Activities in the Azores 

The unique Azorean geography makes the archipelago ideal for all manner of natural pursuits. In conjunction with the local company of Picos de Aventura, who are committed to eco-tourism and co-operate with the local university in funding research projects, we are able to offer our guests on São Miguel a range of both land and sea based activities. 

Land-based activities include: 

• Walks & Treks 
• Mountain Bike Tours 
• Bird watching 
• Canoeing 
• Canyoning 
• Landrover expeditions 
• Orienteering 
• Archery 
• Golf 

Sea-based activities include: 

• Whale and dolphin watching 
• Marine bird watching 
• Swimming with dolphins 
• Scuba diving 
• Snorkelling 
• Sea kayaking 

All activities are supervised by local experts in their field and you can chose to join a small group or arrange a tailor-made trip. Similar activities can be arranged on the other islands, with Horta on Faial and Lajes on Pico being particularly popular for whale watching. In addition to the two golf courses on São Miguel, there is a third one on Terceira, and naturally all islands offer superb terrain for walkers.

Multi-Centre Holidays 

First time visitors may find it difficult to decide which island to opt for and it is possible to visit more than one. 'Island-hopping' however does often involve internal flights rather than just ferries as there are three distinct groups of islands spread over several hundred kilometres. Of the islands we have chosen, São Miguel is the largest; its capital Ponta Delgada is surprisingly sophisticated and in addition to its varied landscapes and natural attractions the island even has two golf courses. Terceira is about half the size and will appeal to both walkers and those interested in a very strong cultural heritage. Pico is the second largest island but much more sparsely populated and rugged. In addition to having the highest peak in all of Portugal, Pico still produces wines and aperitifs in the traditional way. Faial is a smaller island with with a combination of fertile rolling hills and volcanic peaks but Horta, the capital, is most famous as a popular port of call for transatlantic yachtsmen and major whale-watching centre.
Off all the islands in the Azores, Pico and Faial are the closest to each other and regular ferries cover the 4.5 miles between Horta and Madalena in around 35 minutes. The remaining islands are linked by convenient flights, with several daily departures between the major islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial.
It is even possible to combine the Azores with Madeira, using scheduled TAP Air Portugal flights. You can make use of TAP's direct service from London to Funchal. After enjoying your stay on Madeira, you can fly directly from Funchal to São Miguel, from where you will return to London via Lisbon (this itinerary can also be booked in reverse).
If you are considering a multi-centre holiday, please call us on 020 8847 8700 with your requirements and we will prepare a tailor-made quote for you.

General Information

HOW DO YOU FIND OUT MORE OR MAKE A BOOKING? 

We hope that our website has given you a clear picture of the type of holidays, service and properties we offer but we are always happy to answer any detailed and specific questions you may have. Our friendly team has first-hand experience of all our locations and if there is anything they can’t answer personally they will certainly know a man who can! 

Please telephone us on 020 8847 8700 
Our office hours are: Monday to Friday 0900 - 1730 and Saturday 1000 - 1500. 

When you have decided on your preferred dates and location, just telephone us or complete the booking form on this website and we will make the necessary reservations, subject of course to availability. In order to confirm the booking we require a deposit of £100 per person, plus any applicable prepaid airfares, or the full balance if you are booking within 8 weeks of travel. If your booking involves flights where the most advantageous air fares are tied to advance purchase conditions, the full cost of the flight will be payable at the time of booking in addition to the standard deposit. 

We accept cheques and most types of debit cards and credit cards. Regrettably in order to keep the price of our holidays competitive, we have to pass on a credit card processing charge, so a 2% fee will be added for payments made by Visa or Mastercard and a 2.5% charge for payments made by American Express. There is no charge for payment made by debit card. If you wish to make your initial payment by cheque we allow 5 working days for its receipt but the booking is deemed to be confirmed and our booking conditions apply from the time that you make the reservation. 

We have allocations on most of the properties listed in this brochure, so we can usually confirm availability instantly for most of our holidays. However, some of the smaller hotels and individual villas work on a request basis, which means that we will need to reconfirm the availability when you come to make a booking. The same applies to some flights, and in cases where we have already filled our contracted allocation at your chosen accommodation. To request flights or accommodation, we take your full details, including a credit card number as a guarantee for your deposit, and will confirm the booking back to you as soon as we have received confirmation from our suppliers, which is usually within 24 hours. 

We are also happy to accept bookings via certain independent travel agents. Please ask us if your local agent is on our list.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? 

We will issue a confirmation/invoice, which you should check thoroughly as soon as you receive it. If there are any errors or omissions please advise us immediately, as any changes made at a later date will incur amendment fees. Your confirmation acts both as your contract and final invoice, so you should make a diary note of the date that your balance is due. Tickets will be dispatched to you approximately 14 days before you travel. 

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR PRICES? 

• Return flights from London Gatwick (regional departures and alternative flights are available at a supplement),  Please click here for full flight details.
• Accommodation and any meals specified. 
• Return transfers between the airport and your accommodation, by taxi or minibus, unless a complimentary car is included in the cost. 
• Complimentary cars, where specified. 
• All airport and local government taxes. 
• Maid service as specified. 
• Services of our local Representatives and Agents. 

