Overview
Taste of Portugal with Azores
Thrilling natural wonders. Timeless traditions. Portugal is calling with a wealth of wonders to amaze and enchant. From Porto to Lisbon, your senses are filled with visions of natural wonder, wonderful wines, tempting tastes, and amazing artistry on this escorted tour of Portugal. Your vacation in Portugal continues with a flight from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada—to soak in some of Mother Nature’s finest work on the Atlantic Ocean. Take in the views of volcanic masterpieces from the top of Pico da Barrosa Mountain and visit Europe’s only tea plantation on the massive Maia farm. Visit Furnas’ geothermal wonders and marvel at the volcanic crater, cradling the luminous Sete Cidades Lake—one of Portugal’s Seven Natural Wonders.
Highlights of Taste of Portugal with Azores
City Highlights
Inclusions
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect vacation—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Return flight from Lisbon to Azores
Price Details US
Transportation
Notes
Travelers Notes
Services of the Tour Director end on day 7. Island portion includes services of a local expert.
UNESCO Sites
Historic Centre of Porto|Royal Building of Mafra
Small Group
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select Europe dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus Europe escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized European tour—without the crowds.
Product Group
Taste of Portugal
Private Touring
6 guests in a party: $1,987*18 guests in a party: $455*
Meals
8 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners
Itineraries
Day 1
ARRIVE IN PORTO, PORTUGAL Welcome to Porto! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2
PORTO Panoramas & Port Wine PORTO Follow your Local Guide for a walking tour in the city center. Enjoy a glass of Porto. Later, relax on a river cruise and take in stunning views of the surroundings.TOUR HIGHLIGHT LOCAL TASTES You’re invited to the home of the most internationally recognized Porto wines at the magnificent Sandeman Wine Cellars. Here, taste centuries of tradition in a glass of Port wine in the city that bears its name. Saúde!
Day 3
PORTO–AGUEDA–COIMBRA Street Art & Academic Honors AGUEDA Take a stroll and admire the street artCOIMBRA Orientation walk of the University town. (B) 99mi/ 160kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURAL GEMS Agueda has embraced color, fun, and street art in a fantastical and fancy-free way. Brightly colored balloons, huge street murals, painted benches, pots filled with flowers of hot pink, red, and yellow lined all the different main streets of the town.
Day 4
COIMBRA Culture & Bairrada Wine COIMBRA Enjoy a wine tasting in the Bairrada region. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURE & TRADITION Since 1937, this unique place has produced its own sparkling wine, spirits, and Bairrada wines. You’ll be dazzled by the beauty of the galleries excavated in the rock, in which the millions of aging bottles rest. The magnificent Baga room is devoted to tastings and banquets, while the museum offers 80 years of history exposed in the Bairrada room, along witha beautiful wine shop that complement your visit to one of the most emblematic spaces of Bairrada.
Day 5
COIMBRA–LISBON Panoramas & Port Wine LISBON Guided sightseeing includes a photo stop at Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. (B) 146mi/ 235kmTOUR 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.
Day 6
LISBON–EXCURSION TO MAFRA, SINTRA AND CASCAIS Portuguese Royalties MAFRA [LF] guided visit of Mafra includes the Royal Palace, the convent and John V Library. SINTRA Free time for lunchCASCAIS Free time to browseLISBON Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) LOCAL FAVORITEHISTORY & HERITAGE Learn about the colony of bats which have made their home behind the bookshelves of the library and that ensure the 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
Day 7
LISBON–PONTA DELGADA The European Hawaii LISBON Fly to Ponta DelgadaPONTA DELGADA Orientation walk. Free time. (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.
Day 8
PONTA DELGADA. EXCURSION TO THE CENTRE OF THE ISLAND Volcanic Craters & Cups of Tea RIBEIRA GRANDE Stop at the top of Pico da Barrosa mountain and take in views of the volcano’s crater and the ocean. MAIA Visit the oldest and only tea plantation in Europe. FURNAS See geothermal activity in the area. Free time for lunch. Visit the botanical gardens. PONTA DEL GADA Dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTEUROPE’S CUP OF TEA 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 with without the use of chemicals products. One lump or two?
Day 9
PONTA DELGADA Forbidden Fruit & Fruitful Landscapes PONTA DELGADA 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. Next drive to the bridge of Sete Cidades.TOUR HIGHLIGHTNATURAL WONDERS Sete Cidades Lake is located in a volcanic crater about 4 kilometres long by 2 kilometres wide with a depth of 30 metres. The 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!
Day 10
PONTA DELGADA–LISBON Leisure Time in Lisbon PONTA DELGADA Fly to Lisbon.LISBON Free time. (B)ENHANCED FREE TIME Time to pack your bags and depart the magical Island of San Miguel with a flight to Lisbon to relax and reminisce over your adventure in Portugal.
Day 11
LISBON Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Departures
Hotels
| # | Name | Description | City | Address | Rating |
| 1 | Holiday Inn Porto Gaia | A modern 212-room high rise hotel near the historical Porto city centre with a chic atrium bar and culinary concept restaurant serving traditinal Portuguese cuisine. Amenities include a gym, spa and Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout. | Porto | Rua Diogo de Macedo, 220 Vila Nova de Gaia | First-Class |
| 2 | Vila Gale Coimbra | The 229 rooms of this contemporary Hotel overlooking the Mondego River are warmly decorated with a dance theme. All rooms have air conditioning, Free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TV. Massages and beauty treatments are available at the extensive Satsanga SPA area, where guests can also enjoy an indoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath and hot tub. [p] | Coimbra | Rua Abel Dias Urbano, 20 | First-Class |
| 3 | Lumen Lisboa | Lumen Lisboa is located within walking distance from Marques de Pombal Square and the Avenida Liberdade. Popular points of interest near the hotel include Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, Dona Maria II National Theatre and Rossio. The property offers 160 soundproof guestrooms, decorated in a contemporary style, which are bright and spacious. They all come with air conditioning, flat screen TV, a desk, and a wardrobe as a standard. A terrace with sun loungers or beach chairs, a rooftop bar, and a fitness center are also at guests' disposal. | Lisbon | Ruo Sousa Martins 18/20 | Superior First-Class |
| 4 | Azoris Royal Garden | This welcoming modern hotel has a seasonal outdoor swimming pool with a terrace and Zen-style gardens. All of the elegant 193 guest rooms are air-conditioned, decorated with neutral tones and come with a private bathroom, hairdryer, minibar, cable-TV, in-room safe and Free Wi-Fi access. A tennis court, a wellness center and a heated indoor pool are also available. The on-site restaurant serves local and international cuisine, there is also a piano bar for drinks and a cafe that overlooks the landscaped gardens. | Ponta Delgada | Rua de Lisboa | Superior First-Class |
