Terms and Conditions

RESERVATION DETAILS

• Name of the activity or activities;
• Date(s) of the activity or activities;
• Additional Information¹:
• In all activities, each client’s name and birthdate will be required for insurance activation purposes only, as well as gender and nationality for statistical purposes;
• For adventure activities such as Canyoning and Coasteering, the height, weight and number of shoes will be required to each person’s for the correct measurement of neoprene suits and boots.

• Payment methods:
• 100% of the total amount at the time of booking*;
• In exceptional cases, payment may be after the activity or activities *.

*For payment purposes after an activity and invoicing, please contact Dina Nunes:

(+351) 96 755 23 54 or info@discoverexperience.pt

• Payment:
• BANK TRANSFER

• Discover Experience will provide at least 1 tourist guide, organize the itinerary of the activities and all arrangements related to the base program on the date(s) of the activity or activities.

• In case of International payments, the client must ensure that all bank charges and other transaction charges are paid so that the correct amount (in euros) is received by Discover Experience.

CANCELLATIONS / CHANGES

Since the Discover Experience develops an outdoor activity, these are exposed to the climatic / environmental conditions and constraints that these impose. Thus, the Discover Experience reserves the right to change itineraries or activities, if weather conditions may threaten our customer’s safety, as well as our team members. Below are some examples of weather / environmental condition that may or not allow our activities, or part of them:

• Torrential rains
• Strong thunderstorms
• Strong winds
• Dense fogs
• Landslide
• Falling trees
• High water flows
• Earthquakes
• Sea storms

In these cases the activities will be run on another date to match or replaced by another, if possible. If the cancellation of the tour is an inevitability, either because the persistence of weather phenomena / environmental mentioned above, or customers inability to schedule, we will refund seventy five percent (75%) of the amount paid, provided that cancellation occurs within twenty four (24) hours before the beginning of the purchased holiday pack. The remaining twenty five percent (25%) will be for Discover Experience pay the logistics / bookings costs imply in all our activities.

In case the reason is due to withdrawal by customers, Discover Experience return:

• 100% of the amount paid up to 30 days before the date of the activities;
• 75% of the amount paid up to 15 days before the date of the activities;
• 50% of the amount paid up to 10 days before the date of the activities;
• No refund of the amount paid if the cancellation is less than 9 days before the activity (s).

If the client does not arrived at the appointed day, the Discover Experience disclaims any responsibility for non-performance all activities considered in the program booked by the customer, as well as the return of any amount for the money already paid by the customer. Discover Experience also reserves the right to reschedule the all program of activities of the booked program tour, according to what they understand to be the most viable option.

HIKING TRAILS

General Information and Descriptions of Activities

¹ Liability and Personal accident insurance – name and date of birth for each person is necessary.

⁴ It’s important to come prepared with clothes for wind, cold, rain and sun because during the activities there can be unexpected and adverse weather changes.

The HIKING TRAILS will be made not only on marked trails but also on trails near Fajãs with great ecological, scenic and cultural value. We want to focus this type of service for small groups in order to reduce the environmental impact and to value the interaction between clients and guides, while also providing a better customized service and enhancing the environmental and cultural interpretation. The trails guarantee our participants the observation of wonderful landscapes where, among other features, we highlight the various Fajãs, waterfalls, the ocean and a whole set of details related to the natural and cultural heritage that the island of São Jorge has to offer. At the same time we will try to involve the clients in genuine experiences with strong local influence, seeking to establish an interaction with the local population and it’s culture, for example through it’s gastronomy (e.g. coffee, vineyards, cheese).

The trail Pedras Brancas / Fajã dos Vimes is located on the south coast of island. It starts with a verdant landscape over pastures, valleys and mountains and with a beautiful view of the ocean. As you start your descent you’ll find Lourais, populated and located about 600 meters above sea level. The route enters the hillside, on a magnificent trail covered with trees, later opening with Fajã dos Bodes as a background and Pico island with it’s majestic mountain as well as Fail island. Below, you can see a 50 meter waterfall from Ribeira do Cavalete. Finally, arriving in Fajã dos Vimes you can taste the delicious coffee that’s the only one produced in Europe, accompanied by a visit to the plantation of Café Nunes and the house of Handicrafts where the famous quilts are produced using manual looms of wood.

