What is this Faial and São Miguel guided tour like?
This customizable 7-day tour pairs Faial's maritime heritage and volcanic west coast with São Miguel's crater lakes and geothermal landscapes. Private driver-guides introduce Horta, the Faial Caldeira and Capelinhos before an inter-island flight connects you with Sete Cidades, Furnas and Lagoa do Fogo.
Three nights on each island create a compact but varied program with hotels, breakfast, the island flight, transfers and scheduled sightseeing arranged in advance.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1 — Arrive on Faial; transfer to Horta
Day 2 — Guided Horta city and garden tour
Day 3 — Half-day guided Faial Island tour
Day 4 — Fly to São Miguel and tour Sete Cidades
Day 5 — Full-day guided Furnas tour
Day 6 — Half-day guided Lagoa do Fogo tour
Day 7 — Airport transfer and departure
Is this package right for you?
This package suits couples, families and small private parties who want guided highlights of two contrasting islands in one week. It is vehicle-based rather than a hiking program, but travelers should be comfortable with airport procedures, historic streets, steps and short walks at viewpoints and gardens.
The itinerary can be customized, subject to hotel, flight, vehicle and guide availability.
Day-by-day itinerary
Flight schedules, weather and local operating requirements may change the order of islands or activities.
Day 1 — Faial Island — Arrival
Arrive on Faial and transfer to your hotel in Horta for three nights. The remainder of the day is free.
Day 2 — Faial Island — Horta city and gardens
Meet your driver-guide for an introduction to Horta's maritime history, historic center, marina and gardens. Learn about the city's role in transatlantic navigation and enjoy time around its famous waterfront.
Day 3 — Faial Island — Half-day island tour
Travel through the island's interior toward the Faial Caldeira, then continue to Capelinhos, where the 1957–58 eruption reshaped the western coast. Return through traditional communities and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Day 4 — Faial to São Miguel — Sete Cidades
Transfer to Horta Airport for the flight to São Miguel. After arrival, begin a half-day tour of the Sete Cidades volcanic complex, with crater-lake viewpoints and a possible stop at a pineapple plantation before transferring to your Ponta Delgada hotel for three nights.
Day 5 — São Miguel — Full-day Furnas tour
Travel to the Furnas Valley to see the lake and geothermal areas where traditional cozido is cooked underground. Continue to Terra Nostra Park and return by the north coast with a tea-plantation visit. Lunch and entrance fees are not included unless confirmed.
Day 6 — São Miguel — Half-day Lagoa do Fogo tour
Travel into central São Miguel toward Lagoa do Fogo, a protected crater lake surrounded by volcanic scenery. Return to the hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Depending on operations, this tour may be combined with Sete Cidades as a full-day excursion, leaving more free time on Day 4.
Day 7 — São Miguel — Departure
Check out and transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule.
What's included
Please note
The island sequence and sightseeing order may change because of flight schedules, weather or local conditions.
The São Miguel touring days may be reorganized so Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo operate as one full-day tour.
Included
6 nights' accommodation
Daily breakfast
Inter-island flight from Faial to São Miguel
Airport and hotel transfers as described
Private sightseeing with English-speaking driver-guides
Guided Horta city and garden tour
Half-day Faial Island tour
Half-day Sete Cidades tour
Full-day Furnas tour
Half-day Lagoa do Fogo tour
Hotel service charges
Complimentary crate of local products on São Miguel
24-hour assistance during the trip
Not included
International flights; ask us to include airfare in your quotation
Meals other than breakfast unless specifically confirmed
Entrance fees unless specifically listed as included
Municipal tourist taxes payable at hotel check-in
Day Tour duration
Full-day tours: 7–8 hours
Half-day tours: 3–4 hours
Exact duration for individual tour stops varies.
Optional entrance fees
Entrance fees may be up to 17 Euro per person, subject to change.
Entrance fees are not included unless specifically stated in the itinerary.
Meals
Lunches and dinners are not included, allowing you to choose local restaurants along the route.
What to bring
Bring comfortable walking shoes, layered clothing and a waterproof jacket. Pack swimwear and a towel if you plan to use thermal pools or natural swimming areas. Iron-rich thermal water may stain light-colored swimwear.
Dates & rates
Understanding the rates
Hotel Package Category
Available hotel categories vary by package. The categories below are the ones currently offered for this itinerary.
Comfort
Well-located 4-star hotels
Strong balance of comfort and value
Ideal for most travelers
Superior
Higher-end 4-star hotels, sometimes including 5-star properties
Enhanced comfort, location, or services
Ideal for a more refined experience
Exact hotels and star ratings vary by itinerary, travel dates, and availability.
Hotel Notes
Each package has a hotel summary description. For detailed information, please visit the hotel's official webpage online.
For specific hotel or ocean-view room preference, please notify us when filing your booking form. Additional charges may apply.
Pousada Forte da Horta (Faial) will be closed until March 31. Hotel Azoris Faial Garden will be booked as alternative.
Alternative hotel accommodation will be provided for triple rooms, as not all properties offer this specific room type.
Room Rate Type
Solo = Person traveling alone
Single = Person staying in a single room and sharing tour services with others in travel party
Note: Hotels shown are for reference only. We reserve the right to change hotels based on availability, group size or other factors. Should an alternate hotel be required, it will be of the same or a better rating.
Comfort Hotels
Horta - Hotel Horta
Located in the old Azorean town of Horta, the newly-renovated Hotel Horta offers views of Pico Island. It features rooms with balconies, a large garden and an outdoor pool.
Horta’s rooms are decorated in neutral colors, and have wooden furniture. Each of the air-conditioned rooms has a cable TV and a private bathroom with a hairdryer.
