A little about this wonderful destination.
Uncover the captivating beauty of the Azores and Madeira on a remarkable 10-day photography tour.
Join us as we delve into the lush landscapes, dramatic coastlines and unique cultural gems of these Portuguese islands.Whether you're an amateur photographer looking to hone your skills or a seasoned professional looking for new perspectives, these photography tours offer an unparalleled opportunity to capture the essence of these inspiring destinations through your lens.
Embark on a journey through the picturesque landscapes of the islands of Terceira, São Miguel and Madeira, where we will make a perfect transition between our journey private and commercial flights between islands.
Your travel experience is carefully designed to offer ease and peace of mind, covering all transport, local flights and accommodation within the tour package.
Although we have a specific itinerary planned, allowing some flexibility to take advantage of the photographic opportunities we find throughout the day.
Be my guest and that of Bruno Azera and come and photograph the beauties of the Azores and Madeira.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Discover 3 paradisiacal islands: Immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes of Terceira, São Miguel and Madeira, each with its own distinct charm and natural wonders.
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Guided by 2 professional photographers: benefit from the guidance of a local and experienced photographer, intimately familiar with the islands' most picturesque locations, ensuring you capture the perfect photo.
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Diverse Landscapes: From the rugged volcanic landscapes of the Azores to the emerald green mountains and terraced vineyards of Madeira, each day offers a new and captivating backdrop for your photographs.
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Cultural Immersion: Engage in local traditions, interact with warm island communities, and capture the authenticity of everyday life through your camera lens.
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Small Group Experience: To facilitate personalized service, our tour is limited to a small group of passionate photographers, fostering an environment of shared learning and inspiration.
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Skills Enhancement: Hone your technical skills and artistic vision, taking your photography to the next level.
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Unforgettable Memories: Create a collection of photographs that not only tell a story, but also serve as timeless memories of your incredible journey through these jewels of the Atlantic.
Photos Bruno Azera and Renato Machado
ITINERARY
1st day 08/10/2024 - Terceira Island / Arrival
Welcome to Terceira Island, home to the city of Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will pick you up for a delicious lunch at a local restaurant and meet your fellow travelers. Feel free to ask any questions you have about the trip.
After lunch, we explored the Black Forest, a unique place due to its dense vegetation, the light has a lot of difficulty penetrating these trees, so photographing here is never the same.
Five minutes away, we go straight to one of the Island's highlights, Algar do Carvão. One of two volcanoes in the world you can enter. Unfortunately, tripods are not permitted, so bring the fastest and widest lens you have.
Along the way we explored beautiful forest roads, some of the best hidden gems are found here. Depending on the weather, we climb for sunset at Serra de Santa Bárbara, the highest point on the Island and a fantastic place to end the day.
2nd day 10/09/2024 - Terceira Island
Today's itinerary is full of panoramic views and coastal landscapes. We start our trip in Serra da Ribeirinha, where we can admire the stunning view of the coast from the edge of a volcanic crater. We can also see Serra do Morião and Serra Santa Bárbara to our right, as well as Monte Brasil and the islands of São Jorge and Pico in the distance.
Our next destination is Pico Dona Joana, a beautiful volcanic cone that offers a unique perspective of Ilhéu das Cabras, a small islet off the coast. This is one of the most photogenic places in the Azores.
After lunch, we will explore the historic city of Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will walk through the colorful streets and admire the architecture, culture and life of this charming city. Pay attention to the details, like doors, windows and balconies, that make this city so special. You can also capture the patterns and textures of the cobblestone streets.
To end the day, we will go to the natural basalt pools of Serretinha, where we can enjoy the sunset over Ilhéu das Cabras. This is the perfect spot to take amazing golden hour photos.
3rd day 10/10/2024 - Terceira Island
We start the morning at the Ponta das Contendas lighthouse and the seascapes that surround it. A beautiful area with brown and black rock that is uncommon in the Azores. Depending on the weather, there is also a cave only accessible by sea that offers some really interesting photographic opportunities.
At midday we arrive at Praia da Vitória and to truly complete the experience in the Azores, I invite you to enjoy a homemade lunch in a restaurant owned by a local family and get to know what it's like to live on these islands.
