Atlantic Island Chronicles: Exploring Cabo Verde, the Canary Islands, and the Azores

Arrive in the remote and mountainous volcanic islands of Cabo Verde and the capital city of Praia, on Santiago Island, and transfer to the hotel. Meet us this evening for a welcome reception and briefing before dinner.  

Arrival time: Arrive before 6:00 p.m. local time. 

Arrival City: Praia, Cabo Verde Islands 

Meals Included: Dinner

Start the day in this island paradise with a walking tour of the old town center or “Plateau.” Rich in history you will experience the colonial influence on the architecture of the Presidential Palace and Main Square. Explore the open-air market where displays of local fruits and vegetables are works of natural art. Via bus, travel to Cidade Velha, the historic center of Ribeira Grande and the first city built by the Portuguese in Africa. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the ruins tell the story of architecture that protected the city against pirates, provided sanctuary within the cathedral and convent and supported everyday life with the thatched roofs of Banana Street. Following lunch, head to the port and embark the National Geographic Orion.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning finds us in Sao Filipe on the island of Fogo, where you will have the opportunity to add volcano-gazing to your life list. The striking landscape of Fogo has been shaped and transformed by lava flows, most recently in 2015. We will visit Portela, one of the villages that was swallowed up by lava in that eruption. The locals have since reclaimed the land and have rebuilt restaurants and shops and restored their homes.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit the ship’s bridge as we sail northward across the Tropic of Cancer. Soak up the views from one of the observation decks and attend engaging presentations on a range of subjects, from 15th-century Portuguese and Spanish navigators to talks from our marine biologists on the amazing navigation skills of the cetaceans who travel these waters.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drop anchor in the azure waters of the Canary Islands, which occupies a central place in the history of Atlantic exploration. The larger island of La Palma is known as La Isla Bonita, or “the pretty island,” for its lushly forested mountain slopes set against azure waters. Enjoy a scenic drive up to Mirador de la Concepción, perched on the edge of a crater. Take in fantastic views of the town and harbor below and visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Snows, with its fusion of baroque and Spanish-Moorish architecture. On the island of La Gomera, visit a house where Christopher Columbus stayed while his ships were provisioned with supplies, then consider a hike in the verdant Garajonay Nacional Park.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a day at sea, start the day south of Madeira in the Desertas Archipelago. This small group of volcanic islands has been deemed a nature reserve, helping to protect both the sea and land. The area is a refuge to the Mediterranean monk seal and an array of seabirds. Sail on to enchanting Madeira, a subtropical island abloom in flora. First settled by the Portuguese in 1419, the island’s capital city of Funchal evokes a colonial time capsule, with architecture from the 15th through the 19th centuries. Explore its winding streets and culinary delights.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy all that the National Geographic Orion has to offer on this final day at sea as we make our way to the Azores. Spend time on deck with the expedition team as they keep watch over the horizon, searching for the marine creatures and seabirds who feed in this fertile stretch of ocean.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Historically significant as the first landfall of Christopher Columbus on his return from the Americas in 1493, we make our first landing in the Azores at Santa Maria. For those interested in getting some exercise, there are hiking trails that will allow us to experience the scenery and atmosphere of the island.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

As we sail into Faial, be out on deck to enjoy the beautiful island views and keep your eyes on the horizon in hope of spotting the whales known to move through these waters. Once ashore on the island of Faial, head to Capelinhos to see how dramatically the landscape changed when the volcano at the western end of the island erupted in 1957. Farms and villages were covered in ash, adding an extra two square kilometers of land to the island. Later, stroll along the marina, visit the excellent scrimshaw museum, and raise a glass at Peter Café Sport, a legendary pub where sea adventurers historically dropped their mail.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark in Ponta Delgada, the charming capital of the Azores. Spend the morning touring the Old Town—stopping at the impressive Museum of Carlos Machado to discover the varied history of the archipelago. Enjoy lunch before transferring to the airport and homeward flights.   

Departure Time: Depart after 10:30 a.m. local time.  

Departure City: Ponta Delgada, Azores  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Itineraries are subject to change.