POST TOUR
                                                           Sunday June 12 till Friday June 17
                                                                   maximum 40 participants

                                                                 AZORES - SAO MIGUEL ISLAND
                                  

The Azores is one of two autonomous regions in Portugal along with Madeira, and comprises 9 volcanic islands. Its history is vague, but what historians can be sure of is that Europeans had knowledge of the islands according to a map from 1375, but they were not claimed or populated until 1427. There are carvings that may imply human presence as late as 2000 years ago, but this is hotly debated among historians. Nowadays, the islands are well-populated and thrive on tourism, which has been growing over the years. 
São Miguel Island, nicknamed "The Green Island" (Ilha Verde), is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese archipelago. The island covers 760 km2 and has around 140,000 inhabitants, with 45,000 people residing in Ponta Delgada, the archipelago's largest city.

We have set up a programme with friends living and working in the Azores for a personalised and exclusive discovery of the island from north to south and east to west
We will meet with key actors for farming, the environment, tourism and development. Descriptions of the estates below are limited - what is to be marvelled at is the landscape, abundant vegetation and flowers, colours, volcanic atmosphere, wild ocean and immersion in nature in its purest state.
It is something totally unique !


SUNDAY June 12, Ponta Delgada
 
04:30am Very early departure (!) from Convento do Espinheiro
Lisbon airport- flight for Sao Miguel (40 places booked on the flight)
Morning check in at hotel Grand Atlantico in Ponta Delgada
Free time and light lunch at the Marina or in town
 
03:00pm-07:00pm  Programme starts with a guided visit of Ponta Delgada
08:00pm Drink at the hotel
Presentation of the week programme
08:45pm Dinner
Stay at hotel Grand Atlantico 

MONDAY June 13- Whales and Lakes

Morning
08:30am Departure for the Whale and Dolphin Watching tour by Catamaran
Lunch at the local restaurant "Stage"
01:45pm Meet at the hotel and gather luggage
 
Afternoon
Trek to Lagao do Fogo,
Visit to Caldheira Velha and thermal baths,
Discover Gorreana Tea plantations with the owners.
 
07:00pm Check in at Terra Nostra Hotel in Furnas
08:30pm Dinner at Terra Nostra, "Casino"
Stay at Hotel Terra Nostra

TUESDAY June 14- Center and North-East

09:30am Start from the hotel to visit the Furnas Caldeiras area and the Furnas lake,
Visit the Terra Nostra botanical garden with a botanist,
Typicla "Cozido" Lunch at the hotel.
02:00pm Departure by bus to visit the north-east of the island and a LIFE project (Priolo)
 
05:30pm Back at hotel, time to enjoy a Thermal bath 
08:00pm Dinner in Ribeira Grande, Alabote Fish restaurant
Stay at Hotel Terra Nostra

WEDNESDAY June 15 - Farming in Azores
09:00am  Pick up from the hotel with luggage
Conference at the Azorean Farmers' Organization (AASM) and lunch organised in their restaurant where they serve  excellent meat. We will be invited to visit a farm as well.
05:00pm Check in at  Hotel Pedras do Mar

End afternoon
Transfer to Quinta do Pico da Cruz for a horse show and dinner
Stay at Hotel Pedras do Mar


THURSDAY June 16 - North east
8:30am Pick up from the hotel 
DAY tour at Sete Cidades including a hiking tour in the morningLunch at a local restaurant, "Lagao Azul"Kayaking on the lake or explore the road to Nordeste and view points
04:00pm Back to hotel

End afternoon
Visit a private estate with a wonderful garden sustainably managed and owned by friends in Caloura
Dinner

Stay at Hotel Pedras do Mar

FRIDAY June 17- North to South 
Free morning, walk on the cliffs nearby the hotel or Santa Barbara beach
Possibility to visit Ribeira Grande and a liquor factory
01:00pm Light buffet lunch at the hotel
02:30pm Departure with luggage
Visit Ceramica Vieira factory and the Arruda pineapple plantation
05:00pm Drop off at Ponta Delgada airport
 
We will arrive in Lisbon at 10:30pm or you can choose to book a flight (direct or with stop-over) to your  destination yourself. 
Stay in Lisbon is with your own reservation.

A second option is to fly to  the "Triangle Islands" 
The Triangle: Faial in the foreground, Pico in the background and to the right, and to the left, stretching between the sea and the sky... São Jorge. None of these three islands is similar to the others, and each has its own unique character, but they are all part of the whole. Their closeness and the numerous maritime links between them, makes this "Triangle" a fascinating, surprising destination.


Dress code: casually smart for dinners, sport for the day, good shoes and raincoat 
Remember to bring binoculars and camera to observe/photograph the whales, rare trees and plants, volcanic activity, blue skies and the changing  lights on the ocean.....