Itinerary

• Day 1 - São Miguel
  Meet & greet at the airport for car rental assistance. Accommodation.
• Day 2 - São Miguel
  Drive to the Sete Cidades Massif, an area with a central volcanic crater and lake-filled caldera, with various cones, deposits of pumice, lava domes and maars. In the northeastern flank of this volcano the Mosteiros Graben. Visit Ferraria in the extreme southwest of the island with its thermal springs of volcanic origin and its Thermal SPA. On the return to Ponta Delgada visit the Gruta do Carvão, the longest lava tunnel of São Miguel Island that extends for 1912 metres. The caves age is comprehended in the gap between 5000 to 12000 years old, classified as a Regional Natural Monument. Located in a region geologically known as the Complexo Vulcânico dos Picos, an area of fissure volcanism composed of over 250 scoria cones and lava flows of basaltic nature.
• Day 3 - São Miguel
  Drive to the village of Lagoa to visit the OVGA (Volcanology Centre), the science centre for applied research and scientific dissemination in the field of volcanology, seismology and geothermal energy. Continue driving to Furnas, a village with a Volcano comprising two ancient calderas, occupied by the lake of Furnas. Try the traditional meal "cozido" cooked inside holes by the underground vapors of the volcano. Visit the fumaroles and the hot springs in the centre of the village. There is also the nice Terra Nostra botanical garden where one can have a swim on a large natural warm water swimming pool. On the way back to Ponta Delgada drive to the top of the mountain of Lagoa do Fogo, the central volcano on the island, for an amazing view. Stop for a swim at Caldeira Velha, a natural tepid water swimming pool.
• Day 4 - São Miguel/Terceira
  Car delivery at the airport. Flight to Terceira (45 minutes). Car collection at the airport. Accommodation. Drive to Angra do Heroismo, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a picture-book town of imposing townhouses and cobbled streets seemingly untouched by time. The best views of this once prosperous trading centre are from Monte Brasil across the harbour. Drive to Monte Brasil, an extinct volcano that emerged from the sea to join the city of Angra do Heroísmo. It is a protected landscape and the city's natural park.
• Day 5 - Terceira
  Drive to Serra do Cume, a viewpoint with a beautiful landscape, popularly called "Patchwork Quilt". Visit the Algar do Carvão, an ancient lava tube located in the centre of the island. Considered a geological Nature Reserve, it has an altitude of about 550 meters above sea level, with majestic stalactites and stalagmites and a pool of crystal-clear water. Visit the Natal Cave (10 minutes driving from Algar do Carvão), an extensive geologic formation composed by fluid lavas solidified that formed several tunnels, ramifications and stalactites.
• Day 6 - Terceira/Pico
  Car delivery at the airport. Flight to Pico (35 minutes). Car pick-up at the airport. Accommodation.
• Day 7- Pico
  Pico island is geologically the youngest island and its active volcano, with steep slopes and 2351m high, is the highest mountain in Portugal. Visit Gruta das Torres, located in Criação Velha. This Regional Natural Monument is a cave with volcanic origins, with about 5km extension, consisting in one of the biggest in the entire Archipelago. The main tunnel has about 4480 meters long, with heights that arise to 15 meters. In its interior it is possible to observe curious geological structures such as stalactites, lava stalagmites, lateral tiers and lava balls. Drive by Criação Velha and Santa Luzia for an impressive view over an extensive area with a notable pattern of linear walls called "currais" built by hand with volcanic stone to protect the thousands of vineyards from the wind and the seawater. Place classified by UNESCO as World Heritage. We suggest a stop at Adega da Buraca for a wine tasting and other local products.
• Day 8 - Pico/Faial
  PICO / FAIAL - Car delivery at the car rental office (5 minutes walking from the harbour). Boat trip to Faial Island. Car pick-up at the harbour. Accommodation. Visit the Cabeço Gordo Cauldron, located on the Capelo, marking the highest point in the Faial Island, with its attractive viewpoint situated at 1043 meters high above the sea level.
• Day 9 - Faial
  Drive to Capelinhos, inserted on the Capelo volcanic complex, this was the last volcano with eruption between 1957 and 1958. This landscape is different from all the rest of the Island and of the Archipelago, a strange arid and volcanic beauty. Visit the Capelinhos Lighthouse, one has an excellent panorama over all the volcano extension and its rare beauty. Here stands nowadays the Interpretation Centre that better explains this phenomenon and its history, housing a wide room that symbolizes a volcanic eruption.
• Day 10 - Faial
  Car delivery at the airport.