Azores Three-Island Tour: 7 Days in Faial, Pico & São Miguel

Arrive on Faial and begin your stay in Horta, a historic Atlantic port with a long maritime tradition. For centuries, the city has welcomed sailors crossing the Atlantic, and it later became an important communications point during the era of transatlantic submarine cables. Spend the remainder of the day exploring Horta’s waterfront, marina and historic center at your own pace.

Explore Faial’s volcanic landscapes with a private English-speaking guide. Travel through the Valley of Flamengos to the island’s central Caldeira, then continue toward Capelinhos on the western end of Faial. The stark landscape at Capelinhos was shaped by the 1957–58 eruption and remains one of the island’s most distinctive geological sites.

Take the ferry from Horta to Madalena on neighboring Pico Island and meet your guide for a full-day tour. Pico is dominated by Mount Pico and is known for dramatic lava landscapes, traditional settlements and vineyards divided by walls of dark volcanic stone.

The day also introduces Pico’s maritime heritage and the history of whaling, an industry that later gave way to whale watching and marine tourism. Return to Faial by ferry.

Fly from Faial to São Miguel, the largest island in the Azores, and continue to Ponta Delgada. Spend the afternoon and evening discovering the historic center, waterfront, shops, restaurants and local food scene. Ponta Delgada provides a convenient base for the volcanic landscapes and natural attractions visited over the next two days.

Meet your private driver/guide for a full-day tour through São Miguel. Travel east from Ponta Delgada through Lagoa, Caloura and Vila Franca do Campo before reaching the Furnas area. Discover Furnas Lake, geothermal springs and fumaroles, including the area where the traditional dish cozido is cooked using natural volcanic heat.

Continue into Furnas for time for lunch and an opportunity to visit its historic botanical gardens and thermal attractions. Garden admission is an additional charge. Later, cross toward the north coast, stopping at scenic viewpoints and a tea plantation before returning to Ponta Delgada.

Spend the day visiting two of São Miguel’s best-known volcanic landscapes. Begin with Sete Cidades and the panoramic viewpoint at Vista do Rei, overlooking the lakes within the large volcanic caldera. Continue into the village of Sete Cidades before traveling across the island toward Lagoa do Fogo.

The tour also includes stops at Caldeira Velha and Ribeira Grande before returning to Ponta Delgada. Entrance to Caldeira Velha is not included. A picnic is included during the day.

Enjoy your final morning on São Miguel. Depending on your departure time, you may have time for last-minute shopping, a waterfront walk or additional sightseeing in Ponta Delgada before continuing with your onward travel.

Important Notes

• Day 2 on Faial and Day 5 on São Miguel are described in the source itinerary as private guided touring.
• The Day 3 excursion to Pico includes ferry travel from Faial and guided sightseeing on Pico.
• Admission to the Furnas botanical gardens on Day 5 is an additional charge.
• Entrance to Caldeira Velha on Day 6 is not included.
• A picnic is included on Day 6.
• The source itinerary does not specify arrival or departure airport transfers, so they are not stated as included here.

Traveler Review

“The 7 day/3 island tour my wife and I just finished was wonderful and beyond what we had expected. Everything went as planned, no problems with hotels, tours, flights etc. We have fallen in love with the Azores and will return again, God willing…Thank you so much for putting together such a great trip for us.”

— P. Foster, U.S.