Amazing Azores – A Paradise on Earth
Discover the hidden secrets of this enchanting San Miguel island, where lush green landscapes seamlessly blend with the azure waters of the Atlantic.
São Miguel offers an extraordinary mix of natural splendour and rich heritage, inviting you to explore its scenic wonders and cultural marvels.
Wander through verdant valleys, volcanic craters, and pristine lakes, or relax along the island’s stunning coastlines. As you delve deeper, discover its vibrant traditions and charming villages .
São Miguel still retains that unique charm of yesteryear, when life passed serenely and unhurriedly.
It really is amazing paradise-.an unforgettable experience.
Join us in this amazing place – and no sole occupancy supplement – the price we show here is the price you pay.
What's Included
The price shown here excludes flights but there is no sole occupancy supplement to add.
What you get on a Secret Hills Solos Guided Walking Holiday
- You buy your own flights- we can assist with up to date information.
- Transfer from airport to hotel and return
- Accommodation- ENSUITE ROOMS, including breakfast
- A packed lunch
- Guided walking
- Any transport needed on the walks
- The services of a Secret Hills tour guide
- Individual attention
- Our administration and management service
- Sole occupancy – the price shown here is the price you pay – no additional single supplement
What’s not included
- Flights to San Miguel
- Evening dinner
- Entries to museums
- Any drinks you have in the hotel and out on the walks
Additional days
We can arrange extra days at the end of your holiday/ coming out earlier.
Holiday highlights
- the sun at the start of our winter
- walking in superb scenery in the island of San Miguel- a paradise on earth
- Hiking through lush Azorean vegetation, bubbling solfataras and crater lakes
- local Azores cuisine
- opportunity for swims from beaches.
- NO SOLE OCCUPANCY SUPPLEMENT
- our relaxed, social approach
- experienced and knowledgeable guides
Hotel and Meals
We stay in the main town of San Miguel – Port Delgada.
The hotel we use is the Alcides – https://alcides.pt/
The hotel is a comfortable base for our holidays close to cafes, bakeries.
AND NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ADDED – THE PRICE WE SHOW HERE IS THE PRICE YOU PAY
Staff are friendly, the ensuite rooms are comfortable and there is no sole occupancy charge.
Free WIFI and cable television.
The rooms enhance your stay in the Azores.
We have chosen a locally run hotel, reasonably priced, as against a larger, more touristy hotel. This choice is also to contain the overall price of the holiday.
Breakfast is taken in the hotels dining room.
We eat evening dinner in the restaurants of Port Delgada – a large choice and you are free to choose both your choice, the price bracket, the number of course etc.
Our colleague Honorio, who knows the island very well, will recommend where to go.
Itinerary
We arrive on the 24 October and arrive at to our hotel before our introductory evening dinner.
After settling in to the hotel, we explore Ponta Delgada, its busy streets, , market and maybe have a coffee in one of the shaded squares.
Before dinner, we will explain the walks, and all the arrangements needed to make the holiday a complete success.
On each day we will take transport to the walks start and from the walks finish.
We then walk in the beautiful Azores countryside for three days, take one day off to explore and then walk two more days.
On October 31, we transfer you to the airport for departure back to the UK.
Your walks leaders and Azores guides – Honorio Texieira and his colleagues, our guides from Madeira, who spend half of their working year guiding in the Azores, will lead this holiday
The walks we choose from
Discover the largest island of the Azores archipelago, São Miguel Island. A small natural jewel to discover for the richness and diversity of the nature that covers it. To discover the so-called “Green Island”, we will every day meet its glorious nature.
Hiking through lush Azorean vegetation, bubbling solfataras and crater lakes. The discovery of the only tea plantations in Europe and the unforgettable experience of an outing at sea to observe whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. All this embellished with swims from the beautiful black sand beaches and relaxing moments in the warm natural waters of the Furnas Valley
Day 1: Arrival in São Miguel – Ponta Delgada
Reception at the airport and transfer to your accommodation.
Day 2: Furnas
Furnas is located inside a volcano in the center of São Miguel Island. We will walk around the Furnas Lake, where steaming and bubbling Caldeiras can be observed. We end the walk with a swim in the warm waters. (Visit Terra Nostra Park known for its two centuries old trees.)
– Elevation gain: 100meters
– Elevation loss: 150 meters
– Hiking time: 5 hours
Day 3: Fabrica de Chá Porto Formoso – Salto do Cabrito
We travel in the morning, to the north of the island along the way, we stop in Porto Formoso to visit a “Casa de Chá,” the only place in Europe where the camellia that produces tea is grown and processed.
