- This week on "Epic Trails," we're exploring the Azores Islands.

(upbeat music) Woo hoo hoo!

- You're doing excellent, Stella.

- (chuckling) Thank you.

(water splashing) How high are the jumps?

- You could go to, like, 10 meters.

- This is so amazing.

There's two.

(whale spouts spraying) - I can tell that it's just really special here.

(upbeat music) ♪ Oh oh oh whoa Epic Trails is made possible by the following Alaska by rail.

Passengers can travel the coasts and wilderness of Alaska with baggage, service, meals, and wheelchair access.

Information available at AlaskaRailroad.com Collette offers small group exploration tours, destinations and local experiences.

Explorations by Collette.

Guided travel since 1918.

Vivid-Pix memory station and software allows users to scan personal history items like photos and documents, record voice narrative, and share what has been conserved.

More online at Vivid-pix.com.

Host- Additonal support provided by these sponsors ♪ upbeat music (light music) Welcome to The Azores, a certified, sustainable oasis in the Atlantic.

Today, we start our journey on Sao Miguel, the vibrant heart of these islands.

Amidst lush greenery, I'll immerse myself in the renowned thermal pools, a serene sanctuary known for their healing properties.

Join me as we discover why The Azores, with their commitment to sustainability certified by Earth Check, are a paradise for mindful travelers seeking both relaxation and conservation.

(water pattering) I've never been in a park like this.

(relaxing music) (water swishing) (birds chirping) This water feels so good and relaxing and just otherworldly 'cause of the color, and the sun is coming out, and I feel really good.

(water splashing) (relaxing music) Okay, looks like we're here.

We're gonna go all the way around, do do do do.

Ah, so we've made it a couple miles on our hike today.

The trail's really cool because on either side of us, we have a view.

There's kind of trees and bushes lining the path, but then, you'll get, like, a little surprise window.

Ah, you can see the little village down there and the little cows.

(cows mooing) It's been super beautiful, and I'm really thankful to be out here today.

As you can see, the sun is kind of popping out.

So, I'm feeling super good.

We're getting closer and closer to the lake at the center of this big crater.

Feeling super good and ready to get on the water.

(soft bass music) It's been such a beautiful hike.

I'm so excited to get on this paddleboard on the lake and experience these beautiful views from the water.

Okay, loose hips, loose hips.

(laughing) Somehow, getting used to being buoyant and standing up on the water.

It's so gorgeous.

It feels so good to be out here just connecting with the water in a way that I never really have before.

This is, like, amazing.

I made it.

(ducks quacking) Okay, so we are on a hike to a really beautiful viewpoint.

(laughing) (voices chattering) Lots of folks having fun here.

This one's called Grota do Inferno, which means Hell cave.

The name is super interesting.

We're gonna see what this viewpoint holds for us.

(shoes tramping) These views are awesome.

(light music) We are at this amazing viewpoint, probably the best I've seen so far.

We can see three lakes, Rasa, Santiago and Sete Cidades, and this is the crater of Sete Cidades.

It's just so stunning.

We got to hike around, not the whole crater, but a good portion of it.

It has just been such a beautiful day experiencing this, and the ocean all around, just so gorgeous.

After the serene beauty where Heaven meets earth, I'm now ready for a thrilling new challenge.

Hi, I'm Stella.

- I'm Diogo, nice to meet you.

- Excitement and fear intertwine as I embark on my first canyoneering adventure, guided by my expert instructor.

How high are the jumps?

- Could go until, like, 10 meters.

The first impression that I got was she was terrified.

Simple as that, just walking up, I just saw her face and she was, like, really scared, and then, I needed to relax her.

- You are blocked.

You are not going anywhere, okay?

- Okay.

(nervous laughing) - From the first part, she was in a panic a bit, always overthinking, I can say that.

I just need you to grab here, okay?

I will lower you really slow if you want.

- Okay.

- She did it.

When you got out down there, I think her mind, like, cleared a bit, and then went everything great.

- Okay, not as bad as I thought.

(laughing) - Of course, it's not the first time that I seen this, you know.

(water splashing) I think she can get better, of course.

She can try, like, more times to get, like, comfortable in the water, like jumping, yes, but with everything great.

- Diogo, thank you so much for such an awesome day.

- You did it, great job.

- I really appreciate how patient you were with me.

I was so scared.

- No problem, that's my job.

- Yeah, you were really trustworthy, even though I was really scared.

