Island Hopping In The Azores

Spot moray eels, slipper lobsters, nudibranchs and stingrays in fascinating marine environments from volcanic slopes to submarine walls and canyons.

Grab lunch at a local café before slipping back into the water to explore the other sites. Alternatively, take your hire car for a trip around the island, visiting different villages. For those looking for an active afternoon adventure, we can also arrange for you to go paragliding, canyoning and riding, should you wish.

Guided by local experts, you will visit secret lagoons and caves (including the largest lava tube in Portugal) dotted around the island, stopping for a picnic lunch overlooking the towering Pico volcano.

Known as the 'green island', São Miguel features a landscape reminiscent of Jurassic Park, characterised by towering mountains, glassy crater lakes and verdant valleys.

Your hire car will be delivered to your hotel in the afternoon. Either set out by car or on foot to explore the surrounding countryside or spend the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel where you will spend the next four days.

A few hundred feet out to sea, the small Isla Franca is surrounded by a marine reserve frequented by huge shoals of Turkish wrasse, moray eels, congers and eagle rays. In the afternoon, you can opt to dive again or explore another part of the island, whether you choose to cruise north, driving through tea plantations and discovering hidden surf beaches or beetle along the rugged south coast stopping off at one of the many fantastic viewpoints.

Located 900 yards off the coast of Ponta Delgada, the impressive SS Dori wreck was involved in Operation Overlord in Normandy. You will descend to a maximum depth of 21 metres, witnessing the largely intact ship surrounded by shoals of pelagic fish.

In the afternoon you can opt to head back out on the open water to spot whales and dolphins - there are over 20 different types of cetaceans in the surrounding seas, so make sure your camera is fully charged!

On arrival in Santa Maria, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. The most southerly island (and consequently the warmest), Santa Maria is characterised by fertile rolling hillsides, dramatic plunging cliffs and spectacular coves - it is one of the few islands with sandy beaches.

Once you have checked in to your room, spend the day at leisure, be that relaxing by the hotel's pool or walking along the picturesque coastline.

Home to arguably the best diving in Europe, there area has a huge variety of different dive sites to explore. Due to the possibility of strong currents, diving here is best suited to more experienced divers (although for those less experienced, the closer site of Ambrosio offers similarly exciting manta and mobula encounters). When you descend, you will be rewarded with up to 40-metre visibility and the possibility of large pelagic species, including manta rays, mobula rays and several species of shark.

In the afternoon, you can opt to head back out on the boat or stay on land. For those seeking active exploration, we can arrange a number of activities, including mountain biking, kayaking, riding and surfing. For those seeking some much-needed R&R, indulge in a spa treatment back at your hotel.

The offshore site Ambrosio offers a great opportunity to see rays, tuna and barracuda while hanging from a moored rope, whilst at Blue Sharks dive site the water is chummed to attract these fascinating predators. For those looking for something a little closer to home, Pedrinha and Baixa da Maia offer some stunning diving.

In the afternoon, borrow a bike from the hotel and lazily meander down pretty country lanes, stopping in different villages and discovering the secret waterfalls, coves and vineyards that dot the island.

In the afternoon you will be transferred back to the airport in plenty of time for your 30-minute flight back to São Miguel. Once you have arrived you will be privately transported to the east side of the island. Depending on which hotel you choose, the journey should take no longer than 45 minutes. Your hire car will be dropped off in the evening at your hotel.

Hike all away around the lake and you will find the most beautiful viewpoints, the Miradouro do Piso, offering spectacular views over the lake, the surrounding towering mountains and rugged coastline. Soothe any aching muscles in the thermal pools before dining on the area's famed dish, colzido das Furnas, a local stew baked in the hot earth.

You will start your day on the ocean with a dive or two around an ocean crater called La Ilha, just off the south coast of Sao Miguel. The unique rock formations support some fascinating marine life, including fangtooth morays, Mediterranean morays, eagle rays, parrot fish, nudibranchs, octopus, stingrays, barracuda, tuna and groupers. Following the dive, you will cruise around the island while enjoying a delicious lunch.

Once you have moored, you can head drive up to Sete Cidades to watch the sun drop over the crater lakes, or head back to your hotel for a delicious dinner.

In the afternoon, head into Ponta Delgada to sample some local cuisine - Tasca in particular is a superb little tapas bar with a great atmosphere. In the evening, stay in town for Lava Jazz, a great jazz bar with a fun atmosphere.