Top Azores Day Trips - page 2

This tour was a highlight of our 15-day transatlantic cruise. We had friends that did the Royal Caribbean (ship) excursion and from what we heard, there is just no comparison. Our driver and tour operator Luis was amazing! He took us on dirt "paths" to viewpoints that no bus would ever get to. We did visit the main tourist attractions but also spent a lot of time "off road". We requested lunch at a local's restaurant and again, Luis came through. I ordered the Azores specialty - Octopus, and while it was not my favorite, I can see how people would like it. This whole day was just so much fun! We had the opportunity to customize our tour but mostly just had Luis take us to his favorite spots.

We had a great time exploring Furnas Lake, Carla, our guide was not only very knowledgeable but also very proud about her Island and gave us lots of information. We loved the experience of “Cozido à la portuguesa” very unique Portuguese experience. 💯 recommended

Joaquim, our guide, was awesome! Very knowledgeable about the island, personable and easy to talk to, and fun. Chasing waterfalls all day, walking in parks, and lunch together with the group was the highlight of our trip for sure. We'd highly recommend this tour to everyone.

Had a great time with our tour guide João, who was knowledgeable, helpful and patient. We had ample time at each stop to take in the scenery and take pictures. There were no crowds so we had all the space we could want to explore. The included lunch was buffet style of traditional local cuisine and it was enjoyable.

Intro: I try to write reviews that are helpful to others when visiting unfamiliar destinations because this is what I hope to find when looking for things to do in unfamiliar destinations. If you have already read this intro on my other Terceira reviews, then hit the fast-forward button to jump to the specifics for this particular tour. First let me start by saying Terceira Island is an absolutely beautiful hidden gem in the North Atlantic Ocean, and to get the most of your visit I highly recommend scheduling a full day (7 - 8-hour tour) if time permits. I also highly recommend doing this on one of your first days on the island. This will help familiarize you with the island, the most visited attractions, and help determine sites that are worth another visit for a photo op, further exploration, or to simply return for a relaxing siesta or meditation moment. Terceira is a spot for the conservationist/nature enthusiasts, with 35% of its land being in protected areas where it is not permitted to disturb the land through human habitation. Though not the most populated island in the Azores, there is still plenty to see... from the volcanoes to the oceans, to the patchwork of fields. Terceira's economy is built on farming; cows, milk, and cheese, with tourism becoming increasingly popular. It's history dates back to the 1400's with familiar historical characters popping up like the explorer Vasco da Gama, Spanish kings and queens, and of course a family feud between brothers who desired to be Portugal rulers, but I'll save the stories for the tour guides to share. Why do I start my reviews with a brief introduction about the island??? Well, it is simple, Terceira is an island that according to the Azores' Nature and Park officials is only 29 km across (east–west) and17.55–18 km at its widest point (north–south). This means that with several of the tours you are likely to visit some of the same places. This isn't necessarily a bad thing because with a good tour guide you will learn something new with each visit. I only share this, so you know what to expect. Also, if you let your tour guide know in advanced some of the places you have already seen, he or she might be able to adjust the tour and show you some of the island's hidden secrets only known to the locals. This is exactly what happened to us. Specific Tour Info: Andre was our guide. He was so knowledgeable and the Azores hospitality ran from his pores. We were joined by a set of Canadian sisters visiting the island. It was a small group, so the day felt light and was full of interesting conversations. This excursion was an all-day tour of the island. My husband and I decided to do this tour as our first one, so we could get a better understanding of all the island has to offer. I can’t even remember the number of locations we visited. This tour goes around the outer sides of the island, and hits several of the main attractions. Andre was able to intelligently share countless facts about the island, each location, and the significance of each spot. He provided insight to the local cultures, island’s connection with the mainland, and other relevant facts. I don’t remember there being a single question he could not answer… and believe me there were no shortage of questions. Let’s just say our group was an enthusiastic group eager to learn. We started our morning in the south part of the island in Angra and worked our way up to the northern part of the island for lunch. Lunch was not included, but we stopped in Praia for lunch where there were several fabulous restaurants to choose from. We then worked our way back down the island stopping at several more sites to include the most popular natural pool on the island. By the time we returned to our hotel, we were tired and yet so eager to revisit some of the places we had just seen. We also walked away with a list of restaurants to patron during our 7-day visit. I am so glad we decided to do a full island tour first because it helped shape our leisure days. We had great company on our tour so that is always a bonus!!! In total, during our seven-day visit to Terceira we took three different excursions and a private photo shoot that visited some of the same locations. We learned something new each time. I asked my husband if there was one he would rather not do again now knowing what we know, and he and I both felt as though we would do them all again, with this one being a great starting point that helped us to understand our surroundings and what was available on the island. Recommendation: I recommend you choose your excursions by those that meet your visit's purpose and personality. If you are looking for an overview of the island and all it has to offer, then this is your tour! Best wishes for an enjoyable and safe trip!

I had a really great birthday trip with our guide, Joao. I’ve done many tours before and he is really one of the best guides I’ve met. Very knowledgeable, lots of local stories and personal tips, amazing storytelling ability, and I was never bored during the whole day. He drove safely and spent the right amount of time at each spot. Another shoutout to the customer service agent because this company hired a gem. I received very prompt replies and updates, even messages before the trip. It all felt very professional and I can clearly tell that Pure Azores is a company that is run by people who know what they are doing. I’ve already booked another tour with them!

If I could give our guide and this experience 10 STARS, I would! From the moment we were picked up, we all felt like we were with an old friend. Our guide was fabulous- personable, funny, very knowledgeable about the island and we learned alot about Azorean history and culture. We went all over Furnas, used the hot springs (OMG) we felt wonderful- the spa is very classy. The dinner was huge and very delicious. It was an excellent experience that I and my friends would do again in a heartbeat! Highly recommend

My experience with Joaquim was absolute perfection. It was absolutely amazing to see Sete Cidades and Lago do Fogo. Everything was timed perfectly for a relaxed, yet eventful experience rooted in understanding more deeply the island’s customs and culture. I 100% recommend this experience and I suggest you request Joaquim to be your tour guide.