São Miguel Azores: Hike and Snorkeling into the wild with a local

Absolutely gorgeous route for a short hike ,especially during hydrangea season, with great views. The highlight for me personally was the snorkeling. We were provided snorkeling equipment and Gabriel went above and beyond to help with some stuff we failed to bring or think of ahead of time. I felt I had ample time to swim and look at all the fish. We got lucky and were able to see a small moray eel and the location is perfect for anyone to be able to comfortably snorkel. Gabriel was great to chat with and felt like a real mix of a tour guide and just a chill guy to talk to. Highly recommend if you want to have a pure enjoyable experience. Obrigada sr Gabriel por todos. Eu quero snorkel mais depois deste viagem. Ainda free dive um dia.

The best half day adventure hiking followed by snorkeling! Azores Islands Experience created a magical day. Our guide, Gabriel is authentic, super fun and a local so he knows where to go! Goes at your pace. Bring layers and your good hiking shoes for traction. Wetsuits and gear provided for snorkeling. Spectacular views.

The best day! Definitely book with Azores Islands Experience - guide Gabriel! Authentic, super fun day with a local guy who knows the island. Beautiful hike in the forest and along the Northern coast with magnificent views, followed by snorkeling in a local spot (wear good hiking sneakers; water equipment including wet suits provided). 5 star guide and experience!

Our driver was great. (Mauricio o? From Povoação )I mean he really made us comfortable on narrow, fast roads. He was informative, thoughtful in how he went to sights because of weather and very willing to capture it all for us thru pictures.

Gabriele was amazing!! He picked us up promptly and took us on an amazing hike. The views were stunning. Gabriele was very informative about everything and gave great recommendations. He is extremely friendly. The snorkeling was awesome! We saw a bunch of different types of fish and the gear was good quality. I would use him again as a guide. Bring water on the hike on warmer days.

We had an amazing experience with Gabriel! The hike was beautiful and felt very authentic — he really knows the island and made the whole time relaxed and enjoyable. The weather before the snorkeling wasn’t great, but we were lucky and had good visibility in the water. Gabriel was friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what he does. Highly recommend this tour if you want a great Azores adventure!

Fantastic experience. Gabrielle is a knowledgeable and personable guide. The hike, while moderately difficult, is worth every step. So many incredible views. The snorkeling portion is equally fun and interesting. Highly recommend this adventure.

I enjoyed a one to one with Gabriel because of a cancellation. His narrative was full if knowledge and anecdote from island life and his own experiences. The hike was superb with so much amazing scenery in a relatively small area. Gabriel set a steady pace and is mindful of the capabilities of his clients. On the drive to the snorkel site he took time to explain how local people made a living on the land and sea. He spoke about the past whaling industry and the tough life local people lived. I arranged to use my own snorkel, however Gabriel again impressed me my asking to check it for safety. Snorkelling was from the shore and good changing facilities are available. The site is a no fishing area in a relatively sheltered lagoon with a narrow inlet from the sea. One side comprising a lava flow the other re enforced with large boulders. Visibility was about 3-5m and the rocky sides provided an excellent habitat for a variety of fish species in prolific numbers. I was privileged to enjoy Gabriel's undivided attention. He is an excellent guide and an enthusiast for the Azores.

We loved the experience not only because we have seen wonderful places but also because of the excellent treatment given by the guide, Gabriel, who also speaks Spanish. We have been a mini group of 2 people with certain particularities and adapted the experience in such a way that we can enjoy it to the fullest. The walk takes you through a beautiful forest with a spectacular waterfall and then you reach some viewpoints with unforgettable views. Swimming with shnorhel then revitalizes and relaxes. It turned out that the water was not as cold as I expected and it was a very refreshing experience. Thank you very much, Gabriel. Moito obligada.

Unbeatable experience. Our guide spoke multiple languages and kept explaining stories and anecdotes of the island, along with the most conventional information about the climate and geology of the archipelago. The 4h of the activity was spent flying between dreamscapes and snorkeling in a curious natural setting. Recommended!