- No problem.

(warm music) From the soothing hot springs to touching the sky and rappelling down thundering waterfalls, Sao Miguel has been an exhilarating adventure, but our journey through this vibrant island is far from over.

Join me as we uncover more hidden treasures and thrilling experiences before we set course for our next Azorean paradise.

Stay tuned.

There's so much more in store.

(gentle music) New day, new journey, let's discover a perfect start with some exceptional tea.

Hi, I'm Stella.

- Hola, I'm Madalena.

We are in the biggest tea factory from Europe, Gorreana.

- [Stella] Wow.

- We have since 1883.

I'm the sixth generation, - Wow.

- making tea.

- [Stella] That's so amazing.

(water trickling) - [Madalena] This is the water that makes the energy to the tea factory since 1926.

- [Stella] And it's still the same?

- [Madalena] The same.

- [Stella] Wow, so is the tea the same too?

- Yes.

(speaking in foreign language) (Stella speaking in foreign language) - My five grandmother that plant this.

In Azores, tea, it's a family drink.

If you don't like someone, you don't invite them to tea.

- Okay.

(laughing) (warm music) I'm so happy to be drinking some tea with you.

- [Madalena] Thank you for your visit.

- Yeah, thank you so much for having me.

Cheers.

- Salute.

- Salute.

So delicious.

After a refreshing visit to Gorreana, our journey takes us to the stunning Faial Island.

Get ready for an adventure that is sure to be explosive.

How many volcanoes are too many volcanoes?

Let's find out.

Hi, I'm Stella.

- Hi, I'm Joel.

How are you doing?

- Nice to meet you.

Good, how are you?

- Fine, thank you.

This is a short trail that makes part of the 10 Volcanoes Trail.

- Is the 10 Volcanoes Trail made up of 10 volcanoes or is that just named that way?

- Yeah, the name's, there is more.

- There's even more, okay.

- There's way more.

- Okay, let's go.

(bright music) This is the one that erupted between 1957 and '58?

- '57-'58, yeah.

- Okay.

- Plus, it erupted 13 months.

- Oh boy, that's intimidating.

Whoa, cool.

- Pretty amazing, right?

- Yeah, really.

(bright music) (birds tweeting) - Azores are natural laboratories because everything is so fresh.

This island has started the formation at 800,000 years ago.

So, in geological terms, it's... - Pretty new, right?

- Yeah, we know where to go.

- Yeah.

(chuckling) (shoes tramping) Wow, you live in a very beautiful place.

- [Joel] Thank you.

- You know, I've seen so many, like, pictures of cliffs like this on the internet, but I really haven't gotten to see them in real life, and it's just really stunning.

Okay, down the steep hill, I guess.

- Okay.

(warm music) - Yeah, this part of the trail is a lot more rocky.

- Yeah, these are all volcanic bombs expelled by eruptions.

- Whoa.

- [Joel] We are walking on the lands with 65 years old.

It's almost like a pre-born baby.

- Yeah, yeah, like the vegetation hasn't had a chance to grow on it.

- [Joel] Yeah, not yet.

(shoes tramping) - Wow.

- This is the volcano.

- Whoa, how can something be that terrifying and beautiful at the same time?

Whoa.

(laughing) - [Joel] This part is slippery.

- Yeah.

Okay, so this is the entrance of the museum.

Wow, it's so hidden.

- The museum was built buried so it wouldn't have an impact on the landscape.

- So, what all is in this museum?

- You have several exhibitions.

The main one is mostly about the Capelinhos Volcano, after the eruption with the immigration, the demographic changes in Faial, and also about the scientific importance of Capelinhos because it was a volcano that even created a new type of study of submarine volcanoes.

- After exploring the 10 Volcanoes Trail and learning about Capelinhos' history, I'm off to an exhilarating, whale-watching adventure with Norberto, a renowned diver here on Faial Island.

From huge craters to huge creatures, now that's a wholesome day.

(whale spout spraying) They do little shallow dives, and you can see the side of their back tail.

It would be nice to get, like, a really good view of them coming up from the water.

- There's two!

Oh, three!

Oh my, oh my gosh, four.

- [Norberto] Yeah.

(bright music) - It's so beautiful.

- Yeah.

- There's dolphins.

- (hands clapping) I love these animals.

You know, these animals, they have one symbiosis between the sperm whales and these species dolphin.