After the visit we continue towards Ribeira Grande where a circular hike in the Caldeiras region awaits us.
Once the hike is complete, we head to Ponta Delgada.
– Elevation gain: 80 meters
– Elevation loss: 80 meters
– Hiking time: 3.5 hours
Day 4: Lagoa de Fogo to Ribeira da Praia
We start with a climb through a forest of eucalyptus, pittosporum and acacias and follow a stream before reaching the shore of Lagoa do Fogo. Our hike offers us superb views of the southern coast of São Miguel, Vila Franca do Campo, its islet and the Ribeira da Praia. Note that this course is carried out entirely in an area classified as Natural Reserve. It is everyone’s responsibility to contribute to its protection and to guarantee its biodiversity by conserving this natural habitat.
– Elevation gain 500 meters
– Elevation loss: 500 meters
– Hiking time: 5 hours
Day 5: Lagoa das Sete Cidades
Today we hike in direction of Lagoa das Sete Cidades, to discover one of the most beautiful caldeiras of the Azores. Two lakes (Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde) are nestled in the huge crater of this volcano, offering an impressing and surprising landscape.
– Elevation gain: 50 meters
– Elevation loss: 100 meters
– Hiking time: 5 hours
Day 6: Ponta Delgada to Lagoa do Canário and Gruta do Carvão
Today we hike in to Serra Devassa, an area with the largest number of lagoons of São Miguel Island. In addition to Lagoa do Canário, you can discover Lagoa das Éguas, Lagoa Rasa and Lagoa do Carvão, among others. This fantastic walk around volcanic lakes along a ridge is sometimes accompanied by fog which gives it a special atmosphere.
In the afternoon visit Gruta do Carvão, an ancient lava tube.
– Elevation gain: 250 meters
– Elevation loss: 250 meters
– Hiking time: 3.5 hours
Day 7: Whale watching, Afternoon free to visit Ponta Delgada
In the morning you go out into the sea to watch whales and other species of cetaceans. This is an opportunity to see some of the 27 species of marine mammals found in the Azores and a great way to discover the impressive colony of dolphins and whales that live in mid-Atlantic waters.
In the afternoon free time to visit the city, its market, gardens…
Day 8: Departure:
Transfer to the airport.
Grades of walking
Great care has been taken selecting our routes to ensure our guests enjoyment and safety. However, due to the nature of the mountainous and volcanic terrain there will be some steep climbs and descents so a good level of walking fitness is strongly recommended, this will greatly enhance the enjoyment of this walking holiday (a suggested kit list will be issued).
Overall we rate the walking as moderate,
On good paths, we stop often – taking on water is obligatory, and not every day will be the same – we may take transport higher up, and walk quite a bit of the walk on a reasonably level terrain, then descend.
On San Miguel some walks will be on a very open landscape with little shade – and the sun can be pretty hot during the middle part of the day. Make sure your head and shoulders covering protects well, and of course making sure you hydrate throughout the walk is paramount. Sun protection cream is a must. We do not want any one with heatstroke so prepare well beforehand.
You need good walking footwear, preferably waterproof walking boots with good soles for protection. You may find that walking poles will aid your enjoyment of this land.
How to Book
Location
A vibrant garden in the middle of the Atlantic.
It is no coincidence that the island of São Miguel in the Azores archipelago is also known by the nickname “Green Island“. The island is the largest and most populated of the entire archipelago, and here also resides the Presidency of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
Sao Miguel has about 150 thousand inhabitants, of which 50,000 reside in Ponta Delgada, the largest city of the Azores.
The scenery that São Miguel offers, so diverse, is a pleasant awakening for visitors, thanks to the beautiful lakes, sandy beaches, hills, high mountains, green plains and blue ocean. São Miguel still retains that unique charm of yesteryear, when life passed serenely and unhurriedly. The island is easily accessible thanks to good air connections, and there are many things to do and see, starting with some truly breathtaking volcanic landscapes. – https://www.portugal.net/en/azores/sao-miguel/
Sao Miguel has beaches of surprising beauty, offering some of the best conditions in the world for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. The water temperature is mild throughout the year thanks to the action of the Gulf Stream. Sao Miguel’s beaches, like pretty much all of the Azores’ beaches, are mostly dark sand, due to their volcanic origin, and rocky.
Hiking on Sao Miguel is full of volcanic craters, lagoons, small rivers and waterfalls that are only accessible on foot. There are at least 20 official trails on the island that cover all types of landscapes. All of them are worth walking.
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