Your Escape Details
5-Day nature lovers hiking on the beautiful island of São Miguel in the Azores. Rich in volcanic scenery, flora and marine life, this hiking trip will renew your energy by filling all your senses!
Our small group tours are specifically curated to bring you deeply into the destination. Food, drink, people, customs and soft adventure activities to get you close to the natural surroundings. Specifically on this trip you hike each day around volcanic craters, past waterfalls and through wetlands.
Our service is second to none, from your decision to join our tour, throughout the trip and when you get home, we will be there for you.
Each escape brings you experiences you wouldn’t find on your own.
Tour dates October 13-18, 2019
Escape With Us
Our escapes are unique in offering you an adventure filled itinerary with a local flavor. We work with local guides, planners and connections to make sure you do, see and even eat and drink things you may not have even thought of on your own.
Small Groups
We keep our groups small so we get to know each other and travel together, unified by the destination and our experiences. Often lifelong friendships are forged. If anything, our growing group of like minded travelers start traveling together on future trips. “Where should we go next?” is often the last question asked as we depart for home.
Are you traveling solo? It is our pleasure to welcome you to our small group. We will match you with another solo traveler of the same gender. If you wish, you may choose to pay a solo supplement to have your own room. Please check for availability.
For each trip, you will be invited to our Facebook group so you can chat with fellow travelers, dream about the upcoming trip together, maybe prepare together, hiking, practice a useful skill, etc. Usually, we also organize a get together about a month before the trip to share information, pass out travel documents, and ‘break the ice’ so when we embark on our trip we already know each other a bit. If you don’t live in the area, no worries, we will Skype you into the party and mail you your travel documents.
Why negotiate and plan yourself. Even the best guidebook can’t give you the freedom to embrace and immerse yourself in the destination. Enjoy the pleasure of travel without having to think about the details, leave the planning to us, your job is to fully embrace the journey without the hassles! We are so happy you are considering being our guest and can’t wait to deliver your fantastic experience!
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to the Green Island!
Welcome to the Green Island: Upon your arrival at Ponta Delgada International Airport you’ll be met by a driver and brought to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore the cobblestone streets of the Azores’ largest town. Relax on the areas volcanic black sand beaches, visit the local market, or visit the baroque lava stone church of Senhor Santo Cristo.
Day 2: Lagoa do Fogo
Lagoa do Fogo, locally known as the ‘Lake of Fire’ is a volcanic crater lake in the mountains of Sao Miguel. Hike down into the crater on dirt paths surrounded by woods of eucalyptus. Enjoy amazing views of the coastline and stop along the lake’s shore for a picnic lunch. Before returning to Ponta Degada, take a dip in the Caloura natural hot springs.
Day 3: Hike Faial da Terra
Start today’s hike from the parish of Faial da Terra, and rises up to the old, lost village of Sanguinho. Here you will find old building and traces of traditional farming, along with a panoramic view of the village below. The highlight of the day will be a stop at the magnificent Salto do Prego waterfall, famous for its fresh, glittering, crystalline water.
Day 4: Visit Sete Cidades
Today is a shorter hike to the Sete Cidades area of the western part of the island. Walk along beautiful trails at the top of a former volcanic crater and see the various lakes and wetlands that have formed in the valley below. The highlight of the trail is a stop at Mata do Canário, which is one of the most photographed parts of the island.
Day 5: Until Next Time
After breakfast you’ll have some time to shop for your souvenirs or simply relax with the locals at an oceanfront café before your transfer back to the Airport for your flight home.
Your Investment
Your Investment is $699 per person based on double occupancy. (we will match same gender roommates) If you want your own room, the supplement is just $200.
The deposit to hold your space is $250 per person. Final Payment is on July 15, 2019.
If you prefer to make payments, please contact us and we will arrange a plan that works.
Your Trip Includes
- Accommodations
- Breakfast
- Tours as listed in the itinerary
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Your Trip Does Not Include
- International flights (round trip out of Boston flights are pricing at $590 per person)
- Meals not listed in itinerary
- Travel insurance
- Optional tours
- Gratuities
How We Make Your Escape Awesome!
We are ready to answer your questions throughout the process via phone or email.
Once you sign up and pay your deposit:
- We will send you a link to your My Trips account. You can view your trip details any time from your PC or Mobile Phone.
- We will send you arrival and departure details so you can make your flight arrangements.
- We will email you your final payment reminder about 1 week before it is due.
- About two-three months before the trip we will send significant details like packing lists, further itinerary details, etc.
- One month before the trip we will mail you your travel documents (or pass them out at a gathering for those local).
Facebook Group
You will be invited to a private Facebook group where you can meet, virtually, your fellow travelers, discuss the trip, make any preparation plans together, and share your excitement.
Our groups are typically 10-15 travelers. We aren’t a ‘big bus’ tour and don’t want to be. We don’t just look out the window and drive by the sights. Typically, our tours are custom and private. The advantage is, we can say, ‘stop here, we want to see this’ and we can stop and explore, even if it isn’t in the plan. Yes, we have an itinerary, but we also feel it’s important to take advantage of unexpected moments that arise. We attract travelers who are flexible and adventurous. A bit of spontaneity is a good thing!
You should know, our travelers are like you, they don’t want a canned tour, they like a sense of freedom on their trip, they understand the value of flexibility in travel, and they love the idea of working with a planning team that understands and respects their travel values.
So, Is this Trip for You?
- You love traveling with like minded people and a tour company that is focused on traveling deeply into a destination, knowing how to read the group and make the best decisions for a perfect trip.
- Hiking is moderate, multiple hours, varied terrain.
- You find joy in trying new things, food, activities, etc.
- Plans are good, and important to a great trip, however, flexibility sometimes brings a deeper experience and it’s OK with you.
- You enjoy meeting and traveling with new people.
This Trip is Not for You If…
- Travel is stressful and sometimes you find yourself anxious and frustrated when things don’t go perfectly as planned.
- New things, new situations, aren’t really your thing.
- You are unsure that you physical conditioning is up to longer hikes.
- You don’t like trying unusual local foods.
- You feel uncomfortable and unsafe in places that are ‘foreign’ to Western culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often will I change accommodations during the trip?
You will stay in one hotel in Ponta Delgada the entire trip.
Can I extend my stay?
Absolutely, adding a pre or post stay always enhances a trip. You spent the money to get there, why not stay a while? We will be happy to help you make plans.
What airport do I fly into and out of?
You will fly round trip to Ponta Delgada.
What are VISA requirements for these countries?
There are no visa requirements for the Azores.
What type of currency is used in these countries?
The currency used in the Azores is the Euro.
Who do I contact for other questions and travel advice?
Call us at 860-779-6531 or send an email to lwhittemore@cruiseplanners.com
What is the age group of my potential fellow travelers?
Our guests typically range in age from 45-75. They tend to be of an age where they are either already retired and traveling is an objective for them, or are getting close. There are some tours that attract a younger group, sometimes adult children of a traveler in the group will join the tour.
Groups tend to be predominantly female, although we are wanting a good mix of men and woman, solo and couples traveling.
In any case, our travelers are in good health, active and adventurous.
I’m not a tour person, will this be too much of a standard tour for me?
No worries here, your fellow travelers feel exactly the same way and so do we, your tour curators. Of course there are some parts of our tours that are standard, we travel often by a van or motor coach, we eat together and do activities together. What makes us different, are two critical things, we don’t like traditional touring either, we work hard to be different. And two, you will always have the opportunity to choose. If you want to do something on your own or different than the group plan, you are welcome to do that.
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