Luxury Escape to Azores: Adventure Tour of Portugal's Islands

Set among the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores are a world apart even though they are considered the territory of mainland Portugal. The island of St. Michael is the largest of the Azores Archipelago and has long entertained visitors with its off-the-beaten-path charm and subtropical climate. Upon your arrival to the island's main airport, a transfer will convey you swiftly to your conveniently located accommodation. Here you can enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.

The lush landscape of St. Michaels will be yours to explore today when you embark on a thrilling bicycle tour of the rolling hills and lush woodlands. As you feel the wind through your hair, a private guide will happily give you an orientation to the history of the island as well as the colorful flora and fauna you will pass. By the time you return to your luxurious accommodation, you will have worked up an appetite that you can banish at a number of nearby restaurants and delicious eateries.

It may be hard to believe that the coastal water of the Azores is teeming with as much life as you saw the day before on your two-wheeled excursion across the island. Today, you will enjoy an up-close and personal look at this wildlife during a scenic boat tour that will depart from the main marina and take you out in search of whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and other species that call this island paradise home.

Shifting tectonic plates are the origin of the Azores, and this volcanic past is still well-displayed throughout the island's varied topography and stunning terrain features. From a lake full of calderas to rugged mountains ridges, the landscape around Ponta Delgada is an excellent playground for those with the right equipment. Today, you will have just the right equipment during a 4WD off-roading exploration of the island and its many scenic areas. With a tour guide offering their recommendations for destinations, there will be no such thing as a wrong turn on this tour.

In the Azores, the opportunities for outdoor recreation are endless. Today, you will be able to use the active sport of canyoning to see a side of the island that is missed by those who never leave the beach. After a short transfer and hike that places you deep in the lush heart of the island, you will begin your descent of a mountaintop stream with a guide who will assist you in the thrilling abseiling and jumping that is required to make your way through the cataracts. By the day's end, you will happily surrender to the luxurious embrace of your accommodation.

For your final full day in the Azores, a special set of activities will ensure your tour ends with a bang. After enjoying an exclusive surprise activity in the morning, you will make your way down the vibrant waterfront to board a sailboat that will carry you out to sea to take in a stunning and mesmeric sunset. As you watch the sun dip below the horizon, you will be provided with light refreshments and delicious Azorian wine to ensure that your final evening is one to remember.

With luxury and exclusive activities the norm, this exploration of the Azores will leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and shocked that so much beauty can be contained in such a small corner of the world. After enjoying a final breakfast from the resort staff, a private transfer will arrive and whisk you smoothly out of Ponta Delgada to the nearby airport. Here, your connecting flight will be waiting to take you back to the mainland. Although you are departing today, you can rest assured that there still remains much to be seen in the colorful destination.