance.
After breakfast you'll embark on an island tour, visiting several of São Jorge most famous sites.
Marvel at the local handicrafts in Ribeira do Nabo before continuing to the welcoming local villages of Urzelina and Manadas. You'll stop at the eighteenth-century Santa Barbara Church before recharging with lunch in a Calheta village restaurant.
You'll then spend the afternoon exploring the pretty parish of Ribeira Seca and the coffee plantation of Fajã dos Vimes and heading up to the viewpoints of Fajã dos Cubres and Fajã do Ouvidor.
Finally, you'll have time to venture into the Sete Fontes Forest Park with its splendid natural sights.
Today you'll have two excursions to choose from as you explore the Caldeira do Santo Cristo, a stunning area offering spectacular coastal views and exotic flora and fauna.
The first option is a truly rewarding 10km walk. The walk begins at a height of 700m on the Serra do Topo hillside. The route is initially steep as you descend (so this is best suited to regular walkers) but the views are well worth it.
When you reach the Caldeira do Santo Cristo you can take a dip in the lagoon and enjoy a picnic lunch. The lagoon is formed by a natural sea wall of volcanic rock. From here it's a further 4km to Fajã dos Cubres, where the walk ends.
Option two is a relaxed walk from Fajã dos Cubres to Caldeira do Santo Cristo which is much flatter and covers a total of 8km. Lunch and swimming at the Caldeira are both included.
After breakfast, you will be taken to the harbour for the ferry to Pico Island, once again being treated to beautiful views over the water. The ferry ride will take about one hour and twenty minutes in total, after which you'll be transferred to your hotel, Hotel Caravelas, where you'll have time to check in and settle into your room.
You'll have a balcony with either an ocean or a mountain view, where you can relax with a drink before another busy day tomorrow.
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll set off to explore the island. Your tour will take you to the island's central plateau, where you will experience beautiful views of the ocean and discover the volcanic origins of the island.
What was once a hostile volcanic hotspot is now a celebration of biodiversity, with hundreds of native plant species now making it their home.
Following a picnic lunch, the adventure continues with a guided tour of Portugal's longest lava tube, Gruta das Torres, which can be explored on foot. Torches and helmets are provided during your visit to this geological wonder.
Today you'll have a free day to spend exploring the Azores with more exciting optional activities. The archipelago is internationally famed as a site for whales and dolphins, and no visit to this part of the world is complete without a trip to spot them in the wild.
Try a stunning whale and dolphin watching tour and feel the thrill of seeing these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Even better, you can book to swim with dolphins to get an even closer look at these intelligent creatures.
Today you'll check out of Hotel Caravelas and catch the ferry back to Faial. This ferry ride makes a brilliant vantage point to admire the islands from the water.
Once back on land, you'll check back into Hotel do Canal and have the rest of the day free to explore the island independently or simply relax at the hotel.
After breakfast you will have the day free to spend as you wish. You might like to explore more of Horta, or simply unwind in the hotel Jacuzzi.
Better still, you can continue your adventures on Faial by booking an optional half-day or a full day hike on one of the island's scenic routes. You can return to the Caldeira and walk around its rim or follow the old Levada aqueduct system ringed by greenery.
After one last Azorean breakfast, it's time to transfer to the airport for your journey home.
Based in the city of Horta on the island of Faial, Hotel do Canal gazes over bay waters, with the coast of Pico Island and its grand mountain filling the background. This four-star accommodation has rooms with stylish red and wooden interiors. It also boasts excellent fitness and wellbeing facilities.
Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of The Artisan Travel Company.
To view Artisan Travel’s supplier’s terms and conditions click here.