Senhora da Rosa****

Senhora da Rosa****

Senhora da Rosa****

Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island, Azores

This world class spa hotel is a perfect add on for a few days before or after your holiday, only 10 mins from the centre of Ponta Delgada offering private and group pilates and yoga classes, tennis courts, an infinity pool and a hot tub in the pineapple glass house as well as a steam room and sauna. It boasts 2 excellent restaurants and is a perfect place before or after your activities on one of the holidays. Some guests stay here during the holiday  but please note due to the location, you will need taxi transfers or a hire car.

 

This charming boutique hotel has recently been refurbished to a very high standard. We absolutely love it! It is pure luxury and is positioned in a 12,000km farm with beautiful greenery and plenty of places to relax. The location is a 5 minute drive outside the centre of Ponta Delgada and a 7 minute drive from the Ponta Delgada airport. Guests can arrange taxi transfers to the boats and will be collected from the hotel for the land tours.  The Hotel is surrounded by beautiful tranquil landscaped gardens with an infinity swimming pool. There is also a tennis court and a jacuzzi set in the botanical glasshouse which is magical at night. The gym, Turkish bath and exercise studio is of a very high standard with a “reformer pilates machine”, 2 paddle courts, yoga, pilates and general exercise classes available.

You can choose from suites, garden villas and en suite rooms. The hotel also has a family suite, child minding service and a large children’s playroom. The Senhora has staff who monitor the children’s games, parents are welcome to interact as long as they wish. Their Magma restaurant either uses their own produce grown on site or local produce and they are the main ingredients throughout their menu. The hotel grows their own vegetables, fruit trees and flowers. Their chefs created the menu solely based on fresh and organic food. The Senhora also has a large wine cellar made up of the best wines in their region. The Magma bar provides guests with an extensive drinks menu, ambient music, snooker, snacks and a cosy fireplace. 

This hotel is located on the outskirts of Ponta Delgada. You will need to book and pay for taxi transfers to/from the boat base (approx. 8 mins by road). We suggest the taxis to the boat base are booked with the hotel reception and taxis to return to the hotel are booked with our boat base (or you can go to the nearby taxi rank).

If you have booked land tours, your pick up/drop off point will either be the boat base (you will need to book taxis as above) or we will arrange to collect and drop you back to Senhora da Rosa for a supplement of approx £10pp return

All airport transfers will be to and from the hotel. 

Accessible rooms:

Senhora da Rosa has an adapted standard room on the ground floor (twin or double bed configuration).

 

 
Hotel top amenities

 – Free WiFi in lobby

– Free WiFi in the rooms

– Free parking

– Infinity pool

– Air conditioning

– Restaurant

– Hotel rooftop bar

– Spa

– Shop

– Pool table

Hotel facilities

– 24 hour security 

– 24 hour reception 

– Room service

– Car park

– Concierge

– Deck chairs / Sun loungers

– Hotel rooftop bar

– Outdoor infinity pool

– Laundry service

– Restaurant

Room facilities

– Air conditioning

– Bathroom with bathtub/shower

– Cable TV

– Central heating

– Desk

– Flatscreen TV

– Free WiFi in the rooms

– Hairdryer

– Internet

– Room safe

– Telephone

– Garden views 

– Each room has a different mural of the Azores islands

 

Accessibility and For children

Accessibility

– Accessible parking

– Accessible paths / corridors

– Wheelchair accessible

– Adapted bedrooms

For Children

– Child / Baby cot

– Baby sitting services

– Kids club

– Baby safety gates

– Kids outdoor play equipment

– Indoor play area

– Strollers

Canadiano Urban Nature Hotel***

Canadiano Urban Nature Hotel***

Canadiano Urban Nature Hotel 3* 

Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island, Azores

The Canadiano Urban Nature Hotel is a recently renovated 3* superior hotel with a stylish, minimalistic design and top quality furnishings. The hotel has a strong sustainability policy which is integral to the design and service of the hotel. Just a 10 minute walk from our boat base, the location is in a quieter part of the town but also close to the historic city centre, museums, restaurants, shops and botanical gardens. Every one of the 50 rooms comes with a a private balcony, high quality beds and bedwear. Rooms also include a delightful lounge area and a modern ensuite bathroom. Amenities include a 43 inch TV, bedside USB charging ports, mini bar, kettle, safe and hairdryer. Free Wi-Fi  is available throughout the entire hotel and there is free parking. A delicious cooked breakfast together with cereals, fresh fruit and pastries is served each morning. The hotel also has an excellent restaurant, bar with lounge and 24 hour reception. 

