Beyond The Volcano Fly Drive

Fly to Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island and pick up your hire car. Drive to São Miguel Park Hotel and check in for 3 nights. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

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After breakfast, drive to the Sete Cidades Massif, an extinct volcano crater of 25 square miles, within two emerald green and aquamarine lakes. Visit Ferraria in the south west of the island with its thermal springs and spa. On the return to Ponta Delgada visit the Gruta do Carvão, the longest lava tunnel in Sao Miguel, measuring 1912 metres. The cave’s age is between 5000 and 12000 years old, and is classified as a Regional Natural Monument. (B)

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Drive to the village of Lagoa and visit the OVGA (Volcanology Centre) to learn about the Azores' volcanic history, before visiting an actual volcano at Furnas, a village with two ancient calderas, and the beautiful Lagoa das Furnas Lake. You'll have the opportunity to try a traditional meal called cozido, which is slow cooked using the underground vapours of the volcano. After lucnh, you can visit the fumerols and the hot springs in the centre of the village, or enjoy a stroll through the botanical garden of Terra Nostra with its 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. (B)

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After breakfast take a short flight to Terceira Island where you'll spend the next two nights at Hotel Praia Marina. Check in for 2 nights. Why not drive to Angra do Heroismo, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a beautiful town seemingly untouched by time. It has a wealth of former palaces and noble houses with a few old buildings that have been left to decay, making the restored ones appear even more pristine. Stroll through its cobbled streets and enjoy the view of Monte Brasil across the harbour. Perhaps then drive to Monte Brasil and marvel at the extinct volcano that emerged naturally from the sea and joined the city of Angra do Heroísmo. (B)

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The landscape on Terceira is parcelled up in to tiny pastures enclosed with volcanic dry stone walls. Small scale dairy farming is the norm with portable milking machines and old fashioned churns. Competition is strong between villages and within villages for the best painted house - not only white washed but with perfectly edged window frames highlighted in contrasting colours. There are gaudily painted chapels with colours more reminiscent of India than Europe.

We suggest a drive to Serra do Cume, an amazing viewpoint from which to take in the landscape, locally known as the ‘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 metres above sea level, with majestic stalactites and stalagmites and a pool of crystal clear water. Then, visit the Natal Cave, just 10 minutes drive away. This is an extensive geological formation composed by fluid lavas solidified that formed several tunnels, ramifications and stalactites. (B)

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After breakfast, drive to the airport for your flight to Pico. On arrival, collect your car and drive to Hotel Caravelas. Check in for 2 nights. (B)

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Today, explore the amazing sites of beautiful Pico island. Take a drive through Criação Velha and Santa Luzia for an impressive view across the island which shows an extensive area with a notable pattern of linear walls called currais, which were hand built with volcanic stone to protect the vineyards from the salty winds. These walls have led UNESCO to classify the area as World Heritage. Brought in by a monk in the 16th century, wine production has remained the chief source of income on Pico.

Consider a stop at Adega da Buraca where you can do a wine tasting and sample other local products like a delicious blackberry liqueur. Here, the struggle of man against the elements is vividly displayed at the wine museum. Visit Grutadas Torres in Criação Velha and marvel at the 5 kilometre long cave with its enormous stalactites and lava stalagmites. Leave some time for the Whaling Museum, located in a former whale processing works. Whaling was another source of income on Pico until 1987.  (B)

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In the morning, board the ferry to Faial Island where you will stay for your next two nights. Why not spend some time sipping an alcoholic beverage in Peter’s Café Sport on the harbour - a favourite haunt of tourists and sailors alike. Faial’s safe harbour offers sanctuary to yachts from the Atlantic waves and is a very popular stop off point for yachts crossing the Atlantic. Leisure and business have thrived on this constant stream of global visitors and legends have grown up such as the mural paintings around the harbour to ensure safe onward passage. You could also visit the Cabeço Gordo Cauldron, which marks the highest point of the island and offers awe inspiring views of Faial and the ocean. (B)

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Drive to Capelinhos, which, in 1957, was the last volcano in the Azores. Visit the Capelinhos Lighthouse which offers excellent panoramic views of the volcano extension and its rare beauty. It was here that the eruption started and the scenery provides a stark reminder of how the earth is constantly evolving. Today, the former living quarters of the lighthouse have been turned into the Interpretation Centre which provides detail about the eruption and the history of volcanic activity on Faial. (B)

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After breakfast, drop off the car at the airport before your flight back to the UK. (B)