8 day itinerary
June 4, 2019:Overnight Flight
Depart from Kansas City
June 5, 2019:Ponta Delgada
We will meet our tour manager and transfer to the hotel. Ponta Delgada is the largest city in the Azores' archipelago - nine islands formed by volcanic activity. Azores is filled with dry calderas, fumaroles, crater lakes, thermal springs and caves. For the rest of the day, we will explore the city and visit the Carlos Machado Museum, which is full of history of this former fishing village.
June 6, 2019:Ponta Delgada
We will depart to Furnas, a town in the Furnas Valley and a hotbed for thermal mineral springs and volcanic activity. We will visit the Terra Nostra botanical gardens, which is named one of the most beautiful gardens in Europe featuring thermal swimming pools that we will have a chance to swim in and over 2,000 species of trees. We will then visit the Furnas Lake Interpretation Centre and the Furnas Monitoring and Research Centre (CMIF), located on the lakeshore. We will learn about restoring the lake's water quality and ecosystem and why its necessary. Then we will head to the island's north coast for a visit to the Cha Gorreana tea plantation, Europe's oldest tea-producing compact. On the way back to the hotel, we will stop at Ribiera Grande, a picturesque little coastal town that stands on a volcanic plateau.
June 7, 2019:Ponta Delgada
Taking the island's mountain road, we will make our way to Lagoa das Sete Cidades, two lakes linked by a narrow straight that sit in the crater of a dormant volcano. We will then descend into the rrater and take a walk along the shores of these magnificent natural wonders. WE will then go to Ferraria, known for its thermal waters and magnificent volcanic cliffs. After that, we will go back to Ponta Delgada to visit Gruta do Carvao, San Miguel's longest lava tube.
June 8, 2019:Ponta Delgada
We will be learning about how the island and it's organizations manage and monitor critical seismic information before continuing by mountain road to Logoa do Fogo, a rater lake in the center of the island at an altitude of about 3,000 feet. After that, we will visit Caldeira Velha, which features a waterfall of warm, iron-rich volcanic water and many thermal pools. For our last stop, we will hit the Ribeira Grande hot springs, followed by a stop in Ribeira Grande, famous for its buildings made from basalt. Then we will head back to Ponta Delgada for dinner followed by a night photography workshop.
June 9, 2019:Ponta Delgada
To start the day we will take a walk to the marina for a three whale-and dolphin-watching trip lead by biologists, skipper and lookouts on a a catamaran. In the afternoon, we will enjoy free time to explore more of Ponta Delgada before returning to the hotel.
June 10, 2019:Ponta Delgada
We will explore the eastern part of San Miguel Island. After a stop at the dramatic Santa Iria scenic overlook, we will head for Riberia dos Calderioes, a portected park noted for its abundant Mafcaronesian flora and waterfalls. We will then continue on to the village of Nodeste, where we will be able to explore. On our way back to Ponta, we will stop by a small village named Povoacao, then return to the hotel.
June 11, 2019:Departure
After a morning of leisure time, we will enjoy lunch before transferring to the airport for our departure to the USA.
We will also be adding creative activities throughout the trip, along with artistic endeavors.