Itinerary Details
Portugal and Its Islands featuring Lisbon, Azores & Madeira Islands
Day 1 Overnight Flight
Experience the beauty of Portugal as you travel through the capital, Lisbon, the Azorean island of St. Michael, and the island of Madeira.
Day 2 Lisbon, Portugal - Tour Begins
Hotel: Lumen Hotel
Your adventure opens in Lisbon, where old-world traditions blend seamlessly with modern ways. Experience Portuguese cuisine, regional wines, and folkloric entertainment among colorful buildings and winding pathways. Tonight, meet your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner.(D)
Day 3 Lisbon
Hotel: Lumen Hotel
Set out on a tour of Lisbon and uncover some of the city’s most famous sights. Travel to Belem, where the age of Portuguese maritime discoveries comes to life at the Tower of Belem (UNESCO). Go to downtown Lisbon and enjoy some free time to have lunch, take in the intricate architecture, and explore the beautiful streets before a quick stop to savor one of the local petiscos, and end your morning in a playful and interactive historical museum. You can choose to return to your hotel and relax or enjoy the free afternoon to continue exploring Portugal’s capital city.(B)
Day 4 Lisbon
Hotel: Lumen Hotel
Explore Lisbon today at your own pace. With plenty of free time in the capital city, you may wish to check out its famous culinary scene or venture downtown to do some shopping. If you’d prefer to tour today, choose an optional excursion to Sintra and Cascais; from the quaint palaces and villas of Sintra, learn a thousand fascinating tales of the Portuguese Riviera and of beautiful Cascais and Estoril. This evening, over Portuguese cuisine and wine, listen to local artists perform the traditional fado (UNESCO).(B, D)
Day 5 Lisbon - St. Michael, Azores - Ponta Delgada
Hotel: Azoris Royal Garden Hotel, Ponta Delgada
To the Azores! Fly to St. Michael, the largest of the 9 volcanic islands that form the Azores archipelago. On a brief walking tour of Ponta Delgada’s town center, see the Portas da Cidade (the City Gates), and several of the main architectural sights that make up this unique island capital. Enjoy dinner this evening at a local restaurant featuring traditional Azorean cuisine.(B, D)
Day 6 Ponta Delgada - Furnas - Ponta Delgada
Hotel: Azoris Royal Garden Hotel, Ponta Delgada
Start the day with a visit to a 150-year-old family run ceramic factory where we will learn about the process of creating traditional Portuguese pottery. Then, it’s your choice! Take a stroll through the natural beauty of Terra Nostra Botanical Park -OR- rest and relax in the park’s thermal water pool.* In Furnas Valley, experience a cozido das Furnas lunch, cooked in the heat of the volcanic earth. After lunch let the green, lush beauty of Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Natural Park surround you as you stroll through the natural landscape and take in the watermills so typical of this place. Then head to the verdant pastures of a tea plantation, one of two in Europe, and delve into its cultivation methods and trade history before heading back to Ponta Delgada. The evening is yours to do as you please.(B, L)
Day 7 Ponta Delgada
Hotel: Azoris Royal Garden Hotel, Ponta Delgada
Make the most of a day at leisure. Perhaps you‘ll take an optional whale-watching adventure** and cruise over the waves with an expert biologist, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Gather in the late afternoon to explore a local pineapple plantation and learn more about this fruit, introduced to the island by Portuguese navigators. Then enjoy a cocktail and dinner in one of the best family-run restaurants in Ponta Delgada.(B, D)
Day 8 Ponta Delgada - Sete Cidades - Ribeira Grande - Ponta Delgada
Hotel: Azoris Royal Garden Hotel, Ponta Delgada
Today visit the iconic Sete Cidades volcanic crater and peer down at its twin lakes. The lakes appear to be different colors -– one blue (reflecting the sky) and the other green (reflecting the ground). Hear the stories and legends associated with the two lakes before journeying to a boutique, family-run winery where the volcanic soil plays a key role in the end product. Then travel to the quaint town of Ribeira Grande, with free time for lunch. End your full day of touring with a visit to Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Nature Reserve, where watermills create a lush, otherworldly setting.(B)
Day 9 Ponta Delgada - Funchal, Madeira
Hotel: Pestana Casino Park Hotel
Fly to Madeira, the “Pearl of the Atlantic.” After your afternoon arrival, embark on a walking tour of the capital city of Funchal, to get a first glimpse of the quaint old town and some of its main sights. Then, discover the Madeira Botanical Gardens as you make your way through a terraced landscape of more than 2,000 exotic plants.(B)
Day 10 Funchal
Hotel: Pestana Casino Park Hotel
Explore the Lavradores market, a hub of exotic fruits, flowers, and a traditional fish market. The local culture comes to life here! A tasting at a Madeira wine lodge teaches you about the famous Madeira wine. Head to colorful Santa Maria Street, where vibrant murals and brightly painted doors enliven the streets, and many cafe´s tempt you to linger over lunch on your own. A free afternoon provides more time to explore or to relax and enjoy your hotel’s garden, pool, and spa. Gather again this evening for a traditional espetada dinner, feasting on local cuisine cooked over an open fire against a backdrop of folk dancers and lively music.(B, D)
Day 11 Funchal - Câmara de Lobos - Porto Moniz - Funchal
Hotel: Pestana Casino Park Hotel
Begin your day with a tour that takes you to Câmara de Lobos, a traditional village on a picture-perfect bay that served as a special retreat for Sir Winston Churchill. It was here that Madeira’s natural beauty captivated him and inspired many paintings of the village. Drive along mountain roads, passing vineyards en route to the world’s second-highest cliff, Cabo Girão, where you can walk on the highest glass skywalk in Europe. At BAM (Centro da Banana da Madeira) find out about the rich history and modern-day production of delicious Madeira bananas before leaving for the lively fishing village of Porto Moniz. Here, enjoy free time for a swim* (weather permitting) in the natural volcanic rock pools before returning to Funchal.(B)
Day 12 Funchal
Hotel: Pestana Casino Park Hotel
The day is yours to explore independently or embark on a full-day optional tour of the island. Start with an easy trek along the island’s levadas*** and learn about this unique watering system. Then travel to a quinta for lunch with views of the Atlantic. End with a visit to the traditional A-frame houses of Santana, a reminder of the island’s farming past.(B)
Day 13 Funchal - Lisbon
Hotel: Lumen Hotel
Board your flight and return to the metropolitan energy of Lisbon. Later, bid adeus to Portugal during a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.(B, D)
Day 14 Lisbon - Tour Ends
Depart for home with Portugal in your heart as your tour ends today.(B)
