the Azores Travel Agents

We had an amazing time. Tiago was very helpful and responsive. The accommodations and excursions he planned for us were perfect. We will highly recommend him to friends and family that may want to visit Portugal and the Azores!

Our trip to the Azores - Sao Miguel was wonderful. João was amazing with his suggestions and the jeep tours we did were so special because the tour guides were unbelievable. They were friendly, patient, knew what they were doing and just love their country. Our highlights were Vila Franca do Campo Islet, we took the ferry and spent the afternoon there - this was really beautiful and the ferry on the way back loops around the island which was unexpected. We loved the unexpected fabulous views at Castelo Branco and the adorable tower that sits there waiting for you to explore. The abandoned hotel at Sete Cidades is eery cold with fabulous views. Our hotels were great but the best thing at the Pedras do Mar Resort was the walking/hiking trail along the coast - views were unbelievable.

Hotel Review

Pedras do Mar Resort & SpaOpens

Fenais da Luz, Ponta Delgada

Location

The access to the walking/hiking trail along the coast

Activity Review

From Tea to Thermal Baths - Small Group Jeep Tour in Furnas

the Azores

Eduardo was excellent. We enjoyed his island knowledge and expertise. The Cozido das Furnas was a great filling meal - we really enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was wonderful. Planning was as I requested. Joao was available to help me when I couldn’t locate a guide at a meeting point or had to change an arrangement. Outings were fantastic. Warren, was our guide for the Lagoa Fogo hike and he was a kind, knowledgeable, generous human being and guide. IPA, for the bike tour was fantastic. We visited a local cheese shop/restaurant in Furnas and ate cheese chocolates that were delicious. Patrick took us off roading in Sete Cidades in an open vehicle (highly recommended) and he was an excellent driver and source of local info. We saw dolphins and whales on the whale watching tour and the boat ride was fun. Unfortunately, we contracted a stomach bug that the locals are also getting and that they think arose from a bacteria in the usually very drinkable water (unsure where) although some think it was a virus. Who knows? We had to miss our canyoning experience which was unfortunate. Next time. Furnas is one of my favourite places. It’s so lush. We walked on a lava sand beach at Praia de Fogo. Gorgeous. And the geothermal ocean pool at Ponta de Feraria was possibly one of the most incredible places in the world. Kimkim helped me plan a wonderful vacation and supported us throughout the vacation. Thank you to Joao. Much appreciated.

Activity Reviews

Sete Cidades by Jeep - A Half-Day Off-Road Tour

the Azores

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in São Miguel

the Azores

Quality of Experience

Warren is very easy going and loves his work.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Whale-Watching in São Miguel

the Azores

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Good commentary during excursion.

Transport

Furnas Valley Bike Tour

the Azores

E bikes were fun and made the sites easier to access. Roads are dirt and can be steep. Stops to places were explained well by IPA, our guide. Cheese restaurant and tasting of local cheeses was a wonderful.

Quality of Experience

My

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I can’t even begin to express what an incredible experience it wad working with Kim Kim and all of the associated vendors who facilitated our trip to the Azores. During the trip planning process, Marina was incredibly knowledgeable, supportive, and flexible with all customizations to the itinerary that we required, including cost adjustments based on our financial priorities. She had great communication with us throughout the planning process. The travel app utilized by Kim Kim is also extremely convenient and easy to use both prior to during your trip. For too busy full-time workers with two little children at home, it was so great not having to worry about planning the nitty-gritty of everything required for international travel.

Our tour guide, Vasco, knew everything about everything related to the Azores and did an amazing job touring us around. He was able to pivot beautifully when weather prohibited us from following one of our original day itineraries and created an amazing new plan.

Also, the Azores is literally the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Please go!

Hotel Review

Hotel Do Colégio

Ponta Delgada

We arrived early and they were unable to accommodate our room until the standard afternoon time. Otherwise, they were wonderful! Location, hard to beat, views from the terrace gorgeous.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sete Cidades Full Day Experience: Ferraria Springs & Volcano Rims

São Miguel Island

This day was incredible. Sete Cidades is the most beautiful place I have ever seen- takes your breath away! And the hot springs under the ocean are so unique, an amazing way to start your morning!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vasco is amazing- best tour guide I’ve ever had. So knowledgeable and makes you feel so comfortable immediately.