The trail of Serra do Topo / Fajã dos Vimes starts at an altitude of almost 700 meters near the wind machines and extends to sea level on the south coast of the island. Like other trails, this one begins with the contrast of verdant and blue-tinged landscapes of the hydrangeas (in their flowering season) and the blue of the sea. The trail was used by the ancient inhabitants of the Fajã in order to have access to the cattle. They did this twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon to collect the cow’s milk. The route has a sharp descent, almost all of it with a staircase of about 1250 stone stairs. Here we advise the use of walking sticks and suitable footwear because in certain areas it can be muddy and slippery. It has a very open beginning for the landscapes around it and then closes in its own flora, only reopening when arriving at the road of the Fajã dos Vimes. Before the route ends you’ll pass the old road to Fajã dos Vimes, opened in 1956. At the end of the trail you can taste the delicious coffee that’s the only one produced in Europe, accompanied by a visit to the plantation of Café Nunes and the house of Handicrafts where the famous quilts are produced using manual looms of wood.

The trail of Fajã de São João/ Lourais/ Fajã dos Vimes begins in the beautiful Fajã de São João, located on the south coast of the island of São Jorge. It’s a Fajã with fertile land where you can produce a little bit of everything. The trail is carved on the hillside keeping in touch with the local culture, from architecture to agriculture. The first 5kms take you to Lourais that’s located 600m from sea level. From here begins the remaining 5kms downhill to Fajã dos Bodes and ends in Fajã dos Vimes. Here you can have the opportunity to visit the only coffee plantation in Europe, as well as the production of the famous quilts made with wooden looms. After the visit to the plantation of Café Nunes you can enjoy a good natural coffee with the magnificent landscape of the sea and the highest mountain in Portugal – Pico.

The trail of Serra do Topo/Fajã da Caldeira Santo Cristo/ Fajã dos Cubres is one of the most known and famous trails, not only for the beauty of these majestic fajãs with lagoons but also for the history of the great earthquake of 1980 that isolated the very few people that lived there. It’s a trail that starts flanked by hydrangeas, these flowers are in full bloom from late spring to the end of summer. Along the route you can see endemic species such as heater, juniper, Azores blueberry, holly, moss, among other species. You can also visit a waterfall – the waterfall of Caldeira de Cima. In the Fajã of Caldeira de Santo Cristo is a lagoon and it’s considered the ex libris of the island, not only for its beauty but also for being the birthplace of the famous clams of São Jorge, the only ones in the Azores. Here you can visit the Interpretation Center of that Fajã, go for a swim and enjoy a drink or even taste the local gastronomic delicacy – the Clams of Caldeira de Santo Cristo. The route continues passing through other Fajãs until you reach Fajã dos Cubres, here you can also enjoy it’s lagoon and observe some specimens of seabirds and migratory birds, as well as the surrounding flora, you can also enjoy a drink at the local bar next to the Church of Nossa Senhora de Lourdes.

The trail of Nascente/ Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo/ Fajã dos Cubres is a different way to visit Fajã of Caldeira de Santo Cristo. It’s a walk that begins in a green pasture where you ravel about 700 meters to the beginning of the decent with a landscape over a valley formed between two rocky massifs. Along the trail you’ll have contact with endemic species and intact ecosystems and, because it’s not a tourist area, it becomes a true natural beauty. It’s a very enclosed trail in vegetation and sidewalks that extend like tunnels dug between the incense and the heater trees. This route later on intercepts with the official trail to Fajã da Caldeira de Cima, where it’s possible to visit its waterfall. The trail continues to Fajã of Caldeira de Santo Cristo with its lagoon where you can find the famous clams of São Jorge, the only ones in the Azores. Here you can visit the Interpretation Center of that Fajã, go for a swim and enjoy a drink or even taste the local gastronomic delicacy – the Clams of Caldeira de Santo Cristo. The route continues passing through other Fajãs until you reach Fajã dos Cubres, here you can also enjoy it’s lagoon and observe some specimens of seabirds and migratory birds, as well as the surrounding flora, you can also enjoy a drink at the local bar next to the Church of Nossa Senhora de Lourdes.

The trail of Norte Pequeno (KM0) is a network of trails in the Parish of Norte Pequeno, in the north coast of the island of São Jorge, and one of the few circular routes. It’s a set of 5 trails that have the same starting point near the Parish Council of this locality, and each one ends in a Fajã – Fajã do Mero, Funduras, Penedia, Pontas and Neca. Passing through these fajãs you can verify that the geomorphology of each one has different landscape characteristics. At some points on this route, specially in Fajã do Mero, you can observe an old wire used to transport the incense wood cut on the high rocks of that place.

CANYONING

General Information and Descriptions of Activities

¹ Personal Accident and Liability Insurance – Name and birthdate of each person required.
² All Individual Equipment: helmet, fully equipped harness, suits, socks and neoprene gloves and canyoning boots + All PPE complies with standards required by the EC (European Commission) and the UIAA (International Union of Alpinism Associations).
³ Snack: 1 Protein bar and 1 Water 0.5L. It’s recommended to carry food and water reinforcement.
^NOTE For the correct measurement of the wetsuits and canyoning boots, the following measures are necessary: Weight, Height and Number of Footwear.

