Pura Aventura is adding the Azores to its portfolio of sustainable holidays – a brand-new destination for the tour operator.
The new collection of slow Azorean adventures, introduced for 2025, provide something for every age, taste and traveller. They include a flagship island-hopping journey as well as a bite-sized break, a winter escape, family-friendly options and holidays that combine with stays in Lisbon.
Sitting at the edge of Europe, this mid-Atlantic archipelago has been a Portuguese outpost since the 15th century. Pura Aventura features four of the nine islands – Sao Miguel, Pico, Sao Jorge and Faial – offering a rich blend of natural wonders, colourful culture, marine life and one of Europe’s most unusual wine regions. Visit tea plantations, hot springs, hissing fumaroles, volcanic cones, and hidden waterfalls; indulge in traditional ‘cozido’ stews with a glass of local wine; walk in cloud forests in the volcanic highlands; and observe sperm, humpback, fin, pilot and, possibly blue whales in the wild.
On each island guests are hosted by locals who are on-hand to answer any cultural, historical or practical questions. Touring is mainly independent, with some day’s guiding to get a better understanding of the distinct stories of each island and its inhabitants. The trips incorporate the less-frequented Sao Jorge Island, which has many farm-to-table experiences including seeing families cultivating, harvesting and making coffee, and tasting the island’s famous cheese.
AZORES ISLAND HOPPING: WHALES, WINE & VOLCANOES
This 10-day Azores Island Hopping holiday covers four of the Azorean islands with stays on Sao Miguel, Sao Jorge and Pico and a day trip by ferry to Faial. Highlights include cycling inside a volcano crater, walking through subtropical forest, taking a dip in a thermal sea pool and local wine tasting. On each island, a private guided tour serves as a great introduction. Experience the crater lakes of Sete Cidades and sample ‘cozido’ stews cooked over volcanic steam in a bubbling cauldron underground on Sao Miguel. On Sao Jorge, taste the island’s famous cheese, visit a family coffee plantation and hike one of the best trails in the Azores. Pico island is one of the world’s greatest whale hotspots – marvel as whales breach in the shadow of Portugal’s highest peak and enjoy a special tasting menu of local specialities. The finale is a day on Faial where guests can expect to be wowed by Horta’s colourful sea art murals. Handpicked accommodation includes a private cabin surrounded by a bird-filled woodland and a vineyard hotel with views across the lava rock to the ocean and Pico volcano.
Price: from £2,500pp based on 2 sharing, including 9 nights’ B&B accommodation, 1 lunch, 1 tasting menu dinner, car hire, ferry tickets, internal flight and some guiding. An extended 15-day itinerary includes accommodation on all four islands, 14 nights from £3,500pp.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY AZORES
Ideal for active families, this 12-day Azores Island Hopping Family Adventure begins with six nights on Sao Miguel Island, where days are spent hiking in a ‘Lost World’ jungle; surfing in the Atlantic breakers; kayaking in the crater lakes; and canyoning in the waterfalls. A scenic flight takes families to Pico Island to stay in a villa perched above the sea to enjoy some downtime – think beach bbqs, fabulous sunsets and whale-watching. A day trip to Faial Island to snorkel in the marine-rich waters, looking out for damselfish and parrotfish, completes the picture.
Price: from £2,600pp based on 4 sharing, including 11 nights’ B&B accommodation, 2 lunches, car hire, ferry tickets, internal flight and some guiding. A 14-night itinerary additionally includes a stay on Faial from £2,995pp, or for those short of time there’s an Azores Family Adventure Escape – a one-week, single-centre, activity-filled break on São Miguel Island from £1,550pp.
OTHER AZOREAN ADVENTURES
Azores Discovery Escape
Pack all the highlights into a bite-sized, two-centre, island-hopping trip for an unforgettable week discovering the natural beauty, rich culture and Azorean food and wine, staying on the islands of Sao Miguel and Pico, and visiting Faial on a guided day trip. 7 nights from £1,850pp.
Azores Island Hopping with Lisbon
Enjoy a 10-day island hopping break with stays on each of the islands of Sao Miguel, Sao Jorge, Pico and add on a 3-night stay in Lisbon to benefit from TAP’s free stopover offer when booking flights between Heathrow and Sao Miguel. 13 nights from £3,200pp.
Azores Winter Escape: Crater Lakes & Hot Springs
Spend a week on Sao Miguel in the off-season (mid-October to March) to experience the joys of winter in the Azores. The hot springs and waterfalls are in full flow, there’s a plethora of hiking opportunities to be enjoyed in cooler temperatures and the main sights are wonderfully quiet. 7 nights from £1,350pp.
For further information on Pura Aventura visit www.pura-aventura.com or call 01273 676712.