Hotel Sete Cidades

Hotel Sete Cidades

Hotel Sete Cidades **

Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island, Azores

The Hotel Sete Cidades is situated in the centre of Ponta Delgada and just 10 minutes walk from our boat base in the marina. The rooms are decorated in a simplistic style with modern features with the option to choose balcony rooms that have views across the island towards the mountains. A good buffet breakfast is included every morning with fresh local produce and seasonal fruit. Hotel features include a rooftop terrace with panoramic views. All rooms have private ensuite bathrooms, free WIFI and cable TV. Rooms have large windows with mountain views and some have a balcony. The hotel consists of 32 rooms and 2 suites, newly refurbished and modernised.  

Hotel top amenities

 – Free WiFi 

– Free parking

– Air conditioning

Hotel facilities

 – 24-hour room service

– 24-hour reception

– Hotel safe

– Laundry service

– Lift

– Shared lounge/TV area

– House keeping

Room facilities

 – Air conditioning

– Modern bathroom

– Cable TV

– Central heating

– Desk

– Flatscreen TV

– Free WiFi in the rooms

– Luggage storage

be-a-marine-biologist-for-the-day

“Be a Marine Biologist for the Day”

Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island, Azores

Prices from: Adult £118, Child £67

All of our holidays offer the once in a life time opportunity for you to “Be a Marine Biologist for a Day” – the perfect program for those with a keen appetite to learn. You will enjoy talks from one of our marine biologist before spending a day with them learning research techniques such as data collection, photo ID and listening to underwater acoustics using the hydrophone. You will get away from the main tourist trail and have opportunities for a lot more contact with the animals. This a fully immersive day allowing you to step inside the shoes of our marine biologists and learn about their research. This activity can be added onto your holiday program.

Your day starts at our local boat base, walking distance from your hotel. You will then board the sturdy RIB zodiac and spend 4 hours at sea travelling further along the coast to rich feeding grounds, giving you a closer look into the lives of the whales and dolphins you’ll meet – some are even known by name! After your boat trip your marine biologist guide will spend a further 2 hours with you in the classroom at our boat base giving fun and educational audio visual presentations and talks. Do ask lots of questions!

You will be accompanied throughout the day by our expert local guides and marine biologists who love sharing their extensive knowledge of these incredible creatures. They will teach you research techniques such as data collection, photo ID and listening to underwater acoustics using the hydrophone.

You’ll learn about the biology, habitat and behaviour of the cetaceans and participate in valuable research and conservation initiatives helping to preserve the oceans for future generations.

This is a superb addition to any trip and is ideally suited to adults and children who are keen to get hands on in the world of conservation.

A packed lunch is given with the choice of eating out at sea or at the boat base. This tour is for 6 hours starting at 08h30 and finishing at approx. 3pm

NOTE: This tour operates subject to a minimum number of 8 people booking. If this number has not been reached, you will be offered a refund or alternative tour at your balance due date (8 weeks before departure).

“10/10 – a huge hit for the whole family. Especially teens disinterested in traditional sightseeing tourism!

 

Our Wednesday Marine Biologist for the day tour was the highlight of a great week. The Zodiac boat got us closer to the animals and we had extended views of about 5 sperm whales. The kids were also excited to see a turtle and Portuguese man o’war right next to the boat as well as the red crabs on Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo. On the back we saw 50+ bottlenose dolphins, again right next to the boat, which made a great end to the boat trip. – Smart famiy April 2022

 

The whole holiday was fantastic but “being a marine biologist for the day” has to go down as the highlight…Seeing the whales and dolphins up close is one thing but gaining an insight into what the
marine biologists are doing on a daily basis and being able to learn from them gives the experience an extra dimension. It was absolutely fascinating and well worth the extra money! – Fletcher Family June 2021

 

“Many thanks to you and the team. We had a really lovely holiday. Loved our two days out at sea, in particular the ‘Be a Marine Biologist Day’. We saw sperm whale, sei whale, risso’s dolphins and had an amazing encounter with a large group of bottlenose dolphins. Kids also fascinated by flying fish and Portuguese man o war. Really knowledgeable and engaging guides, they really caught the kid’s attention who were very excited to learn how to use a hydrophone and listen to the animals underwater – Roberts Family June 2019

 

The special tour “Be a Marine Biologist for a Day “ trip on the RIB was the highlight and our kids loved it. We saw Sperm Whales, Fin Whales and a Humpback and Common and Bottlenose Dolphins. On the full day trip we were often the only boat around as we had more time and other trips aren’t out on the sea at lunchtime. All in all we had a fantastic time…” Purslow family May 2018

 

Coasteering

Coasteering

 Prices: £95 (adult/teen/child)

Sao Miguel Island, Azores

Coasteering is an exciting, exhilarating experience set in uniquely beautiful surroundings around the Azores coastline.  This is a fun and educational tour – you will jump from cliffs into the Atlantic and climb volcanic rocks under the supervision of our expert guides!. You will also learn about the coastline fauna and see a variety of fish, sea birds, crabs and other marine species!