When you meet many sperm whales, you meet big (indistinct).

(bright music) Hi, I'm Stella.

- Rodrigo, hi.

- Hi, Rodrigo, nice to meet you.

Today, I'm thrilled to be on Sao Jorge.

(cow mooing) The island's rich culture, deep-rooted traditions and stunning natural beauty are calling out to be explored.

With my fantastic tour guide, Rodrigo, by my side, I'm eager to learn, discover and experience everything this beautiful island has to offer.

(warm music) Tell me about these ruins that we're in.

- [Rodrigo] Yeah, this is Francisco Lacerda.

It's a famous artist from Sao Jorge.

He was a master in Paris.

He was a very famous musician, compositor.

- I don't know why he would build his house here.

It's not inspiring at all.

(Stella and Rodrigo laughing) (warm music) Have most people lived here their whole lives?

- A lot of people in the 50's, 60's, 70's went to America, immigrate, but normally, people don't leave Sao Jorge.

- It's so beautiful.

- Yeah.

- And just a little hike down from this village right on the water, surrounded by big, green, beautiful cliffs and mountains, and it's amazing.

We're going to a little coffee plantation and I'm feelin' really thankful.

(bright music) - The quality we have is Arabica.

We have a microclimate in these places (indistinct) that allow us to have the plants, and the rest of the world is growing high altitude.

Here is at the sea level.

- Wow.

- Here is a small production.

It's just to have here in the coffee shop.

- It's a family business, and they show the plantation.

They do it for free.

So, it's something that is from the heart.

All the people that come to Sao Jorge, they need to go there.

- They go really well together, mm mm.

- Today, we're going to Santo Cristo.

It's a village that is impossible to go by car.

It's a natural reserve, protected by UNESCO.

I think you will enjoy.

- Amazing, that sounds fantastic.

(hinge creaking) (soft music) Wow, we are just in the cloud right now.

- Yeah, in this part sometimes, you don't see nothing.

- Okay.

- So, we put more marks.

This is indrenchea.

It's a natural reserve of water.

This is very important for us.

- So soft.

- I think Stella was not prepared for what she was going to see.

I don't speak too much about the trail.

- [Stella] Wow.

- [Rodrigo] So, when we go under the clouds, it was a perfect day.

- Oh my goodness.

The blue is so blue.

The greens are so green.

(shoes tramping) The Azores Islands never fail to surprise me.

Every turn, every adventure brings something new and breathtaking.

Hey, I see some water.

(laughing) Woo, that looks like a pretty good pool.

- [Rodrigo] Stella was very brave because, in the beginning, she was a little scared, and the water was very cold, very cold.

(laughing) And then, we just make some moves, and she jumped, and then she just want to stay on the water.

- Rodrigo, thank you so much for showing me that pool.

That was so beautiful, so refreshing.

I feel like it's my favorite way to connect with nature.

It's just swimming pools like that that are just hidden and it's so cold.

So then, it kinda is like a shock to the system, but then... - Yeah.

(laughing) - Actually, it's really nice on the muscles and everything, and the trail is so nice, like, pretty wide and shaded.

It's, like, very dream-like.

(chuckling) (bright music) - This is one of our postcards of Sao Jorge.

- Oh.

- Yes.

You can see the waves braking.

- Whoa.

- That's the lake with the plants, - Oh my goodness.

- the church, yeah.

- Wow, it barely looks real.

(laughing) - In the 80's, there was an earthquake.

All people left, and one couple that is tryin' to find (indistinct), they have a house here, and they rebuilt the house.

Then, soon, rich rebuilt other houses.

- [Stella] Okay.

- And then, the locals also returned.

When you come, you need to stop.

- Yeah.

- There was no internet, nothing.

Normally, all people just come here to rest.

It's very famous for that.

- So gorgeous, like, a wonderful place to come, unplug and relax with your family.

(warm music) Thinking back on my journey through the Azores, I'm amazed by the stunning landscapes and warm culture I have encountered.

Now, as I look at Mount Pico from afar, I'm thrilled with excitement for my next and final adventure.

(warm music) (birds tweeting) (gentle music) Hi.

- Hello.

- Hi.

- I'm Stella.

- I'm Nicolas.

Welcome to Azores Wine Company, okay.

- Thank you.

- As you can see, this is our vineyard, and I know it's a different vineyard.

We are very, very rocky.

- [Stella] Yeah.

