Day 1 - Arrive Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island
Arrive in Ponta Delgada at any time. Embark the M/S Expedition. Moor overnight.
Day 2 - Sao Miguel
Spend the day exploring the capital city and surrounding area of this lush green island. Enjoy a guided tour to the twin volcanic lakes of Sete Cidades. The M/S Expedition begins her journey in the afternoon.
Day 3 - Terciera
Step back in time as we explore Terciera, famous for its historic buildings and refreshing car free area of Angra do Heroismo. Harken back to the period where trading ships were traveling from Europe to the New World. This is the second UNESCO World Heritage site on our Expedition. We will also visit the fascinating 17th century fortifications of Monte Brazil.
Day 4- Graciosa
Frozen in time, this quiet and relaxed island is scattered with distinctively red windmills and whitewashed houses. Take a long winding staircase down to the geological phenomenon of the Furna do Enxofre, a volcanic cavern and lake at the bottom of a caldera. The afternoon will be spent exploring the coastline and visiting one of the protected bird sanctuaries of Ilheu da Praia or Ilheu de Baixo. They are praised as one of the richest and most diverse concentration of seabirds in the Azores.
Day 5 - Sao Jorge
Explore Sao Jorge, many of the areas inaccessible by land. We hope to see vast bird colonies and other natural wonders.
Day 6 - Pico
Pico is famous for its fortified Verdelho wine, the extensive vineyards are so impressive that in 2002 UNESCO designated them a World Heritage Site. Don't worry, we won't leave Pico without a visit to a winery and of course, a tasting of the wine.
Day 7 - Flores & Corvo
Sailing to the western edge of the Azores bring us to Flores, the Isle of Flowers. Marvel in the islands natural beauty including the volcanic cliffs of Rocha dos Bordoes and volcanic craters often filled with lakes. The tiny and remote island of Corvo will give us the opportunity to hike the rim of a volcanic cone, if the weather is clear we should be able to see right across this 2 km caldera.
Day 8- Faial
Visit the town of Horta, enjoying the local communities and spending time in the museums to learn about how the volcanic activity on the island has affected the inhabitants. We will also visit Ponta dos Capelinhos, the site of a 1957 volcanic eruption that added 2 km of coastline to the island.
Day 9 - Santa Maria
Sail east back to the only non-volcanic island in the Azores. Spend the day at leisure enjoying the sandy beaches, terraced hillside cliffs, stone terraced vineyards at Maia, all the while keeping an eye out for whales and dolphins.
Day 10 - Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel
