Pico Island, Azores, 4/11/2025, National Geographic Endurance
Aboard the
National Geographic Endurance
Europe
Our first day of activities in the Azores started on the island of Pico. We chose between a tasting of the island’s wines or a visit to Lajas, a cute and tiny village where the last whalers conducted activities until the late 1960s. The sun was rising, and we were grateful to be walking and learning about the culture of this remote but incredible island of the Azores.
We finished our day with Captain Oliver’s welcome and another wonderful meal from Chef Sarah.
Maria Intxaustegi is an internationally awarded maritime archaeologist, naval historian, commercial diver, professional offshore sailor, and expedition guide from the Basque Country.
Colors were bright on this marvelous spring day in Santa Maria. The sun shined as hikers made their long descent down to Anjos. The moderate to strenuous walk started at the Church of Santo Espírito, zigzagged around grassy fields, cows, cedars, and windmills and went to where the tallest waterfall in Portugal jumps over the cliff. As the steep trail ran down to the village of Maia along the rock walls, we enjoyed the star-shaped yellow flowers of the endemic Aichryson santamariensis. Those that preferred to explore the island on the scenic tour visited the top of the island and Pico Alto, the church where Columbus’ crew stopped to pray while returning from the New World, and other viewpoints, including São Lourenço Bay, truly a postcard come to life. In the afternoon we had presentations by Angélica Bas Gómez on cetacean migration through the Azores, and National Geographic Photographer Krista Rossow instructed us on how to photograph people. The talks were interrupted by a couple of blue whales during our crossing from Santa Maria to São Miguel. The night brought us the Azorean guitar - Viola da Terra - played by Rafael Carvalho, a local master musician. It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day.
Today, guests aboard National Geographic Endurance awoke early in the harbor of Praia, Terceira Island, named because it was the third island of the Azores Archipelago to be colonized by the Portuguese. After breakfast, guests had the choice between a hike on the volcanic coast or a leisurely guided tour of the island. During the hikes, the natural pools in front of the sea were visible and inland, the fog created a misty impression in the fields, making the cows disappear. After the burger lunch buffet on board, guests continued to explore the volcanic island and the lava tunnel, or they went on a UNESCO-site city exploration with a visit to Angra do Heroismo. Guests returned on board for recap and an exquisite degustation of Azorean cheese. Following dinner, Naturalist Claudia gave a presentation about literature under the sea.
Today was the warmest day of the trip so far, with blue skies and visibility of a hundred kilometers from the top of the Graciosa Caldera, the central landmark of the island. It’s very rare that one can see four of the other Azore Islands from Graciosa, and that was the case today. In one direction we could see Pico Volcano behind San Jorge Island and Faial next to them. In the other direction there was the blue silhouette of Terceira, tomorrow’s destination. In the morning, guests had the opportunity to go on a scenic bus tour around the island, going on a moderate hike around the caldera by gravel road, or trekking along the caldera rim followed by a descent to the caldera center on a strenuous hike. On both hikes, guests passed through a lava tube cave, and guests of all options visited a deep Furna do Enxofre cave with an underground lake in the center of the Graciosa Caldera. After lunch aboard, guests who hiked in the morning could go on the scenic bus tour or have a leisurely walk to appreciate the spectacular coastal landscape featuring vertical lava cliffs edged with a maze of stone wall vineyards.
