Azores And Madeira

Physical Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. The entire tour’s itinerary Involves 2 — 5 miles of hiking with an elevation gain of up to 800'. These 2-3 hikes may opt out with a more accessible alternative (we can split our group into two and offer easier hikes. 

Weather: The weather in the Azores and Madeira is mild and pleasant, with the possibility of rain and scattered thunderstorms. Participants must be prepared for a temperature range from 60°F to 80°F and rainy and windy weather conditions.

Transportation: is included in the Tour price except for all flights and transfers to/from the airports. 

Lodging: Three- to four-star hotels (double occupancy) are included. In São Miguel, we will stay in a four-star luxury hotel with private after-hours access to the botanical garden and hot spring. In Madeira, we booked a four-star hotel in Funchal, within walking distance of the beach and historical city center. 

For single-occupancy lodging, please send us a request ASAP

Meals are not included. We can find some restaurants in our hotels or nearby.

Day 1. February 15, Saturday

When everyone arrives in São Miguel, they self-transfer to our hotel, Terra Nostra Garden Hotel (Rua Padre Jose Jacinto Botelho, 5, Furnas, Povoacao, Azores, 9675-061). The hotel provides an airport transfer for a reasonable fee. 

We will try our best to pick up every participant at the airport, but we can’t guarantee that.

On this day, we will walk in the garden, take a bath in a hot spring, and have dinner together. 

Day 2. February 16, Sunday

This morning, we will start next to the charming Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias.

After breakfast, we will have time to visit the hot springs before the park opens. 

Later, we will visit the geothermal area nearby and see how local restaurants cook their food strain in geysers!   

Also, we will hike near some beautiful waterfalls and cascades in a private park with many photo ops. After that, we will get a chance to take a hot bath in a barrel in the middle of the charming garden (take a look at the picture)

We will get to the top of the hill for sunset with a breathtaking Furnas view. 

But our first day is not over yet! This evening, we will visit one of the best hot springs in the area — Poça da Dona Beija, where we will enjoy hot water for about an hour in one of six hot spring pools. 

Day 3. February 17, Monday

For sunrise, we will drive toward the island’s eastern point — to Farol do Arnel, a charming lighthouse on the eastern tip of São Miguel Island. Perched on a cliff, it offers stunning views of the rugged coastline and the Atlantic Ocean.

On our way back to Furnas, we will make several stops for viewpoints with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean’s waves crashing off cliffs. 

After breakfast, we can enjoy hot water in the natural springs for about one hour. 

Close to noon, we can visit the oldest tee plantation in Europe. Here, we can see and roam a tea field, visit factory facilities, get close to the production process, and learn some tea plantation history. 

Close to evening, we will get to the small town of Vila Franca do Campo to capture very unusual island Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo This volcanic islet, formed from the remnants of an ancient submerged volcano. 

After dinner, as yesterday, we can visit  Poça da Dona Beija Spring.

Day 4. February 18, Tuesday

This morning we will leave our hotel early in the morning (so we won’t have breakfast in the hotel) to get before sunrise to one the most famous viewpoint on São Miguel — Boca do Inferno. Area around that viewpoint is full of natures wonders — lagoons, rolling hills and even historical aqueduct —  Aqueduto do Carvão. It was built in the 18th century, the aqueduct was designed to transport water across the island to support agriculture and local communities.

After sunrise we will drive toward Sete Cidades — small town surrounded with hills and crystal clear lagoons, where we finally get breakfast. 

Afternoon we will get to the most western part of the island where we can take pictures of natural swimming pools, big wawes crashing to a volcanic shore line. Some time we will spend in natural hot springs and for sunset we will take pictures of one more picturesque lighthouse — Farol da Ferraria. 

Day 5. February 19, Wednesday

This morning, we will leave our hotel and drive to the airport. Every participant must book a flight S4160 by Azores Airlines from PDL—Ponta Delgada to Madeira airport FNC—Funchal. 

As soon as we arrive in Madeira, we will get our rental cars and drive to our hotel to check in (or at least drop off our luggage). 

This afternoon, we will visit one of the most beautiful places on Madeira—the foremost eastern point — da Ponta de São Lourenço. Ponta de São Lourenço is renowned for its dramatic cliffs and rugged, volcanic landscape. This stunning nature reserve offers breathtaking coastal views. To get to the best viewpoint, we need to hike for about 1.5 miles (one way) through fantastic scenery. Here, we will have our sunset session. 

Day 6. February 20, Thursday

Early in the morning, we will reach a scenic viewpoint with everything that creates a perfect picture—the sun rising above the ocean, a high cliff filled with warm morning light, crashing waves, and mountains. 

Right after that, we will drive to a small village in Madeira with classic, famous, and colorful traditional houses. In the early morning, we can take pictures of them without the usual tourist crowd. And here, in the middle of the rural area, we will have breakfast. 

Our next stop will be a stunning tropical garden in Funchal, Madeira. This enchanting garden features exotic plants, koi ponds, and beautiful tile artwork, with a serene and picturesque escape with panoramic views of the city and coastline.

And close to sunset, we will get to another iconic Madeira’s place — Jesus Crist Statue facing toward the Atlantic Ocean

Day 7. February 21, Friday

We will visit the historical São Tiago Fort for sunrise. Its vibrant yellow walls and coastal location provide stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the city of Funchal on the surrounding hills. 

Right after sunset, while the city is quiet, we will walk on several streets with stunning doors. Each door is a real piece of art and deserves to be photographed. 

In the afternoon, we will reach the highest point in Madeira. From 5900' above sea level, we can enjoy a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains and valleys, often shrouded in a mystical mist. Here, we find one of Madeira’s most popular hiking trails (6.7 miles with more than 3600' elevation gain). We are not planning to hike it all, but for sunset, we will hike 0.3 — 0.4 miles to get to the viewpoint with an awesome view. 

Day 8. February 22, Saturday

Today, we must wake up early because we will drive less than an hour to our sunrise location in the northern part of Madeira. We are going to a stunning location with several sea stacks near the shoreline. Right after sunrise, we will visit two or three more picturesque viewpoints on the north shore, and after that, we will have breakfast in one of the countless small restaurants. 

Our trip to Madeira couldn’t have been complete without visiting the famous Levadas. The Levadas of Madeira are a network of irrigation channels that crisscross the island, originally built to transport water from the lush, wet regions in the north to the drier southern areas. Today, they provide scenic walking paths offering stunning views of Madeira’s verdant landscapes, waterfalls, and cliffs. We will hike about 5.5 miles (out and back) with a 1900' elevation gain, but the scenery will be worth all our efforts. 

We will get to Porto Moniz in the late afternoon for our sunset session at natural volcanic swimming pools. 

Recommended Photo Equipment:

• Camera (DSLR or Mirrorless) with extra batteries and memory cards.
  
• Tripod with a ball head (leveling base is optional but very helpful to take panoramic shots).
  
• Wide to standard zoom lens, with their lens hoods (I carry 16-35mm and 24-70mm lenses).
• Telephoto zoom lens for extraction and abstract scenes (I use 70-200mm and 100-400mm lenses).
  
• Circular polarizer filter to remove glare from the water and leaves. 
  
• Graduated neutral density filters (if you use them).
  
• Rocket blower and microfiber cloths for keeping glass surfaces dry and clean.
  
• Most importantly — a great attitude!

Recommended Personal Gear:

• Flashlight or headlamp
• Rain jacket and pants
• Fleece jacket
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Windshield jacket
• Backpack (bag) to carry your photo gear.