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The Charm of the Azores 2690

Walking the Azores Beyond the Pillars of Hercules.

An island world awaits on this walking holiday in the Azores where you become part of the community rather than just a visitor. You will experience leisurely walks, exploring villages, visiting churches and wandering through the attractive land and seascapes.

An ideal region for walking, the Azores comprises nine islands; some volcanic, some flat and some green. Far out in the Atlantic, some 800 miles off the coast of Portugal, fortunately they have not been sullied by mass tourism and their beauty remains unspoilt. Our walking holiday in the Azores takes us to four of the islands, and gives us time to walk amongst the hills exploring towns and villages in four different environments.

We fly to Ponta Delgada on São Miguel, the largest of the Azores, stretching some 40 miles by 10 miles. It is largely comprised of two volcanic 'massifs', separated by a central ridge, with the highest point at around 1080m. The coastline is dotted with settlements and the main town of Ponta Delgada has many points of interest. From here we are ideally situated to explore the island's magnificent scenery.

Leaving São Miguel, our walking holiday in the Azores takes us west as we fly to São Jorge. We spend three days walking and sightseeing on this quiet, picturesque island with its tree covered cliffs, which is known for its cheese and wine production.

Leaving Sao Jorge behind us we take the ferry to the Island of Pico where we stay in Madalena for four nights. The volcanic peak reaches to around 2351m and a dramatic landscape of secondary volcanic cones with tall cliffs runs to the sea. There are a number of villages and settlements but it is the green pastures, maize fields, orchards and, what the locals refer to as 'mysteries', which provide the charm. After a delightful boat trip we also take a tour walking the Azores island of Faial.

Finally we fly from Pico back to São Miguel; also known as the Green Island and spend our last three nights in the historic part of Ponta Delgada, giving us the opportunity to see some of the interesting attractions and the opportunity for more walking. The Azores spectacular volcanic landscape remains timeless - a unique destination just waiting to be explored.

Meals: Breakfasts will generally be taken at the hotels and dinners at local restaurants.

Accommodation: We stay in good tourist class hotels.

Travel: By road, ferry and air.

Overnight Summary: São Miguel (three), São Jorge (four), Pico (four) and return to São Miguel (three).

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The Charm of the Azores 2690

Walking the Azores Beyond the Pillars of Hercules.