School trips to The Azores

Why visit the Azores?

Explore the spectacular Azores

The volcanic archipelago of the Azores is one of two autonomous regions of Portugal. Most of our groups base themselves in Ponta Delgada, the archipelago’s main city on the island of São Miguel. The largest and most populous of the nine volcanic islands of the Azores, this is the perfect destination for a geography school trip.

The city is a fantastic base from which to explore the island – great transport links mean you can reach all your visits and activities easily, while being able to take advantage of all the city’s amenities in the evenings.

Visits within easy reach of Ponta Delgada include Sete Cidades, the spectacular volcanic area, Caldeira Velha, a waterfall of warm, ionised water, and the Furnas Valley, which is the centre of the island’s unique geothermal activity.

Experience incredible geology

The Azores is the perfect destination for a geography school trip focusing on volcanoes and geology.

The Azores sit on top of the meeting point of three of the world’s major tectonic plates – the Eurasian Plate, the African Plate and the North American Plate. This meeting point is known as the Azores Triple Junction, and the faults and fractures in this area mean that the islands experience much volcanic and seismic activity.

Your geography students will love the opportunity to explore the volcanic landscapes of São Miguel. And one experience not to be missed is the opportunity to try the typical Azorean dish known as cozido. This is a stew cooked slowly cooked in fumaroles and is a great way of demonstrating to students the geothermal activity happening right under their feet.

A fantastic alternative to Iceland

The Azores are becoming increasingly popular among our geography school groups because they offer similar experiences to Iceland, with much milder weather, thanks to the passing Gulf Stream.

Your students will still be able to explore a volcanic landscape and develop their understanding of plate tectonics, without having to carry several layers of clothing with them to cater for the constantly changing weather, which is something that has to be considered when visiting Iceland.

And while Iceland does offer plenty of American-style food to keep your students going, the traditional cuisine is something of an acquired taste. The Azores, on the other hand, are known for their incredible produce and their delicious traditional cuisine. In fact, one of the highlights of your trip will be tasting the cozido cooked in fumaroles.