School trips to Ponta Delgada

Why visit Ponta Delgada?

Explore the spectacular Azores

The volcanic archipelago of the Azores is one of two autonomous regions of Portugal. The archipelago’s main city, Ponta Delgada, is on São Miguel, the largest and most populous of the nine volcanic islands of the Azores, making it the perfect destination for a geography school trip.

The city is a fantastic base from which to explore the island – great transport links mean you can reach all your visits and activities easily, while being able to take advantage of all the city’s amenities in the evenings.

Visits within easy reach of Ponta Delgada include Sete Cidades, the spectacular volcanic area, Caldeira Velha, a waterfall of warm, ionised water, and the Furnas Valley, which is the centre of the island’s unique geothermal activity.

Experience incredible geology

The Azores is the perfect destination for a geography school trip focusing on volcanoes and geology.

The Azores sit on top of the meeting point of three of the world’s major tectonic plates – the Eurasian Plate, the African Plate and the North American Plate. This meeting point is known as the Azores Triple Junction and the faults and fractures in this area mean that the islands experience much volcanic and seismic activity.

Your geography students will love the opportunity to explore the volcanic landscapes of São Miguel. And one experience not to be missed is the opportunity to try the typical Azorean dish known as cozido. This is a stew cooked slowly cooked in fumaroles and is a great way of demonstrating to students the geothermal activity happening right under their feet!

Discover a charming city

The island of São Miguel has been populated since 1444 but Ponta Delgada only became the island’s most important settlement after an earthquake destroyed Vila Franca do Campo in 1522. The city grew in population and status right up until the beginning of the 20th century, thanks in part to the lucrative citrus exports to the United Kingdom.

Of course, you’ll spend your days exploring the incredible geography that the island has to offer, but your students will also love the opportunity to explore this charming city in the evenings. The architecture is primarily Portuguese, but with Azorean touches here and there, such as the black volcanic basalt that frames window edges around the city.

A compact city, you’ll be able to explore Ponta Delgada on foot with your school group. The narrow streets contrast with the vast openness of the countryside surrounding the city and offer geography groups the opportunity to discuss the impact of urbanisation and changing landscapes.