CANYONING consists on a descent of a water course (usually embedded and with steep slopes) on foot or by swimming, resorting to abseiling, jumps and slides to overcome the obstacles. The canyoning activities take place in properly equipped streams.

São Jorge island is by far one of the Azorean islands with excellent quality canyonings guaranteed to offer the participants wonderful landscapes where, among other features, we highlight the many beautiful waterfalls where participants will have a real and unforgettable contact with nature and the freshness of the island of São Jorge.

Before the activity begins the participants will be provided with the necessary information as well as a small training, followed by the equipment usage rules, essential conditions to ensure safety and a brief description of the training and work experience of the monitors and their collaborators.

COASTEERING

General Information and Descriptions of Activities

¹ Personal Accident and Liability Insurance – Name and birthdate of each person required.
² All Individual Equipment: helmet, fully equipped harness, suits, socks and neoprene gloves and canyoning boots + All PPE complies with standards required by the EC (European Commission) and the UIAA (International Union of Alpinism Associations).
³ Snack: 1 Protein bar and 1 Water 0.5L. It’s recommended to carry food and water reinforcement.
^NOTE For the correct measurement of the wetsuits and canyoning boots, the following measures are necessary: Weight, Height and Number of Footwear.

COASTEERING is an activity that consists on the progression along the rocky and jagged coastline, resorting to swimming, hiking, climbing and jumping into the water.

The islands coastline presents several volcanic areas carved by the lava thousands of years ago, therefore hiding places that few have can see. This activity allows you to embark on an adventure with challenges and be marveled by places carved by lava and sea that form a perfect harmony between crystal clear waters and the black basalt slopes. Swim, play with the waves, hike and climb small cliffs to jump into the depths of our sea and explore some of the cavities side by side with their fauna and flora, these are some of the perfect challenges to spend a morning or an afternoon and always with the beautiful views of Pico and Faial islands.

Before the activity begins the participants will be provided with the necessary information to ensure their safety and enjoy the island.

SEA KAYAKING

General Information and Descriptions of Activities

¹ Liability and Personal accident insurance – name and date of birth for each person is necessary.

² Equipment: 2 person Kayak, paddles, vests, bidon or waterproof bag for personal belongings.

³ Snack: 1 protein bar and 1 0,5L water bottle. it’s recommended to take food and water reinforcements.

Sea Kayaking is an activity were you can enjoy the link between land and sea. This activity consists, for a certain distance, in providing our clients with a different trip along the coast of the island.

There are long, medium and short trips, all of these trips have landscape, cultural and natural heritage interpretation. The people of São Jorge, like all Azoreans, lived for the ocean, which defined the personality of these people in the middle of the Atlantic. Therefore, we intend to show and make known not only the historical traits and of these people and the geomorphology of the slopes of their island, but we also want to offer the peace and leisure that the kayak trip can bring you.

The Route to Ribeira Seca Bay is our shortest route, ideal for people who have little or nothing experience in this modality or for families with children who want to enjoy a short, fun and different tour during your holiday keeping in touch with our sea.

The Route to Fajã dos Vimes starts at Calheta Pier providing landscapes with majestic cliffs and high natural beauty. It’s a trip from Kayak that extends to fajã dos Vimes, where coffee is produced and with beautiful adventure trails. When disembarking in this Fajã, you will have the opportunity to visit the coffee plantations, taste coffee, and visit the local Handicraft.

The Kayaks that are used in the activities are the “sit on top” type, they’re able and approved for navigating the sea up to 300m from the shore. The participants will be accompanied by one or two monitors depending on the route that is chosen.

Before the activity begins the participants will be provided with the necessary information as well as a small briefing of the route chosen.

TOUR AROUND THE ISLAND BY VAN

General Information and Descriptions of Activities

¹ Personal Accident and Liability Insurance – Name and birthdate of each person required.

Like the back of a Dragon that had been temporarily asleep by Saint George, its exuberant and elongated shape is presented in the distance with its mountains reminiscent of that draconian air. Being essentially plateau, it displays the volcanic cones that generated the island and that gave way to steep slopes to steep slopes that dive over the deep blue ocean or that end simply in small flat areas at sea level, the famous Fajãs of São Jorge. The fertile soils and favourable microclimate captivate the settlers for permanent cultivation in these fajãs, some of them difficult to access, silent and isolated from the world but which paradoxically are the calm, tranquility and loss of temporal notion. Of the more than 70 fajãs on the island, these are the natural beauty, isolation and tranquility that have dominated part of the island’s history and offer extraordinary and unique panoramic views. From the different shades of green forests, endemic vegetation and pastures, to the brown of the farmland, the black volcanic basalt to the delicate but majestic blue sea give color to the natural fabric of the island, making it untouchable and intact, and despite the relatively small area, the extensive coastline resulting from the elongated shape of São Jorge, as the back of the dragon, invites the vast dazzling of scenic locations.

