Santa Maria Island Jeep Safari Full Day Tour
Description
Santa Maria Island has much more to see than what the ordinary viewpoints have to show – there are some details you only get to see if you choose to go off-road. By signing up on our Jeep Safari, you get to visit the main points of interest in the island, from a total different point of view. Our service also includes interpreting what you see concerning History, culture, fauna and flora.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start at Forte São Brás and learn about its historical importance in defending the island;
On Anjos, visit the tidal pools as well as the first church of the Azores. Also, find out about Cristopher Columbus memorable stopover in the island.
Barreiro da Faneca, a well-known geosite will surely take your breath away with its Mars-lookalike landscape
Still on the North of the island, take a glance at Ilhéu das Lagoinhas and stop at Santa Bárbara parish where its inhabitants take great pride at preserving Santa Maria’s unique architecture
On the way to São Lourenço, the most beautiful bay of the Azores, you’ll visit another memorable geosite of the island – an abandoned quarry whose intense extraction in the past lead to an amazing scenery – Poço da Pedreira.
Visit São Lourenço, the most beautiful bay in the Azores
Santo Espírito will be next, the parish owning the greatest example of the Azorean baroque-style – its remarkable church;
Down we go to Maia, another well-known bay if the island for its vineyard landscape as well as Cascata do Aveiro, second tallest waterfall in Portugal;
Now well on the South Coast, another famous geosite rests for contemplation – Ribeira do Maloás. It’s pillarlike structures are result of horizontal contraction ocurred as the lava cooled down. Similar to Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, but cooler.
Next to Pico Alto, highest point of the island where you can get a 360º view and appreciate all you have seen so far (if weather conditions allow it!).
Finish the tour at Praia Formosa, the most popular sand beach of the Azores and host of the oldest uninterrupted music festival in Portugal, Festival Maré de Agosto since 1984.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
If you are staying in local house, please add the name so you can easily find it. Expect to be charged for pickup for places outside designated area, namely: São Pedro, Almagreira: €10 Praia Formosa: €12,50 Santo Espírito, Santa Bárbara, São Lourenço: €15 Maia: €20
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(16)
Exceptional! Henry was a spectacular guide, we loved it. We were two friends traveling and it was a whole day to know the best corners of the island. All very nice, highly recommend!!
Obrigado pela avaliação. Foi um dia lindo cheio de conversas e partilha. Nem parece que é trabalho! Fica o combinado, se voltarem à Ilha no mínimo bebemos um cafezinho.
It was very excellent, guide is very friendly and showed the fantastic places, a pity I wasn't at Pico Alto because it was very fog and rain. But it was very fantastic. I really loved it. Congratulations to the professional guide.
it was a amazing day, with a wonderfull guide. He knows so much about the island, about nature, about the Azores. He took us to places you can't discover yourself. The guide is unique and amazing. best trip we did in some time. we can recommend it to everybody who's going to stay at Santa Maria
So nice you enjoyed the day, the island makes my job easy! Thank you for the wonderful review!
We had a great time and saw a lot. Henrique was knowledgeable on the history and guide of places. Well worth the day to see so much and be able to see so many different beautiful sights.
Thank you so much for the great review. So nice you changed your plans of early dinner so everyone could see some more secrets from Santa Maria.
The tour was awesome! Is absolutely recommended if you want something special. The jeep takes you safely across the island and the guide has all the information. Lunch was simple but just right. In the end, there are even places that can be reached very easily to explore on your own the next day. Thank you for this experience:)
Thank you for the great review! 9 hours in a JeepSafari and in the next day you still have places to discover. All in an 100km2 island.
This was a wonderful back road view of the entire island, filled with facts about the history, the culture, the flora, and the natural landscape. The home made picnic of traditional food was an extra treat.
To be honest I felt a little bit emotional when I read the title of your review, let me had that besides what you mention, also you letting me share my vision of this beautiful island was responsible for this. Thank you for shorten the distance and share a little bit of your world.
All of the island highlights and as much as possible on beautiful back roads. The guide provided a lot of information about the parishes, the flora, the history, and the landmarks.
Henrique shows his passion from the moment we first contact him, and makes us embrace the island as if we were part of it! He promotes an authentic immersive journey, covering all the historical, cultural and social aspects of the island and its setting within the Azores Archipelago. If you want to have an unforgettable experience on the fantastic island of Santa Maria, Henrique will be the best host for you! Thank you very much, Henrique, for the remarkable and unforgettable experience!
Tank you so much for the wonderful review! My role becomes easy upon the beauty and diversity of Santa Maria, and even more easy when you share all this with people that shows genuine interest and curiosity about the "mother island of Azores". You are one of those that I'm shore will came back!
Henrique was the best guide! I saw so many gorgeous sites on the island. He was very knowledgeable about everything too and put up with all my many questions. Definitely take this tour with Henrique! It will probably be my favorite day in the Azores and I just arrived.
Tank you so much! It was a beautiful day, sharing places and ideas always makes of us a little bit more than we whore before. I am sure that you will keep having fun in your trip by the Azores!
Great day. Henrique is a great tour guide and driver. He took us to every main spot on the Island and covered a lot a back roads. He is very knowledgeable about the history, natural items (plants and rocks) and how the Island came to be. We had a very enjoyable picnic lunch he provided and a lot of good conversation and great information. Highly recommend. If 10/10 is a good recommendation, I would say he earned a 15/10. He loves what he does and is excellent at it.
