Taste of Portugal with Azores 2027

Welcome to Porto! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Dinner

Panoramas & Port Wine Discover the beauty of the waterfront city of Porto when you follow your Local Guide on a sightseeing tour that features a panoramic drive to the mouth of the Douro River, plus a walk in the center to see the soaring cathedral, the Church of São Francisco, and the Stock Exchange. Enjoy a glass of the local Porto Wine before relaxing on a panoramic Douro River cruise. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT LOCAL TASTES The grapes from the vineyards in the Douro Valley surrounding Porto provide the main ingredient for one of the world’s most recognized fortified wines. Visit a local wine cellar and taste centuries of tradition in a glass of Port wine in the city that bears its name. Saúde!
Breakfast

Art Nouveau & Academic Honors This morning, stop at the picturesque fishing town of Aveiro, often called “the Portuguese Venice.” Take a stroll to admire the canals and the charming streets. Why not pop into a local bakery and get acquainted with the Ovos Moles de Aveiro, delicious traditional pastries! Continue to Coimbra and start to discover the town on an orientation walk. (B) 93mi/ 150km TOUR HIGHLIGHT PICTURE PERFECT Aveiro is known as the Portuguese Venice for the canals that traverse it, and the traditional boats (barcos moliceiros) that sail on them. In the center you'll discover the colorful buildings that reflect the delightful Art Nouveau movement in the city where the past and present blend to reveal a remarkable landscape!
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Spend Your Day Your Way in Coimbra Explore more of Coimbra with your choice of included Globus Choice excursions. Academic Discovery Explore Coimbra's historical district featuring the UNESCO-listed University and the Pátio das Escolas (central courtyard). Visit the Royal Palace, St. Michael¿s Chapel, Cabinet of Curiosities, and the Chemistry Laboratory, and Biblioteca Joanina, considered one of the most spectacular libraries in the world, discover how the resident bat colony helps preserve the books. Pouring In Portugal Discover the celebrated Bairrada region, the perfect place for prized Portuguese wines, especially sparkling wines. Enjoy a visit to a wine cellar for a tasting and tales of wine traditions amid resting bottles in rock-carved galleries. Enjoy free time this evening. (B)
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Panoramas & Port Wine After a pleasant drive, reach the beautiful capital city Lisbon, located on the River Tagus. Discover the historic grandeur of Lisbon when you join your Local Guide for a fascinating sightseeing drive complete with photo stops at Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. Enjoy an evening at leisure to explore more of this vibrant city. (B) 146mi/ 235km TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT The stunning capital city of Portugal is a treasure trove of historic and architectural masterpieces. Along the banks of the River Tagus see the 16th-century Belém Tower, which served as a fortress and an embarkation point for sailors, it was their last sight of land before the start of their journey. Lisbon’s impressive sculpture, the Monument to the Discoveries pays homage to great Portuguese explorers with a spectacular carved prow of an ancient ship
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Portuguese Royalties A real treat today with an included excursion to visit three localities of the Portuguese Riviera. First stop is Mafra for an enjoyable [LF] guided visit which includes the Royal Palace, the convent, and John V Library. Continue to Sintra, free time to stroll the UNESCO-listed historical center and try some local specialties for lunch. Later, stop in the popular resort town of Cascais, browse the charming center before a scenic drive back to Lisbon. This evening, sit down with your travel companions for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) LOCAL FAVORITE HISTORY & HERITAGE Learn about the colony of bats which have made their home behind the bookshelves of the John V library and that ensure its ancient books remain in pristine conditions. The bats leave their hiding spot at night to hunt insects that would otherwise damage the leather- bound spines and yellowed pages of the library’s antique collection
Breakfast Dinner

The European Hawaii Today, leave the Portuguese mainland and fly to Ponta Delgada, capital of the Azores archipelago, located on the island of São Miguel. Meet your Local Expert for an orientation walk to admire the historic landmarks and attractive waterfront. Enjoy free time to explore more. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT PURE & NATURAL Mother Nature has created a land full of natural beauty, ready to be explored, in the blue immensity of the Atlantic. Waterfalls tumble down basalt cliffs, rainforest-covered hills are topped by spectacular crater lakes and pale-green pastures are hedged by a kaleidoscope of hydrangeas. Dive into the rich cultural heritage as well with warm welcomes by local residents who graciously share stories of proud history and traditions
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Volcanic Craters & Cups of Tea A fascinating day awaits! Drive to Ribeira Grande and stop at the top of Pico da Barrosa mountain to take in views of the volcano’s crater and the ocean. At Maia visit the oldest and only tea plantation in Europe, then continue to Furnas to see the area’s geothermal activity before enjoying an included lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a visit of the botanical gardens. Drive back to Ponta Delgada for a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L) TOUR HIGHLIGHT EUROPE’S CUP OF TEA Visit the oldest (and currently the only) tea plantation in Europe. Today the Tea Factory produces 40 tons of tea every year from 37 hectares of plantations without the use of chemicals products. One lump or two?
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Forbidden Fruit & Fruitful Landscapes Enjoy the morning at leisure before an afternoon drive to visit a pineapple plantation. Continue to Pico do Carvao viewpoint and take in the region’s stunning beauty. Drive to the bridge of Sete Cidades which separates two small, ecologically different lakes situated in the crater of a dormant volcano. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDERS Sete Cidades Lake is one of the seven Natural Wonders of Portugal and the largest natural freshwater reservoir in the Azores. The lake is actually two lagoons, called Green Lake (Lagoa Verde) and Blue Lake (Lagoa Azul), linked by a shallow channel. The differing hues of each lake are the natural result of varying reflected light, or it could be the legend of a blue-eyed shepherd and a green-eyed princess whose tears filled each lake with tears of forbidden love. You decide!
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At Leisure in Lisbon Pack your bags and depart the magical Island of San Miguel with a flight to Lisbon. Enjoy leisure time to explore more of the city. (B) ENHANCED FREE TIME EXPLORE MORE Enjoy free time in Lisbon to absorb more art and culture in one of the museums, stroll along the classic streets, browse the stores, or try local specialties, like the delicious pastel de nata
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Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)