The hotel’s panoramic restaurant offers international and regional dishes. The bar and the lounge offer views of the outdoor pool, the pool bar and the garden.
Guests can rent a bicycle to explore the surrounding area. Horta is famous for the whale watching and the volcanoes of Capelinhos and Caldeira.
Horta Airport is 4.3 mi away, and the hotel provides free private parking on site.
Ponta Delgada - Hotel Ponta Delgada
Hotel Ponta Delgada (RNET 6591) is centrally located and only a 10-minute drive from the airport. Hotel Ponta Delgada features a family ambiance and comfortable furnishings. It features an indoor pool.
Air-conditioned rooms all open out on to a private balcony and are fitted with double-glass windows. All rooms include a TV set with cable channels and private bathrooms with walk-in shower or bathtub. Free WiFi access is available in all areas of the hotel.
The Ponta Delgada’s Baco Restaurant offers authentic cuisine from the Azores. The hotel’s bar has an esplanade, where guests can enjoy a refreshing drink or cocktail.
Guests can stroll in the narrow streets of the city center. Alternatively, they can dip in the hot tub or relax in the on-site hammam and sauna.
Superior Hotels
Horta - Pousada Forte da Horta
Just an 8 minute walk from the beach, The Pousada Forte da Horta is set in a 16th century fortress with a view of Horta Bay and Pico island. This Pousada features air conditioned rooms, a swimming pool, and a regional restaurant. Most of the rooms offer a view of the marina.
Classified as a National Monument since 1947, the Pousada Forte da Horta offers modern rooms with cable TV and a minibar. Each private bathroom is stocked with a hairdryer and bathrobe.
A breakfast buffet is served daily on the poolside veranda terrace. Guests may taste fried pork, tuna and passion fruit pie in Pousada Forte da Horta’s restaurant.
The swimming pool area is furnished with sun beds, tables and parasols. Indoors, there is a lounge with various seating areas and a bar with a piano.
The 24-hour reception offers car rentals and free on-site parking. The Horta Airport is just 5.4 miles from the Pousada Forte da Horta.
Ponta Delgada - Vila Gale Collection S. Miguel
Located in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel island, the Vila Gale Collection S.Miguel provides superior accommodations, excellent restaurant, bar, sauna, swimming pool, kid's club and private parking.
The 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WIFI, each with a private bathroom, and is at a short walking distance to the center of town.
All guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV. Each room includes a safety deposit box, while certain rooms will provide you with a balcony. At Vila Gale Collection S.Miguel every room includes bed linen and towels. A buffet breakfast is available every morning.
At Vila Gale Collection S.Miguel guests are welcome to use a sauna and a Turkish bath.
The attentive and professional reception staff speak English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, and are always on hand to help.
Booking & policies
Booking Your Trip
While prices are shown in USA dollars, we can also charge in Euros at the prevailing currency conversion daily rate.
Early booking is advised. Availability of accommodations and inter-island flight is limited especially in summer months.
If hotels named in itinerary are not available at time of booking, alternate similar same rating properties will be confirmed, and subject to new quote.
Order of islands visited may need to be altered due to flight schedule changes.
Unless otherwise indicated, sightseeing tours are by private car with English speaking driver. Other languages are available upon request.
Quotations with different hotels have a non refundable deposit of $50. Deposit will be credited towards final booking price.
Booking Your Trip With Air
International airfare for this package is additional to price shown on Rates table. Departure cities are limited to those serviced by SATA International (Azores Airlines).
If you want a quote for airfare to be included make sure to check yes when prompted during the booking/reservation request process.
Booking Conditions
A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $350 per person is required to book and hold both land and air for you.
Final payment is due 50 days before departure.
Option to pay full price up front is available.
Cancellation Policy - Land Portion
Full-payment minus the $350 deposit per person is refunded if canceled up to 50 days prior departure.
75% of full-payment paid per person if refunded if cancelled 49-39 days prior departure.
50% of full-payment paid per person is refunded if canceled 38-31 days prior departure.
No refunds if canceled less than 30 days prior departure.
Cancellation Policy - Airfare
Airfare cancellation terms and conditions are those of the Airlines company and will be provided to you before ticket is booked.
Refund Fees
On any payments made via a bank credit card, a 3.9% bank credit card assessed fee will be subtracted from any refunded payment, including deposits refunded due to services requested not available for date of booking.
I Want To Book. What Do I Do Next?
Click on the Request pricing button to send your reservation request.
No payment will be collected at this time.
Our travel Associate will contact you via email to answer any questions and book your Package.
If you don't plan to book at this time please click here to contact us with any questions or concerns about your trip or your holiday.
Booking Changes
A fee of $35 per person, per transaction, will be charged
for any revision or alteration made to a reservation after the booking
is confirmed.
If the change increases the value of the booking, the $35
per person fee will be waived.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase travel/cancellation
insurance.
Common questions about this package
Is this a private guided tour?
Yes. Scheduled sightseeing is by private car with an English-speaking driver-guide unless your quotation states otherwise.
Is the Faial–São Miguel flight included?
Yes. The inter-island flight is included. International airfare is not included.
Why might the São Miguel tour order change?
Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo may operate as separate half-day tours or as one full-day tour. Weather, access controls and local scheduling determine the most practical sequence.
Can the package be customized?
Yes, subject to hotel, flight, vehicle and guide availability. Changes may require a revised quotation.
Are meals and entrance fees included?
Daily breakfast is included. Other meals and entrance fees are excluded unless specifically confirmed.
How much walking is involved?
This is mainly a vehicle tour with short walks in Horta, at viewpoints, in gardens and at visitor sites.
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To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
Required for the website to work properly and cannot be switched off.
Preferences
Allows the website to remember choices and settings that improve your experience.
Statistics
Helps us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve its performance and content.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
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