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Islands of the Azores: Environmental Science in Action

8 days in Portugal

Green and blue crater lakes among volcanic hills on Azores islands student tours.
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OVERVIEW

Explore the Azores as a living laboratory shaped by geology, ecology, and scientific discovery

In the Azores, students experience environmental science not as an abstract subject, but as something active, visible, and constantly unfolding around them. Surrounded by volcanic landscapes, crater lakes, geothermal activity, and rich marine ecosystems, they explore how natural systems are formed and how scientists understand and protect them. Along the way, they gain meaningful insight into future pathways in environmental science, marine biology, geology, conservation, and field research.

Islands of the Azores: Environmental Science in Action route map

What you’ll do

Explore a sample itinerary

Day 1: Fly overnight to Portugal

Day 2: Ponta Delgada

Meet your Tour Director at the destination airport

Take a walking tour of Ponta Delgada

Visit a local science center

Day 3: Ponta Delgada

Participate in an environmental science interactive activity

Stop at a coastal viewpoint to admire the islands' striking geological formations

Visit the Volcanology Center

Day 4: Ponta Delgada

Learn about environmental science firsthand with a scientist in Ponta Delgada

Travel to Sete Cidades, famous for its natural beauty and location in a dormant volcanic crater

Stop for a photo at Twin Lakes, two separate bodies of water connected by a strait and bridge

Hike to a scenic overlook

Visit a lava tube

Day 5: Ponta Delgada

Participate in a whale watching excursion

Learn how to sample and analyze local water sources with local scientists

Day 6: Ponta Delgada

Visit a local farm

See the Lagoa do Fogo, a crater lake within a volcanic complex

Visit Caldeira Velha

Day 7: Ponta Delgada • Furnas

Take a guided day trip to Furnas village, where you will:

  • See Furnas hot spring

  • Tour a tea plantation

  • Visit Furnas Monitoring and Research Centre (CMIF)

  • Enjoy a Cozido das Caldeiras lunch

  • Visit the Terra Nostra botanical gardens

  • Enjoy a soak in a thermal bath

  • Visit Caldeiras Furnas Village

Day 8: Depart for home

What makes this tour special?

Dive into environmental science through an interactive workshop in Ponta Delgada

Dive into environmental science through an interactive workshop in Ponta Delgada

Learn about volcanic island formation and geological history with an expert local guide

Learn about volcanic island formation and geological history with an expert local guide

Take to the water on a whale-watching adventure and discover the science behind the Azores’ rich marine ecosystem

Take to the water on a whale-watching adventure and discover the science behind the Azores’ rich marine ecosystem

All of our tours are powered by our proven EF Method

Learn more

Your experience includes

Airfare & transportation
Hotels
Regional-style meals
Guided sightseeing
Entrances
Full-time Tour Director
Expert Local Guides
Personalized Learning Support
Continuous Support
Worldwide Presence

Travelers save when you lead this tour before October 1, 2027

See 2027 pricing

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Payment plan options

Pay over time interest-free or pay all at once

Fundraising

Every traveler receives a no-fee donation page

Global Citizen Scholarship

Every year EF awards $100,000 to student travelers

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Frequently asked questions

Let’s unpack that

We’ll connect you with your personal Tour Consultant—someone who works with other teachers in your area and specializes in planning EF tours. They’ll walk you through this itinerary (along with other tours in our portfolio that match your curriculum or catch your eye), explain student pricing, and show you just how easy it is to partner with EF.

Once you decide to lead a tour, your Tour Consultant will help you get school administrators on board, students excited, and families ready to enroll. You’ll host an informational meeting to kick off the enrollment period, and we’ll provide everything you need—from a digital presentation to printed handouts, parent resources, and more.

You’ll have a dedicated Tour Director who will guide your group from the moment you land in your first destination until your final goodbye. They:

  • Take all the same transportation and stay in the same hotels as your group

  • Speak the local language (but lead the tour in English!)

  • Support you 24/7 as your right hand

  • Offer deep cultural context to help students feel connected to their destination

  • Handle all the logistics, so you don’t have to

  • Are the secret ingredient that makes your tour truly shine

Yes! You earn a free spot on tour as soon as six paying travelers enroll. For every additional six paying travelers, you earn another free spot for an adult chaperone of your choosing. For example, if 30 students sign up, that’s four free chaperone spots in addition to yours.

All travelers on international EF tours must have a valid passport. When it comes to documentation, every traveler and destination is different, so once your group starts enrolling, we’ll help direct you and your families to relevant resources.
 
Passports should have at least three blank pages and be valid for at least six months after your return date.

EF has set the standard for travel-based learning for over 60 years. Not only do our educational tours amplify the lessons you’re already exploring in your classroom, but they also help build more empathy, open-mindedness, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding.
 
Our educational philosophy, the EF Method, is built into every itinerary, so your students are immersed in a continuous journey of engaging, hands-on learning in real-world situations from the moment they step off the plane.

Yes! Plan to explore each destination primarily on foot, so be sure to pack your comfiest sneakers. You’ll have time to rest on the bus while traveling between cities and activities. If any travelers need accommodations, just let your EF Travel Team know in advance.

Every hotel your group stays in is required to meet EF’s rigorous standards for quality, safety, and cleanliness. (We have an entire team dedicated to ensuring that!) However, it’s important to remember that international hotels designed for student travel may feel a little different from what students are familiar with. For example, some hotels may not have an elevator. Rooms will have multiple single beds or shared double beds, and every room will have a private bathroom.

You’ll receive more detailed meal information closer to your tour, but here’s an overview of what to expect:

  • Daily breakfast is served continental-style at your hotel.

  • Most tours include daily group dinners, which take place at local restaurants (or your hotel) and feature a mix of familiar favorites and local dishes from a set menu.

  • Lunches are usually not included, but this varies by itinerary. If lunch isn’t included, this is the perfect opportunity for students to explore local markets and discover their new favorite food.

Travelers will share allergy or dietary information with EF after signing up, and we’ll help make the necessary accommodations.

We’re here to help! Start a live one-on-one chat with a team member.

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