The Azores & Madeira: Portugal’s Island Gems

Arrive in Ponta Delgada, Portugal — located on São Miguel Island in the Azores — where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Set amid dramatic volcanic scenery, the city combines a rich maritime tradition with an unhurried pace of life.

Embark on a morning cruise to watch for whales and dolphins. As you behold these magnificent mammals, learn about them and other Azorean marine life from the experienced resident biologists who accompany you throughout the experience. Return to Ponta Delgada to enjoy lunch time at leisure before visiting splendor-filled Sete Cidades. From the crater rim absorb breathtaking views over the mystical Blue and Green Lakes, then walk a path lined with hydrangea bushes, taking in their colors and scents, in this lush volcanic caldera. Tonight, toast your journey with a Scenic Sundowner before dining at a local restaurant.

Rise early and fly to Terceira, your next island experience. Visit UNESCO-listed Angra do Heroismo, considered the most beautiful town in the Azores, where you enjoy lunch. Then, view the island’s stunning volcanic landscape, especially Algar do Carvão, an astonishing volcanic chimney left behind from an eruption around 2,000 years ago. Later, fly back to Ponta Delgada.

Today explore São Miguel’s verdant eastern region, where you stop at one of the few tea plantations in Europe. Sample a variety of teas, some of which have been grown here since the early 19th century. Break for lunch in a restaurant in the delightful village of Furnas, sampling a traditional local dish cooked by natural volcanic heat. Return to Ponta Delgada with the rest of your day at leisure.

Fly to Madeira, landing in the city of Funchal. Proceed to a local winery for an A&K-exclusive experience. Visit the old cooperage, aging rooms, museum and private family collection, finishing in the vintage room, where you sample the winery’s products paired with dried fruits, cheese, dark chocolate and madeira cake. A tasting of their iconic 1920 Bual completes this sublime Chef’s Table experience. Learn how each bottling of this 1920 vintage is unique, owing to variations in heat, humidity and cask size. Later, check in to your hotel and dine at a local restaurant.

Explore the food and wine of Funchal, led by a local guide, starting at the Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmers’ Market), where locals gather to buy and sell fresh exotic fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs as well as leather and wicker goods. Take in the colors, aromas, sounds and traditions on display around you and enjoy time at leisure for lunch. This afternoon, Ride Like a Local by cable car up to Monte Palace Tropical Garden to admire the breathtaking views. Enjoy the option of a thrilling descent aboard a traditional wicker toboggan, then discover Madeira’s natural splendors as you roam Funchal’s magnificent Botanical Garden with a professional botanist.

Venture west of Funchal to Cape Girão, site of the highest sea cliff in Europe, from which you take in the captivating vistas. Afterward, hike along one of the island’s many levadas — manmade water channels that gently slope down the mountainside — before heading to Porto Moniz for the opportunity to swim in the natural rock pools. Enjoy time at leisure in Porto Moniz before heading back to Funchal. This evening, celebrate your journey over a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Today you are transferred to the airport for your departing flight.