São Miguel Adults-Only Retreat: A Private Eco Estate

The Azores Getaways Solar Branco Retreat includes round-trip flights, 6 nights at Solar Branco Eco Estate, daily breakfast, a rental car for the full duration of your stay, 2 included guided experiences (cheese and wine tasting in Ponta Delgada and the Furnas night experience with thermal baths and dinner), and all taxes and fees related to the booking. Airport transfers, additional meals, guided tours, and city taxes are not included. The rental car is collected at Ponta Delgada Airport on arrival.

• Cheese and Wine Tasting (3:30 PM to 4:30 PM): A 1-hour guided tasting with a local host in Ponta Delgada. Includes Azorean volcanic wines, local cheeses and charcuterie, artisanal breads, jams, and fresh fruit. The portions are generous enough to serve as a full meal. Non-alcoholic and craft beer alternatives are available. Hotel pickup is not included. Meeting point: Rua do Brum 48, 9500-036, Ponta Delgada.

• Furnas Night Experience (6 PM to 11:30 PM): A 5.5-hour evening tour covering the Pico do Ferro viewpoint over the volcanic crater, thermal baths at Poça da Dona Beija under the stars, and a traditional dinner at a local restaurant in Furnas. You can choose to bathe before or after dinner. Hotel pickup is included.

The scheduled day is only a suggestion and can be modified to meet your preferences. Just get in touch with us.

Yes. The tasting is built around the food as much as the wine. Non-alcoholic drinks and craft beer are available as alternatives. The local host is used to accommodating different preferences. 

Solar Branco is a 19th-century historic property restored and set within private gardens in Livramento, on the outskirts of Ponta Delgada. It has 8 individually decorated suites and chalets, adults-only throughout, with pillowtop beds, rainfall showerheads, and a terrace and garden overlooking the volcanic landscape. Free self-parking is available on-site. Continental breakfast is served daily from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. 

The property is eco-certified and each stay supports marine conservation through the Ocean Azores Foundation. It is also home to one of Europe's most remarkable gin libraries, with close to 7,000 varieties available for tasting by appointment, including local Azorean gins. This is not a standard hotel. It is a calm, considered retreat in a genuinely historic setting.

Solar Branco has three on-property experiences worth knowing about before you arrive. The Gin Library houses one of the largest collections of gin in the world, with close to 7,000 varieties available for tasting by appointment. It also showcases Ghosts of the Ocean, a gin range created and produced on São Miguel itself. For food, the property offers a sushi experience and a Mexican food experience, both available on request. Additional costs apply. 

A rental car is included for all 6 nights. The standard vehicle is a compact manual car. Automatic transmission is available on request at an additional cost. You will need a valid Canadian or US passport and driver's license at pickup. The car is collected at Ponta Delgada Airport on arrival and returned there on departure day. There are no toll roads in the Azores. All roads on São Miguel are free to use.

The rental includes basic third-party liability insurance, and depending on the car rental company, a collision damage waiver (CDW) may already be included. Even with CDW, most rentals have a mandatory excess. We always recommend upgrading to the highest insurance level available. This can be arranged through the Azores Getaways team when booking with the team.

You drive on the right in the Azores. Roads are generally well maintained and traffic is light outside Ponta Delgada. Routes in the interior and along the north coast can be narrower and more winding, particularly around the Sete Cidades and Furnas craters. These are manageable at a relaxed pace. Taxis are available in Ponta Delgada but harder to find in rural areas, which is why the rental car is essential for this itinerary.

Parking is available and it's free. 

Yes, round-trip flights are included. The package price varies depending on your departure airport. Other departure cities are available on the package page and additional options are available on request. Contact the Azores Getaways team before booking to discuss departure options. Seat selection, extra baggage, and cabin class upgrades can be arranged as paid add-ons, subject to availability.

Checked luggage is not always included and depends on the airline and fare type in your package. You can confirm what is included and add luggage during the booking process. The Azores Getaways team is always available to help if you prefer to arrange it with us directly.

No. City taxes are not included and are paid directly at the hotel on arrival or checkout.

No. All activities listed in the day-by-day itinerary beyond the cheese and wine tasting and the Furnas night experience are optional and at additional cost. Tours can be added during the booking process or at any point after booking. For popular experiences such as whale watching and Poça da Dona Beija thermal pools on free days, advance booking is strongly recommended in peak season. 

Solar Branco and São Miguel are accessible year-round. Spring (April to May) brings mild temperatures around 18°C (64°F), green landscapes, and fewer visitors, ideal for hiking and thermal pool visits without peak season crowds. Summer (June to August) reaches 24°C (75°F), the warmest and busiest period with the best conditions for whale watching and outdoor exploration. Autumn (September to October) stays warm at around 22°C (72°F), quieter, and excellent for the kind of unhurried pace this retreat is designed for. Winter (November to March) is mild at around 15°C (59°F), well suited to thermal springs, the Furnas experience, and a more private version of the island.

Yes to all three. The Azores Getaways team can add nights at Solar Branco, include a second island such as Terceira or Faial, or build a wider multi-island itinerary. Additional costs apply. If you are travelling solo, the package price is based on two travelers sharing a room and a single supplement applies. Contact the team directly and we will make it easy. You can also check solo pricing by changing the number of guests from 2 to 1 in the booking calendar before clicking See Dates and Prices.

The Azores are part of Portugal, consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in Europe for travelers, with no active conflicts and not affected by the current conflicts in Europe or elsewhere. Canadian and US passport holders do not currently need a visa for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your return date. ETIAS, a pre-travel authorization for Schengen Area travel, is not yet mandatory. When it launches, we will contact you in advance.

The land portion of your package is refundable if cancelled at least 14 days before your travel date. Airfare is non-refundable from the moment it is issued, but the Azores Getaways team will always check with the airline to explore options. Travel insurance with cancellation cover is strongly recommended. This summary does not replace the full terms and conditions of your booking. 

For general support, contact the Azores Getaways team at our regular number, available every day from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM Azores Time. Outside office hours, an emergency number is provided in your trip documents. For local emergencies in the Azores, dial 112.