Miami University: Leadership, Responsibility, Service and Fun in the Azores (2024)

Travel to São Miguel – We will take a nonstop flight leaving mid-morning to early afternoon to the Azores. There is a 4-hour time difference so we plan to arrive in São Miguel in the early evening. We will immediately go to our accommodations at the Quinta do Bom Despacho, a lodge 4 minutes from the airport.

Our first day on the island of São Miguel will include a walking tour of the area, specifically the capital at Ponta Delgada. We will explore popular tourist destinations as well as historic locations and eat at a small, local restaurant.

We will return to Achadinha for a meeting with municipality leaders to learn more about the area as well as local social and environmental issues.

Today will include a full day of working on The Farm with our partners João and Gena. We will take a short bus ride to the property and complete hands-on work with João including harvesting, milking the cows, etc. There will be a picnic lunch followed by continued work, then we will travel back to the Quinta for a relaxing evening.

This morning, after breakfast, we will depart for an incredible horseback riding tour in Livramento. Afterward, we will enjoy a packed lunch nearby.

This afternoon, we will meet with local students to learn more about their lives and to discuss any potential project collaborations. All students will enjoy a cross-cultural dinner together.

Today we will visit Portas do Mar Shop at Ponta Delgada where we will spend a half day swimming with dolphins in their natural habitat while learning about the species. After our lunch break, we will embark on a jeep tour through highland and flatland routes to the beautiful Lagoa do Fogo. Following that, we will visit Caldeira Velha, a scenic waterfall featuring lush vegetation and hot springs before heading home for dinner.

Today you will have a chance to work on the farm in the morning.

This afternoon, you will meet again with local university students giving you an opportunity to discuss any project ideas in further detail.

Enjoy a later wake-up call before heading to Ponta da Ferraria, where we will relax at the hot springs. We will eat lunch at a local restaurant before traveling to Miradouro da Ponta do Escalvado, a beautiful lookout point and a prime photo spot. We will then eat dinner at another local restaurant before heading back to the Quinta.

Today we will mee with park officials in Nordeste to learn more about the flora and fauna of the island. Afterward, we will participate in a park clean-up project as a way to give back while we are here.

On our last full day in the Azores, we will have a traditional cooking class, where you will have a chance to learn more about local cooking techniques.

Afterward, we will head to the Botanical Garden and Hot Springs in Furnas to enjoy these last moments on this beautiful island.

This evening we will have the opportunity to do a full trip debrief at our Farewell Dinner.

We will take an early evening flight from João Paulo II airport on São Miguel to return to the United States.