2-week discovery trip to paradise (with guesthouses)

In the morning return of the rental car at the port in Velas and ferry trip to the island of Pico (ferry trip takes about 50 minutes up to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the port on Pico). At the ferry terminal on Pico you’ll receive your new rental car. Drive to your accommodation, which is beautifully located on the edge of the main town of Madalena. A drive up to the highlands of the island is recommendable. Take your time to explore the plateau, enjoy bizarre landscapes and make a detour to the Lagoa do Capitão, the "captain's lake".
4 nights including breakfast, guest house in Madalena

Enjoy your days on the second largest island of the Azores archipelago. The island is also called "Ilha Negra", the black island, due to its many black lava rocks. Pico’s natural landscape is very different from the other islands. With your rental car, you can flexibly organize your days according to your mood. In addition to the recommendations below, the island of Pico offers beautiful natural ocean swimming pools, which provide great pleasure in the summer months. Snorkeling is also very recommendable; right by the coast you can marvel at the diversity of marine life. Only sandy beaches are almost not existent on the island...

Recommendations for your stay on Pico:
The museums on the island are absolutely worth a visit: The Wine Museum, housed in an old Carmelite Convent in the main town of Madalena, gives information on the history of the cultivation and production of wine. In the convent’s garden there is the largest dragon tree colony of Macaronesia. Some of the trees are between 500 and 800 years old. On the north coast of the island, in São Roque, there is a former whale-processing factory, now converted into a museum. And on the south coast of Pico, in Lajes, there is a whaler’s museum that provides interesting information about the history of whaling on the island.
Lajido: a walk through the former wine production village makes you realize that you are in the heart of the wine-growing area. The play of colors of the grey-black lava stone walls, the green vines and fig trees, as well as the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean is very impressive. It’s easy to understand why UNESCO has classified this area as a World Heritage Site; some elements of the 18th century, which was the peak of Pico's wine-growing era, are still visible.
Gruta das Torres: it’s the longest lava tube in Portugal and one of the longest ones in Europe. The cave is located south of Madalena near Criação Velha. A guided tour through the cave gives interesting insights into Azorean volcanism and the emergence of the islands. Equipped with a helmet and flashlight, you can marvel at the beautiful shapes several lava flows have created. Pico’s fantastic hiking trails invite walkers to explore the island’s beautiful unspoiled nature. The days of your visit will pass quickly...
One of the most impressive hikes is the climb of the Pico Mountain; with its 2.351 m the highest mountain in Portugal. The challenging hike starts at the foot of the mountain in the highlands of the island. After an arduous climb, which takes about 3.5 hours (about 1,100 meters in altitude), you will be rewarded with a magnificent view. With good visibility you can see all islands of the central group. The descent, after, is no less laborious. In good physical condition, the climb of the Pico Mountain is a highlight of any Azores holiday.

Contact us for more information; you can climb the mountain by yourself, or book a package with us that includes: English speaking licensed mountain guide, admission, insurance, lunch box and transfer from/to accommodation...

A holiday in the Azores is, in some ways, “incomplete” without a trip to the world of giant marine mammals. They pass the Azores on their migration routes and they like to take a (long) break in the Azores, due to the abundance of fish. The most common whale is the sperm whale. Like other whale and dolphin species, the sperm whale is native to the area and lives all year round in the waters around the Azores. A male sperm whale grows up to 20 meters long. It’s very likely to get to see dolphins, who like to accompany the excursion boats and play with the waves those create. Commercial whaling on the islands came to an end at the beginning of the 1980s. Today, fortunately everything "only" revolves around observing the giants of the oceans. The half-day excursion takes place from/to Lajes on the south coast of Pico.

Drive to the ferry port in Madalena, return of the rental car and ferry trip to the neighboring island of Faial. The ferry trip only takes about 30 minutes. You’ll receive your new rental car directly at the ferry port in Horta, the main town of Faial. It’s only a short drive to your accommodation, centrally located in the main town of Horta. Explore the town of Horta with its open and cosmopolitan atmosphere. The heart of the town is the marina, which is frequented by sailors from all over the world. There are many unique and colorful paintings of the sailors on the harbor walls. Right at the marina there is the "Peter Café Sport", probably the most famous bar in the Atlantic, and far more than just a meeting place for sailors from all over the world. A visit is undoubtedly worthwhile.
2 nights including breakfast, 4 star hotel in Horta

After a leisurely breakfast, head to Capelinhos, the site where the volcanic eruption of 1957/58 took place. Even today, the bizarre lunar landscape and the old lighthouse, which has been dug up again from the second floor, are reminiscent of that time. A visit of the impressive underground volcano museum, which includes an ascent of the restored lighthouse, provides a lot of information about volcanism in general and about Faial in particular. The lighthouse and other viewpoints around it provide spectacular views of the New Land. A walk on the grounds of Capelinhos, paved with dark ashes, is worthwhile. Also highly recommendable is a visit of the large Caldeira, an impressive collapsed crater, situated in the center of the island. Its highest spot has an altitude of about 1,000 meters. The collapsed crater is one of the most imposing craters of the Azores, with a diameter of about 1.4 km, and with almost vertical walls. We recommend a circular walk along the crater (approx. 3 hour walk), which starts and ends at the parking lot. When the view is clear, it provides fascinating views. Don’t forget to explore the world-famous sailing destination Horta with its marina.

Drive back to the airport; return of the rental car and flight back to São Miguel. Upon arrival taxi-transfer by your own to Ponta Delgada (taxis are available at the airport). Your guest house is located in the heart of the historic old town. Enjoy the last hours of your vacation with a nice Azorean dinner and a stroll along the marina.
1 night including breakfast, guest house in Ponta Delgada
There is also the possibility to book international flights from Faial (via Lisbon). In this case, you would not go back to São Miguel (the starting point of your journey on the islands); in exchange, you would stay a third night on Faial and fly home from there.

It's time to say goodbye to the Azores. Transfer to the airport by yourself and trip back home.