WHAT EXTRAS ARE ADDED TO YOUR INVOICE? 

• Any applicable flight supplements. 
• Any applicable fuel/currency surcharges
• Any additional car hire, car-hire upgrades or child seats
• Any room upgrades or optional board supplements
• Handling charges for payments by credit card (Visa/Mastercard 2%, American Express 2.5%)

WHAT COSTS ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR? 

• Travel to and from your UK departure airport. 
• All meals except where a board basis is specified. 
• Travel insurance. 
• Fuel deposit and CDW excess for hire cars

WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN AND INFANTS? 

Most hotels offer reduced prices for children as long as they are sharing with two adults - these prices are shown in the price list for the relevant properties. Any relevant flight supplements apply in full. 
Infants under 2 pay just £35. This charge includes the provision of cots requested at the time of booking. 
Child seats for hire cars are charged locally by our car hire suppliers. Please indicate at the time of booking if these are required or if you are planning to bring your own.

WHAT LOCAL SUPPORT IS THERE? 

In the Azores staff employed by our local agents will make all your ground arrangements including airport transfers if applicable, and they are on hand should you require any local advise or assistance.

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR SURROUNDINGS? 

Our locations and properties are chosen to give you a relaxing and authentic holiday experience. Many of our properties are in beautiful rural areas where it is possible that you will experience the sight and sounds of some local wildlife. In many of our locations you will exist in close proximity with the local population so their way of life should be not only observed and enjoyed but also respected. In the low season and on Public Holidays some of the public facilities may not be available and during local festivals villages which are normally peaceful may be transformed. Sadly there are no seasonal building restrictions in many places and we have no control over such matters.  Wherever we feel that any major construction work is close enough to your chosen property to impact on your enjoyment of that location, we will advise you accordingly and, where possible, offer the option of changing your accommodation to an alternative venue. Any short term local ‘DIY’ activities are however totally beyond our control.

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR ACCOMMODATION? 

Unlike Madeira, which has a long tradition as a holiday destination, the Azores have only recently turned to tourism, so service tends to be a little less sophisticated than on Madeira, but hotel accommodation generally is of a good standard. 

Our self-catering properties range from simple apartments to luxurious villas and our brochure description should give you a good indication of the level of comfort of each property. All are equipped with linen and towels (except beach towels), as well as sufficient crockery, cutlery, glassware and utensils for preparing simple meals. Kitchen facilities do not normally include ovens, washing machines or dishwashers unless otherwise specified. Irons, ironing boards and hairdryers are also not always the norm. 

Swimming pools described as 'heated' in our brochure have the facility to be heated; however this may only be in use at certain times of the year, according to the weather. The mention of satellite or cable TV indicates that some international channels will be available; but this often only extends to one or two news channels in English.

Our brochure is prepared and photographs taken well in advance so some of the décor and facilities may be updated. It is also impossible to describe and photograph each individual room or apartment, so whilst all the main facilities will be common the layout and furnishings may differ slightly. Maintenance and repairs may need to be undertaken from time to time in order to keep properties up the standards we require and our staff make health, safety and quality control checks. You however are responsible for any breakage or damages caused by you or any member of your party during your stay in your accommodation. It is your responsibility to either put things right or advise our local representative so that she can replace things and recharge you before your departure. Some hotels and apartments make additional charges for the use of such things as safety deposit boxes, sunbeds and sports facilities.

MAID SERVICE

In all hotels, maid service is offered on a daily basis, with towels changed at least two or three times a week. As is becoming the norm internationally many hotels change towels on a request basis, whereby the maid will assume that you will reuse your towel of you place them back on the rack, and that you would like them changed if you leave them in the tub or on the floor. If your hotel operates this policy there will be a notice in your bathroom explaining this procedure.
Our self-catering properties are cleaned thoroughly before each arrival. Most villa or apartment complexes in resort areas provide subsequent maid service and linen change once or twice a week, but this is not the norm in rural self-catering properties (although sufficient towel and linen for the duration of your stay will be provided). If the frequency of cleaning is of importance to you, please ask for more details at the time of booking.

TRANSFERS

For those properties where complimentary cars are included in the holiday price, or where car hire is offered as a 'special rate' the car is collected from and returned to the airport, and we will provide you with driving instructions on how to find your accommodation. All other properties include return transfers from and to the airport, usually by taxi or minibus, directly to your accommodation. 

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL?

The local saying in the Azores is that you can experience four seasons in a single day! Compared to Madeira and the Canary Islands, the Azores is further north and considerably further from any major landmass. Walking and enjoying the countryside is possible throughout the year, provided you come prepared with layered clothing and a rainproof jacket. Those wishing to enjoy the local beaches and relaxing outdoors should travel between June and September.

AVERAGE PEAK DAYTIME TEMPERATURE

January: 14C / 57F
February: 15C / 59F
March: 16C / 61F
April: 17C / 63F
May: 18C / 64F
June: 21C / 70F
July: 23C / 74F
August: 23C / 74F
September: 20C / 68F
October: 18C / 64F
November: 17C / 63F
December: 16C / 61F

WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO CONSIDER? 

Our Booking Conditions are clearly laid out and you should read them carefully before making your booking. They should answer many of your remaining queries but please don’t forget we are approachable and available on 020 8847 8700.