Itinerary

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.

   Accommodation: Lumen Hotel

2. Lisbon, Portugal - Tour Begins

   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.

   Meals: Dinner
   Accommodation: Lumen Hotel

3. Lisbon - Belem - Sintra - Lisbon

   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 Monument to the Discoveries and the Tower of Belem (UNESCO). Travel to Sintra (UNESCO), the summer residence of Portuguese royalty and visit the National Palace. Enjoy some free time for lunch on your own and explore this storybook town at your own pace. This evening, over Portuguese cuisine and wine, listen to local artists perform the traditional Fado (UNESCO).

   Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
   Accommodation: Azoris Royal Garden Hotel, Ponta Delgada

4. Lisbon - Free Day

   Today is free for you to explore Lisbon on your own. Traditional neighborhoods such as Alfama, a vibrant culinary scene and a myriad of famous miradouros (viewpoints) beckon a leisurely visit. If you would prefer to explore Portugal’s famed Riviera you may choose to join your Tour Manager in the late afternoon for a unique optional tour that transports you to the coastal towns of Cascais and Estoril.

   Meals: Breakfast
   Accommodation: Azoris Royal Garden Hotel, Ponta Delgada

5. Lisbon - St. Michael, Azores - 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.

   Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
   Accommodation: Azoris Royal Garden Hotel, Ponta Delgada

6. Terra Nostra Botanical Park - 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.

   Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
   Accommodation: Azoris Royal Garden Hotel, Ponta Delgada

7. Ponta Delgada

   Make the most of a day at leisure. Perhaps you will take an optional whale watching adventure and cruise over the waves with an expert biologist followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Regardless of your Azorean activities during the day, gather in the late afternoon to explore a local pineapple plantation and learn more about this species introduced to the island by Portuguese navigators. Then, enjoy a cocktail and dinner in one of the best family-run restaurants of Ponta Delgada.

   Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
   Accommodation: Pestana Casino Park Hotel

8. Ponta Delgada - Sete Cidades - Ribeira Grande - 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). Learn about 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. After, travel to the quaint town of Ribeira Grande where we will have time free time for lunch. End your full day of touring with a visit to Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Nature Reserve, where watermills and nature create a lush, otherworldly setting.

   Meals: Breakfast
   Accommodation: Pestana Casino Park Hotel

9. Ponta Delgada - Funchal, Madeira

   Fly to Madeira, the “Pearl of the Atlantic.” After our afternoon arrival, we will embark on a walking tour of the capital city of Funchal, to get our first glimpse at 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.

   Meals: Breakfast
   Accommodation: Pestana Casino Park Hotel

10. Funchal

    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 the colorful Santa Maria Street, where vibrant murals and brightly painted doors liven the streets and the many cafes 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 amidst a backdrop of folk dancers and lively music.

    Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
    Accommodation: Pestana Casino Park Hotel

11. Funchal - Câmara de Lobos - Porto Moniz - Funchal

    Begin your day with a tour that will take you to Câmara de Lobos, a traditional village on a picture-perfect bay which 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 banana plantations and vineyards en route to the world’s second-highest cliff, Cabo Girão where you can walk on the highest glass skywalk in Europe. Continue to a sugar mill and learn about the importance of sugar cane production to the island in the15th century. Sample local specialties made at the mill 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.

    Meals: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Lumen Hotel

12. Funchal - Free day

    The day is yours to explore independently. or, perhaps you will 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 a 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.

    Meals: Breakfast

13. Funchal - Lisbon

    Board your flight and return to the metropolitan energy of Lisbon. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Later, bid “adeus” to Portugal during a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

14. Lisbon - Tour Ends

    Depart for home with Portugal in your heart as your tour ends today.

    Meals: Breakfast