LizG714, Jun 2023
Road Scholar group hiking in the Azores
This guided tour of two islands in the Azores (Terceira and Sao Miguel) was a terrific value and all-around excellent experience. Led by UK-national, Daniel Torres, and several Azorean guides, this Road Scholar package lasted 11 days and was geared toward an "older" crowd (60+). Beginning on Terceira, highlights included a stay in a charming boutique hotel in the UNESCO Heritage City of Angra do Heroismo, within walking distance of scenic gardens, a protected bay, and the hiking trails on Monte Brazil. Nearly all meals were included and were of good quality and variety, with special appeal to seafood lovers.
Our daily schedule typically included a short (never more than 45 minutes) bus ride to a hiking trail at a caldera or seaside cliffs, hiking for 2-4 hours with guides and commentary on earpieces, and a late lunch either back at the hotel or as a picnic. Afternoons usually included leisure time with suggestions for local museums or other attractions. Trails were easy to moderately challenging and did not involve changes in elevation over about 1000 feet.
On the downside, our group was larger than we anticipated (23), but we often split into smaller subgroups (e.g., for the hikes), and our bus had a large capacity so we could spread out, with our backpacks and gear not in our laps. Also, with so many congenial fellow travelers, there was always someone new to get to know at meals!
Our leader, Daniel, was outstandingly caring and accommodated everyone's varying needs regarding diet and physical ability.
The volcanoes, thermal pools, calderas, cow-dotted hillsides, stone walls, and quaint villages provided something new every day. Weather can be variable, so our itinerary was flexible, and we were very fortunate to have clear days on which to take in the higher elevation sights. Wildlife is limited, because these are quite isolated islands. However, there are some endemic bird species to watch for, and one can see lizards and even bats during the daytime. If you are very lucky, you could spot a whale from shore.
The not-to-miss spot, in my opinion, whether you stay on the premises or not, is the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel's thermal pool and botanical garden. The pool is huge and naturally heated to 100 degrees. The garden has 31 acres of winding paths, grottoes, streams, forests, cycads, fern trees, and just about any plant you can imagine. Eden indeed!