We head to the north of the island, to Ponta do Mistério. One of the most attractive coastal areas on the Island. A mysterious lunar landscape glazed in green, with the blue of the Atlantic Ocean in the background, creates an incredible view.
Next, we visited the popular summer spot of Biscoitos. A picturesque village, known for its wine region and even more so for its beautiful natural pools. The steep black lava fields carved by the waves create really interesting landscapes.
Considered the most beautiful viewpoint in Portugal, we reserved the best for the last sunset in Terceira. The unique view of the interior of the island, known as the “patchwork”, made up of volcanic stone walls that divide the agricultural fields into square figures, makes Serra do Cume an epic place to photograph the last light of the day.
4th day 10/11/2024 - São Miguel
We say goodbye to Terceira on a short flight and welcome you to São Miguel. After checking into the hotel, we headed to the oldest tea plantation in Europe, the Chá Gorreana factory. Discover the factory and explore its surroundings. The landscape here is unique, the shape and texture of the green tea leaves create endless photographic possibilities.
Waterfalls, streams and lush vegetation of Ribeira dos Caldeirões, in the Northeast, is our next location. The park also has historical and cultural value, as it preserves some of the old water mills that were formerly used to grind cereals.
Depending on the weather, at sunset we visit the beaches of Santa Bárbara and Monte Verde, or the jagged cliffs of Miradouro do Cintrão, overlooking the north coast and the Sete Cidades volcano in the background.
5th day 10/12/2024 - São Miguel
The day begins in the volcanic lagoon of Lagoa do Fogo, one of the highest points on the island. It usually tends to get cloudy or foggy during the day and ultimately ruin any potential views. If you have a drone, make the most of it. You can create really unique perspectives here.
After breakfast we headed west and explored the Sete Cidades volcanic crater, two multicolored lagoons of Lagoa Verde and Azul. It's an incredible view and the best way to get a sense of the surrounding area.
We arrived at one of the highlights of the Azores, the Grota do Inferno viewpoint. The Sete Cidades crater lakes can be seen from several different viewpoints, but it's hard to beat this spot. If you have a drone, Lagoa do Canário from the air reveals a really interesting shape.
6th day 10/13/2024 - São Miguel
For sunrise, we visited one of the most emblematic places in São Miguel, the Ilhéu de Vila Franca. The islet is famous for its unique geological formation. It is essentially a volcanic crater that partially collapsed and allowed seawater to enter, forming a natural circular pool inside the crater. To create truly unique perspectives here, you need a bird's-eye view from a drone.
We then head to Lagoa das Furnas, a spectacular crater lake where you will have the opportunity to photograph mud pools and other steaming geothermal features. We will taste the famous local dish known as Cozido das Furnas, unique to this village and cooked in volcanic steam, as well as sweet muffins called bolo leavedo.
Parque Terra Nostra is our next location and considered one of the most beautiful gardens, with the added advantage of having thermal pools. Be sure to bring your swimwear, with temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius providing a feeling of rest and relaxation for the rest of the day.
On our list are the Ribeira Quente waterfalls, the unique brown and orange colors of the iron-rich waters make this a must-visit place in São Miguel.
In the afternoon we returned to the island's coast to photograph the sunset.
7th day 10/14/2024 - Madeira
Welcome to Cristiano Ronaldo airport on Madeira Island. Our first destination is Eira do Serrado, a place with stunning views over the mountains, the valley and the picturesque village of Curral das Freiras, making this a fantastic place to glimpse the landscape.
In the afternoon we left for one of the best sunset spots on Madeira Island, Pico do Areeiro. The ever-changing lighting conditions combined with the breathtaking panoramic views and rocky terrain make it a playground for landscape photographers.
8th day 10/15/2024 - Madeira
The eighth day begins on the coast of Ponta de São Lourenço, the easternmost point of Madeira, with its unique geological formations, rugged cliffs and vibrant colors that provide fantastic sunrise opportunities.
Traveling along the winding mountain roads we arrive at the old Faial bridge, known for its pillars and sidewalk arch, surrounded by lush green vegetation, which makes it a very interesting topic.