Transport

Whale & Dolphin Watching in the Azore with Marine Biologists

the Azores

Tour itself was great, but sadly we didn’t see any whales.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Furnas Valley Excursion: Crater Lake, Hot Springs & Tea Plantation

São Miguel Island

The weather unfortunately prohibited us from hiking Furnas safely, however our guide Vasco pivoted to starting the day at Che Gorreana to hike the tea fields and going to furnas later in the day. This worked out beautifully, the tea fields are stunning and a quite vigorous height to the peak. Gorreana was much more interesting than I anticipated- definitely a must see. Furnas is such an amazingly unique experience- definitely can’t be missed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exceeded our Expectations!

Our initial interactions with Joao were easy -- his responsiveness to our wishes was prompt and thorough. Each guide on the various islands Pico, São Jorge, Terceira, and Faial knew their territory and shared so much expertise with us. They flexed when asked and went out of their way to accommodate us, adding side trips as time allowed. Even our driver Jorge surprised us with hand-wrapped souvenirs! Would use Kim-kim again in a heartbeat. Thank you so much.

Hotel Reviews

As Casas da Riberia Grande

Ribeira Grande

Definitely liked this locale. It was a bit challenging to get responses since the main hotel was in another spot and the corner apartment was noisy. It was clean and spacious enough for a couple.

Authenticity & Character

The nearby square was charming, and it was near places where we could eat and walk.

Location

Noisy corner

Staff

Didn't really have much interaction since the main hotel was in another place.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable and clean. Some of the kitchen amenities were not there, although there were instructions that they were. Notheing major.

Pico Studios

Madalena

Well-located, relatively quiet, and clean.

Authenticity & Character

It was fine. There is a problem with the name of one of the rooms, which could be offensive to some people.

Location

Liked the proximity to the ferry, the square, restaurants, and coffee shop.

Staff

Not much interaction with staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable overall. We had lots of extra space. The fan in the bathroom was very annoying, and it was attached to the light switch.

Azores Book Hotel

Angra do Heroísmo

This was the winner hotel of our trip! It was very interesting and just an enjoyable place to stay!

Authenticity & Character

Great character with the book theme.

Location

Ok, down the hill from the town -- in walking distance though.

Staff

Staff was very accommodating. A young waitress in the kitchen, having been asked for non-dairy options for coffee, proactively brought out some when we got to breakfast! Lots of people, but she remembered. Impressive. The breakfast buffet was great!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and very comfy.

Hotel Do Colégio

Ponta Delgada

Nice to see a different side of the island. Like all our stays, this was clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great locale. Fun place to walk around and great restaurants.

Staff

Informative, respectful, and, of course, kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable.

Activity Reviews

In the Shadow of the Giant: A Half-Day Guided Tour of Pico

the Azores

This one was difficult. In hindsight, going from the airport to a tour was not the best call. It was windy and cold, and I personally wasn't dressed warmly enough, so I spent more time in the van than outside looking at things. Our guide was very good and tried to be as accommodating as possible.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was kind, respectful and very knowledgable.

Transport

Roomy van and our guide was a safe driver.

Faial from Coast to Crater: A Full-Day Guided Discovery

Portugal

Our guide Pedro was exceptional! He was a great fit for our group since we shared many perspectives on ecology and the environment. He gave us a bonus experience to meet his mother and see her garden and the project he was working on. It totally enriched our trip!

Quality of Experience

Pedro's passion for the environment and for his work.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Safe driver and seeing his home project and meeting his mother was such a bonus.

Transport

We saw a lot and it definitely felt like a perspective that was real. . .not a canned tour.

São Jorge Flexible Explorer - Full-Day Guided Tour

Portugal

Once again, as with the previous tours, we had a guide who was passionate and knowledgeable about the environment and the history. He kept us engaged the entire trip.

Quality of Experience

It was a diverse tour, we again were invited into our guide's home to sample liqueurs made by his wife. A sense of being truly welcomed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable, with a great sense of humor and clear pride in his work.

Transport

Safe and easy.

Between the Lava and the Sea - A Half-Day Guided Wine Experience on Pico

Pico Island

Weather-wise, Pico was a bit more welcoming on this half-day tour. We had the same guide as on our first half-day and we had a good sense of his style. The tour was not private, however, and it seemed a bit awkward for the man who did not know us or the guide. Our guide handled things really well in any case.

Quality of Experience

Some of this was repetitive, but we enjoyed the wine tasting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was very adept at creating cohesion in the group.

Transport

Good driving.

Half-Day Hiking Activity in Terceira

Portugal

This was by far the most physical day of the trip. Our guide was so responsive and good overall that we gladly hired him on for the rest of the day.

Quality of Experience

What a treat, he really knew what he was doing, appreciated the varied flora and paid good attention to our comfort/safety while hiking.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide!!

Transport

Safe and took us to varied terrain.