AUGUST 17-26 2026

Day 1: Arrival & The Tea Fields

We begin by arriving at João Paulo II Airport and easing into the week with a welcome lunch. This is our time to meet the group, review essential safety protocols, and discuss our specific aerial photography goals for the days ahead.

In the afternoon, we head to Gorreana, Europe’s oldest tea plantation. The rolling green fields and geometric hedge lines here offer the perfect "warm-up" canvas for low-altitude flight, allowing us to practice smooth gimbal movements and top-down patterning.

For sunset, we travel to the North Coast Cliffs. Whether we fly at Santa Bárbara or Cintrão, the goal is to capture the dramatic contrast of the black volcanic rock against the white Atlantic swell.

Day 2: The Caldera Kings

We start the day early at the summit of Lagoa do Fogo. Our goal is to capture the sunrise as it crests the crater rim, illuminating the turquoise water while the caldera walls are still cast in dramatic shadow.

Midday takes us west to the Sete Cidades highlands. Our first stop is Lagoa do Pau Pique, a smaller, often overlooked crater that is perfect for top-down shots emphasizing the deep green textures of the vegetation. We then move to Lagoa do Canário to capture its unique shape and calm, mirror-like waters, before exploring the shores and ridge lines of the main caldera to photograph Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul, focusing on the color contrast between the two bodies of water.

We finish the day with a grand finale at Grota do Inferno (Boca do Inferno). This is the definitive Azores image. We will set up here for Golden Hour, using the walkway as a leading line and capturing the jaw-dropping scale of the craters stretching toward the ocean.

Day 3: Coastal Geometry & The Magic of Furnas

We start the day at the coast, looking out toward the famous Ilhéu de Vila Franca. We have secured special authorization to fly at this protected reserve, allowing us to capture its perfect circular geometry. (Note: All flights are conducted from the shoreline to respect wildlife zones).

From there, we head directly to Furnas to maximize our time in Terra Nostra Park. Since drone use is restricted here, we switch to ground photography to explore the botanical textures, geothermal steam, and colors of the garden. We arrive early enough to relax and enjoy a swim in the park’s famous thermal iron water pool.

We gather for a late lunch at the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel restaurant to enjoy the traditional Cozido das Furnas—a slow-cooked feast prepared naturally underground by volcanic heat.

We cross the island to finish the day at Mosteiros. The black volcanic sea stacks here are dramatic. We will practice flying close to water (safely) to capture the energy of the waves crashing against the basalt giants as the sun dips below the horizon.

Day 4: Into the Wild West

We travel from São Miguel to Flores, the wildest and most dramatic island in the Azores. After checking in and holding our first image review session to refine our selections, we head out for the afternoon shoot.

We make our way to Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro, a location known for its towering cliffs and multiple waterfalls dropping into a lush lagoon. This is a challenging environment for drones due to the vertical walls and potential signal interference, so we will guide you on maintaining proper Line of Sight (VLOS) while capturing the massive scale of this landscape.

Day 5: The Waterfalls & Craters

We start at sunrise at Morro Alto, flying over Lagoa Negra and Lagoa Comprida. This location offers world-class depth and color contrast between the deep dark waters of one lake and the bright green of the other.

We continue our exploration along the west coast, hunting for unplanned waterfalls and rainbows near Lagoa Rasa and Lagoa Funda. We end the day at Albarnaz Lighthouse, using the structure as an anchor point to capture the vastness of the Atlantic cliffs against the setting sun.

Day 6: The Corvo Expedition

We take a zodiac boat trip with skipper Carlos Mendes to Corvo. Our mission is The Caldeirão—one of the most spectacular drone locations on Earth. We fly inside the crater to capture the intricate lakes and green fields of this remote volcanic landscape. (Note: If seas are too rough for the crossing, we will explore the hidden waterfalls of Flores' West Coast as a backup).

Back on Flores, we finish the day photographing Rocha dos Bordões, an impressive formation of vertical basalt columns that creates a stunning natural texture for aerial photography.

Day 7: The Heritage City & A Drone Photographer’s Dream

We fly to Terceira Island and head directly to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Angra do Heroísmo. After checking into our accommodation in the heart of the city, we switch gears to explore the streets on foot. We will take a dedicated photo walk to capture the vibrant colors, historic architecture, and unique urban patterns of this World Heritage site.

Later, we visit Algar do Carvão to explore one of the few volcanic chimneys in the world you can step inside (ground photography).

We save the best for last, ending the day at Pico Dona Joana. This is arguably one of my absolute favorite places to fly a drone in the entire Azores. The volcanic cone rises majestically out of the island's iconic patchwork fields, offering a spectacular layered composition. From here, we can frame the cone in the foreground with the dramatic Ilhéus das Cabras floating in the ocean background—a perfect fusion of green volcanic earth and the deep blue Atlantic.

Day 8: Volcanic Textures

We begin the morning at Ilhéu das Cabras, flying from the coast to capture the dramatic split islet. We will focus on the incredible details of the cliffs, where the erosion has revealed striking orange and yellow layers of volcanic ash—a perfect subject for detail-oriented aerial shots. We then head to Praia da Vitória for a lunch of Alcatra, the island’s famous pot roast.

In the afternoon, we explore Ponta do Mistério, a lesser-visited area with surreal volcanic formations that are perfect for abstract aerial imagery.

We finish the day at Biscoitos. We time our arrival carefully to ensure we have optimal light to reveal the deep textures of this rugged landscape. The black lava formations here create a moody, dramatic atmosphere, offering a striking contrast of dark tones against the crashing white waves—a perfect scenario for high-contrast, fine-art aerial photography.

Day 9: The Patchwork Finale

We begin the day by returning to the area of Pico Dona Joana to experience this spectacular landscape in completely different conditions. While our previous visit focused on sunset drama, the morning light reveals entirely new details, soft shadows, and vibrant greens in the surrounding fields, offering a fresh perspective on this iconic volcanic scenery.

After lunch, we shift our focus to the post-production room for our final editing session. We will dedicate this time to curating your best shots of the week, refining your selections, and preparing a cohesive portfolio for a group showcase.

For the grand finale, we head to Serra do Cume. We capture the iconic "Patchwork Quilt" fields as the sun sets, turning the vast landscape into a glowing mosaic of green and gold—the perfect closing image for our journey.

Day 10: Farewell

We gather for a final breakfast, sharing favorite moments from the adventure and ensuring all data transfers are complete. Airport transfers follow, sending you home with a hard drive full of epic content and new piloting skills.