- In fact, this is good for the grapes because the grapes are growing in a stressful environment.

When they are, like, in a very stressful environment, they will try to perpetuate with other species.

So, they will focus on only giving grapes.

So, that's why our wine here and our grapes are so good because they are growing in a stressful environment.

- [Stella] Interesting.

- Those walls here, we call it the Bohis.

Our plantation is very close to the sea because we wanna keep as further as possible to the mountain, Pico, because around Pico, it rains five times more than here, but we have the salt spray from the sea that can burn the leaves.

That's why we need those walls, - [Stella] Oh, wow.

- because they will protect our vines against the salt spray.

(warm music) The winery in Pico, we call it Adega.

It is a place where you invite your friend because they will have wine.

They have, like, a place to stay.

That's why we, here, we have fine accommodations and wonderful rooms.

- Creating homages to the past is really important - [Nicolas] Exactly.

- to Azores Wine Company.

Can you tell me a little bit more about that?

- Azores needs to be known by the world.

The history here is very rich.

We want to gather all this homage in one single place for the tourists when they come here to know about our history, why we have this culture here, and why we need to try to perpetuate this for other generations.

(warm music) - Good morning, Stella.

- Good... - And welcome to Mount Pico.

- Good morning, Matteo.

- Are you ready?

Are you feeling good?

- I'm ready, feeling good.

- You're expecting a really good sunrise.

Let's do it.

- Awesome.

(laughing) - Perfect, let's go.

The canyon for me, it's precious.

The person that I am nowadays, it's because of Mount Pico.

Every day, every climb that I do feels that it is the first climb.

We are at 1,200 meters.

- Okay.

- And our main target so far is going to be reaching the main crater of the volcano that is going to be around 2,300 meters, but for a short trail, only four km of distance.

It's a very cardio activity, especially going up.

So, remember, keep breathing all the time.

(warm music) I thought immediately that Stella would be a great hiker, is going to be a great performance, and that happened.

So, you are doing excellent, Stella.

- Really?

Thank you.

(chuckling) - Apparently, we'll feel that, wow, actually, this is too easy, you know.

- [Stella] Okay, that's what I like to hear.

(laughing) - Yeah, with respect, always.

- Yeah.

(laughing) - Remember, the highest mountain of Portugal, huh?

It's really important to not underestimate how challenging it is going to be.

Reaching already the main crater it's a great achievement for everybody, and having that, plus, it's a great feeling.

- Getting up there and then seeing the sunrise will be really spectacular.

- Keep going, keep strong, keep fighting.

We are almost there.

The last sneeze, the last ha-ching from the volcano was pequeno formation.

- [Stella] Okay.

- Only 1,300 years ago.

- [Stella] Wow.

- Remember, the cherry on the top of the cake.

A lot of people, when they arrive in the main crater and they see Pequeno, they say no, no way, I'm not going to climb that.

Stella, here we are, final push to the summit.

We can start to see already the first sun rays.

- [Stella] Yeah, with amazing clouds like this, I like to call it Heaven's Beach.

- [Matteo] Uh huh.

(Stella laughing) Take your time.

No rush.

Enjoy the best part of the entire climb.

Please, come up here.

(Stella laughing) Congratulations.

- Thank you.

- Well done.

- (laughing) Woo!

- Time to cherry.

Once we were on the summit and watching those sea of clouds down there, - Wow.

- feeling all the emotions and the energy that Stella was sharing with me, I mean, it was a perfect climb.

- What an incredible trip this has been.

Visiting the Azores Islands has just been a profound experience, and getting to the top of Mount Pico to finish, like, this trip is just incredible.

Like, my heart is bursting.

I'm holding back tears.

It's so stunningly beautiful to be up here, and I'm honestly making plans to come back already.

Thank you, Azores, and Portugal, for having us, and woo, I feel good.

(laughing) (gentle music) Epic Trails is made possible by the following Alaska by rail.

Passengers can travel the coasts and wilderness of Alaska with baggage, service, meals, and wheelchair access.

Information available at AlaskaRailroad.com Collette offers small group exploration tours, destinations and local experiences.

Explorations by Collette.

Guided travel since 1918.

Vivid-Pix memory station and software allows users to scan personal history items like photos and documents, record voice narrative, and share what has been conserved.

More online at Vivid-pix.com.

Host- Additonal support provided by these sponsors ♪ upbeat music (gentle music) (gentle music)