Next, we arrived at the Aguage waterfall, a lesser-known place, but also beautiful and with so many possible compositions.
After lunch, explore the traditional houses of Santana also known as “casas de colmo”. Their distinctive design, colorful decorations and historical significance make them an integral part of Madeira Island’s unique cultural tapestry. We will also visit the Parque Florestal das Queimadas, another excellent place to observe the biological richness characteristic of the Laurissilva Forest.
Our last place of the day is Pico Ruivo for a sunset in the ancient trees. The combination of the elevated viewpoint, the landscape and the changing colors of the sky provides a breathtaking scene atmosphere.
9th day 10/16/2024 – Madeira
We start the day at the islets of Ribeira da Janela for sunrise, a set of imposing maritime formations that create a fantastic theme with the rugged coast of Madeira as a backdrop.
We then return to the picturesque village of Seixal, its stunning natural beauty and black sand beach, offering a stunning panoramic view over the north coast of Madeira. Learn how to capture the movement of waves and experiment with long exposures in challenging lighting conditions.
Also on our list is the Chapel of Our Lady of Fátima, located on top of a hill, this small temple contrasts with the surrounding greenery. Its unusual typology attracts attention. On one side of the chapel, the majesty of the mountains covered by a dense forest blanket, on the other, the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean. The scenery is completed by the typical houses that dot the hillsides – especially the parish of São Vicente, which can be seen here in its entirety.
For lunch we stopped at Porto Moniz, a place with natural volcanic pools, an ideal place to try long exposure photography.
After lunch in Porto Moniz, the enchanted forest of Fanal is our next destination. This is a place that offers a captivating canvas of mist-covered trees, lush greenery and the interplay of light and shadow. The unique atmosphere and ancient trees make it an excellent place to capture enchanting images.
We end the day exploring one of the most picturesque places on Madeira Island, the Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse, located on the western end of the island. The lighthouse sits on a cliff that offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and rugged coastline.
10th day 10/17/2024 – Madeira / Departure
Enjoy one last breakfast together, reminiscing
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DETAILS
Fabio Bittar , São José dos Campos
“I've been on two other Phototours with Renato Machado. The experiences lived in those days will be carried forever."
Rafael Sgari , Porto Alegre
“Phototour Jalapão is really good. So compliments!! Congratulations on your organization Renato."
Marcelo Bargiela , São Paulo
“It was simply fantastic. His work in choosing the location, itinerary and monitoring revealed care and respect.”
Hello!
I'm the Bruno Azera
Born in Terceira Island, landscape and nature photographer specialized in carrying out photographic tours and workshops in the Azores.
I am Renato Machado
photographer and author of books Secret Landscapes of Southern Brazil and Canyons and Balloons, he has dedicated himself to photography for over 10 years.
During this time, he traveled through the Sahara Desert, Egypt, Norway, Easter Island, the Polynesian Archipelago, however It was in 2015, after a trip to Patagonia, that his passion became a serious matter in his life, and he specialized in landscape photography. Born in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina,
I want to participate in the Phototour Azores 2024
Politica de Cancelamento
Para confirmação da expedição será necessário o numero mínimo de 6 participante. Caso ocorra a desistência do contratante na viagem, o valor de sinal não será reembolsável. Confirmando o grupo, o valor do sinal será abatido da entrada.
Caso a viagem não ocorrer por força maior, será apresentada uma nova sugestão de data. Caso o contratante não tenha disponibilidade o valor pago até a data será integralmente devolvido.
Caso ocorra desistência por parte do inscrito, este deverá formalizar por escrito para o e-mail renato280969@gmail.com.
As demais variações da política de cancelamento serão tratadas conforme segue:
- Até 90 ( noventa ) dias antes da viagem o pagamento de multa do sinal de 40% (quarenta por cento);
- Mais de 45 ( quarenta e cinco) dias e menos de 90 ( noventa ) dias da viagem multa de 60% (sessenta por cento) do valor contratado;
- Menos de 45 (quarenta e cinco) dias do início da viagem não proporcionará o direito ao reembolso das quantias pagas.