The Routes 1 and 2 are intended to show a little of the history, culture, landscape and gastronomy of our people, starting with the Cheese of São Jorge which has the Protected Designation of Origin, produced exclusively from raw cow’s milk and with its strong and slightly spicy taste, which increases with the time of ripening; or Queijo Canada, where the traditional way of making cheese is still maintained, which is made only from the milk of the owner’s cows, a cheese that goes back to its origins; Viewpoints with breathtaking views of the neighbouring islands, slopes of high cliffs and breathtaking cliffs and charming lagoons; Monuments shaken by the relentless volcanoes of the early 19th century; Handicrafts, where the traditions of creating pieces in wool, linen or cotton are kept in the creaking of the old wooden looms, such as clothes from past times, quilts with geometric motifs with bright or natural colors, napperons, embroidery among other arts made by hand; Arabic coffee planted and cultivated in Fajãs, contrary to the nature of its survival at a mere meters from sea level, unlike the rest of the world, which is produced at altitude and even by coffee specialists, as the only one in Europe, and who knows, the only one in the Northern Hemisphere of our planet, where it is possible to visit the coffee plantations and their process until reaching the cup with an intense and fruity taste to taste and ask for more; and a Forest Reserve of great beauty and natural diversity, hosting various species of fauna and flora.

With the Route 3 we want to discover the best of the island – the intact nature and its history. Thus, we will explore through a mix of twisted of dirt and asphalt roads in search of the many landscapes by hills, valleys and mountains to Fajãs and know a little what they have best to show, from natural pools, lakes of calm and enchanted waters where the steep slopes are reflected, coffee culture maintained in family and craft patterns with its intense and fruity taste, craftsmanship lost in time, among many other charms and corners.

PACK TWO DAYS

* Dependent on opening hours and closed on Mondays.

NOTE: This program starts in Velas and may change depending on where customers are staying.

General Information and Descriptions of Activities

¹ Personal Accident and Liability Insurance – Name and birthdate of each person required.
Would you like to explore São Jorge Island from end-to-end? This is the ideal program to get to know our island in two days without running and to lose sight in the immensity of our landscapes.

São Jorge island was created by successive volcanic eruptions over thousands of years and has in its stature an extensive volcanic mountain range of about 55 km long and only 7 km wide, perfectly aligned from one end to the other with its majestic and abrupt coastal cliffs.

Basaltic in nature from its geological formations, this Island shows an important multiplicity of landscapes, structures and volcanic products, which constitute important ex-libris of the Azorean landscape and are an integral part of the Jorgense experience.

“Fajãs Island”, as it’s known, features numerous small stretches of flat terrain that fit between the mountains and the sea. These small patches of flat land are the symbol that the Jorgenses carry in the soul the effort of a people and the humble patience that focuses on subsistence agriculture and in stark contrast to pure nature, mysteries, silence and the fascinating richness of biodiversity. It’s for these and other reasons that many of these areas are classified and protected and are part of the Biosphere Reserve.

With this tour by van we intend to present a little history, culture, landscape and gastronomy of our people, starting with the Cheese of S. Jorge who is the holder of Protected Denomination of Origin, produced exclusively from raw cow’s milk and with its strong and slightly spicy taste, which accentuates with the time of cure; or Canada’s Cheese, where the traditional way of making cheese made with only the milk of the owner’s cows, a cheese that goes back to the origins, is still maintained; Viewpoints with breathtaking views of the surrounding islands, high cliff slopes and breathtaking escarpments and charming Ponds; Monuments shaken by the relentless volcanoes of the early nineteenth century; Handicrafts, where the traditions of creating pieces of wool, linen or cotton remain in the ranger of old wooden looms such as clothes of the past, geometric bedspreads with garish or natural colors, napperons, embroidery among other handmade arts ; Arabica coffee planted and cultivated in the Fajãs, contrary to the nature of its survival to a few meters of the level of the sea unlike the rest of the World that is produced in altitude and even of the specialists of coffee, like unique in Europe, and perhaps, unique of the North Hemisphere of our Planet, where it is possible to visit the coffee plantations and their process until arriving at the cup with an intense and fruity flavor to taste and to ask for more; museums and churches, a snippet of our cultural history and a Forest Reserve of great beauty and natural diversity, hosting various species of fauna and flora.

ATTACHMENTS – PICNICS

Contains gluten and lactose.

Picnics up to 8 people maximum.

MORE INFORMATION

• If you are not finding the right booking option or day that can fit in your plans please email us so we can try to make it possible.