Capelinhos Volcano 3 - Faial Island - edited Sete Cidades Lake 1 - São Miguel Island - edited Angra do Heroísmo Bay 1 - Terceira Island Pico Mountain 3 - Pico Island Fogo Lake 1 - São Miguel Island Caldeira Velha 2 - São Miguel Island Grota do Inferno Viewpoint 1 - São Miguel Island Santiago & Sete Cidades Lakes - São Miguel Island Mosteiros  - São Miguel Island Gruta do Carvão  - São Miguel Island Furnas Hot Springs - São Miguel Island Furnas Cozido 1 - São Miguel Island - edited Furnas Cozido 2 - São Miguel Island Furnas Lake 1 - São Miguel Island Terra Nostra Thermal Pool 1 - São Miguel Island Terra Nostra Thermal Pool 2 - São Miguel Island Terra Nostra Garden 1 - São Miguel Island Terra Nostra Garden 2 - São Miguel Island Gorreana Tea Factory 1 - São Miguel Island Gorreana Tea Plantation - São Miguel Island Santa Iria Viewpoint - São Miguel Island Monte Brasil - Terceira Island Traditional Houses - Terceira Island Praia da Vitória City - Terceira Island Algar do Carvão 1 - Terceira Island Algar do Carvão 2 - Terceira Island Algar do Carvão 3 - Terceira Island Serra do Cume Viewpoint - Terceira Island Wine Museum - Terceira Island Biscoitos Natural Pools 1 - Terceira Island Biscoitos Natural Pools 2 - Terceira Island Horta Bay 1 - Faial Island Horta Bay 2 - Faial Island - edited Horta City & Porto Pim Bay - Faial Island - edited Horta Marina 1 - Faial Island - edited Peter Café Sport 1 - Faial Island Peter Café Sport 2 - Faial Island Caldeira Viewpoint - Faial Island Espalamaca Windmill - Faial Island - edited Pico Mountain - Faial Island Capelinhos Volcano 1 - Faial Island - edited Capelinhos Volcano 2 - Faial Island - edited Pico Mountain 1 - Pico Island São Roque do Pico - Pico Island - edited Cella Bar - Pico Island Whalers Museum - Pico Island Vineyards Landscape 1 - Pico Island Vineyards Landscape 2 - Pico Island Vineyards Landscape 3 - Pico Island

Beyond The Volcanoes Fly & Drive - São Miguel / Terceira / Pico / Faial - OPEI

Departures from September 27 2023 to December 21 2023

Embrace this opportunity to explore four of the most beautiful Azorean Islands behind the wheel! Drive from the breath-taking views of Sete Cidades idyllic crater lakes to the relaxing thermal waters of the mystical Furnas Valley on São Miguel Island. On Terceira Island visit the historical city centre of Angra do Heroísmo, UNESCO Heritage site, and descend the Algar do Carvão volcanic chimney. On Pico Island witness the highest Mountain of Portugal while wandering in the UNESCO Heritage site vineyards landscape and on Faial Island visit the world renown Hortas Marina and the most recent Azorean eruption site, Capelinhos Volcano. What are you waiting for?

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.



704.77 EUR
Check availability
10 Days • 9 Nights
Included / Not Included

Included

  • 9 nights bed & breakfast
  • Meet & greet at the airport of Ponta Delgada and assistance with car rental
  • Car rental Group B as per program description in the islands of São Miguel / Terceira / Pico / Faial:
    • Unlimited Kms
    • Insurance SCDW
    • Insurance TP
    • Insurance WWI
    • Additional driver
    • VAT & road service charge
    • Airport delivery & collection fees
    • Harbour delivery fee at the island of Faial
  • Boat tickets PIX/HOR
  • Flight ticket PDL/TER/PIX
    • Issuing of ticket 15 days prior to departure
    • Cancellation before departure: 50% refund
    • Cancellation after departure date non-refundable
    • Rerouting after departure: no refund unless due to death of passenger or family member
    • Voluntary routing changes after issuing ticket permitted to upgrade to normal fare
    • Change name after issuing ticket permitted with penalty
  • Symbolic contribution to social & environmental institutions: Rabo de Peixe Sabe Sonhar & Life Priolo: 1,00€

Not Included

  • Meals other than those mentioned on the program
  • Guide
  • Entrance fees
  • Upgrades to superior rooms
  • Supplements to reservations in hotels other than those mentioned in the program
  • Car rental extras not mentioned in the program (see Car Rental Details section)


Notes

Car delivery & check-in times may change from those mentioned in the program

Car Rental Details:
  • Car Rental Company: ILHA VERDE
  • Necessary documents: ID or Passport, driver licence and VISA or similar must be presented by clients at car rental
  • Age of the driver: minimum 18 and at least one year license
  • Young driver: drivers aged between 18 and 21 years inclusive: 2.89€ / per day (maximum 28.89€ per each rental)