Geography Study trips to the Azores

Curriculum Themes

Natural Hazards

Tectonic Hazards

Effects of Hazards

Plate Tectonics

The Hazard Management Cycle

Changing Cities

Why the Azores?

The Azores are 9 islands of volcanic origin, based on the intersection of the North American tectonic plate, the Eurasian tectonic plate and the African tectonic plate. The islands still have 26 active volcanoes, with 8 of those being underwater. The Azores are the ideal islands for geography students to enhance their knowledge by viewing volcanoes and learning about them first hand from experts. Hearing from experts who live with these natural phenomena on a daily basis, and the effects that living with them have on the surrounding areas and its environment is a truly academically enriching experience.

We adore the Azores!

The Azores islands are jam packed full of activities for geography students of all ages to enjoy; from botanical gardens, to waterfalls, hot springs to various forms of power stations, we can adapt the trip to all aspects of the curriculum and cater for the specific needs of any group wanting to witness this breath-taking destination.

What to do on a Geography study trip to the Azores?

There are so many activities for students to explore Azores. Here we have just a few excursions we can include in a bespoke itinerary.

The Furnas Valley became popular because the local people started to use the water to treat their health problems, such as rheumatism and obesity. Furnas has hundreds of small springs and streams amongst the valley, all with different properties and benefits. The Terra Nostra Garden botanical garden is over 200 years old and was born in the midst of this magnificent water system; it contains a geothermal pool where the warm spring water (35º C to 40º C) provides a feeling of rest and relaxation that is possible at very few locations in the world.

#furnasvalley #furnas #lagoadasfurnas

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This is the biggest fresh-water lake in the Azores, situated in the volcanic craters that form the Island, and is classified as Protected Landscape. It attracts crowds for its beautiful and magnificent scenery.

Paisagens que nos inspiram! #wonder #breathe www.azoresairlines.pt

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This is an underground building that aims to inform and educate on the Capenlinhos volcano eruption and the formation of the archipelago. It also aims to educate on the history and importance of the Island’s lighthouses.
The Furnas Monitoring and Research Centre (CMIF) was created with the purpose of teaching the history and evolution of the Furnas Valley. Ideal for students learning about the formations of geological landscapes.

Mount Pico is the highest mountain in Portugal; it is a stratovolcano that’s nearly 8000ft above sea level. It is associated with 3 historic eruptions, the last being in 1720. Many people choose to climb this mountain to witness a volcano first hand and see the amazing views of the islands from the top.

There are over 20 different species of whales and dolphins in the Azores; why not spend the morning exploring the seas on a boat and trying to spot some of them?

In addition, you can also fill your days with the following

  • Visiting the lava caves
  • Visiting the geothermal power station and hydroelectric power station
  • Visiting the only tea plantation in Europe
  • Visiting the island’s lighthouses.

Example Itineraries

Our educational travel experts have spent considerable time crafting a selection of ready-made itineraries for your geography trip to the Azores, which you will find below. However, we can also create a totally bespoke and unique itinerary to meet the educational needs of your group.

Day 1 Arrive on the island of Ponta Delgada. Have a bus tour of Furnas Lake, Terra Nostra Park and the Furnas monitoring and research centre.
Day 2 Bus tour of Sete Cidade lake and exploring the town. Explore Ferraria and the lava caves.
Day 3 Visit the Capelinhos interpretation centre and a hike around Caldeira.
Day 4 Climb Mount Pico.
Day 5Visit the geothermal power station, hydroelectric power station and the waterfall of Caldeira Velha.

Getting there

The Azores are islands around 1500KM away from Portugal. There is no direct flight from the UK to the islands, so there is a transfer flight from Lisbon (Ryanair, Azores airlines and TAP Air Portugal all cover this transfer flight.) EasyJet, Ryanair and TAP Air Portugal all fly from major UK airports to Lisbon. Inter-Island flights will all be included.

 

Where to Stay

Hotel Neat The Neat Hotel describe themselves as ‘young and hip but also professional and comfortable.’ It has 120 rooms and offers snack services, a lounge area and a gym. There is free Wi-Fi as they encourage you to share the wonders of the islands.


Hotel Horta

With a scenic view of the bay of Horta from most rooms in the hotel, the Hotel Horta has the perfect central location of the Island. The hotel has Wi-Fi, a garden and a swimming pool for time of relaxation. Most rooms have balconies and toiletries provided.

When to visit the Azores?

It is very common to get all 4 seasons in one day in the Azores, however their rainy season is from October to March. April to September is the best time to go as there are calmer seas for boat rides and whale watching. The islands are very religious and therefore there are a lot of festivals around Easter time; depending on the purpose of the trip, taking part in or just watching the festivals could add to your experience.

Our Recommendations

Find out what previous groups did on their study trips in our case studies:

The Chase School: Geography Trip to Morocco

Food Technology Trip to Cyprus

Read more of our case studies here.

 

Let’s talk.

 

Let’s talk.

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