Atlantic Isles Expeditions

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The Expedition Experience

These expeditions enable you to take the God-view of a sweeping and fascinating geography or zoom down into a close-up. Explore rarely visited islands, isolated by expanses of ocean. In the Azores, linger amid towering basalt peaks, bubbling hot springs, nutrient-rich waters, emerald-green farmlands, and within a rich history. Experience the warmth and hospitality of the locals as they share a glimpse into their island life with traditional dishes, world-class wine and cheese tastings, fado music and the beauty of each destination.

(3) Atlantic Isles Itineraries

Atlantic Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Cape to Cape: A Voyage from Cape Horn to Cape Town

Special Offers

Duration

20 days
Mar

From

$22,850

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)
Highlights

Atlantic Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Cape to Cape: A Voyage from Cape Horn to Cape Town

Duration

20 days
Mar

From

$22,850

Top Highlights

  • Visit the vast king penguin colonies on South Georgia—hundreds of thousands on a single beach
  • See rockhopper penguins and albatrosses on remote Tristan da Cunha Island, and meet some of its 260 human residents
  • Enjoy a rich program of lectures by an expert team of Naturalists, Historians, and Certified Photography Instructors; and take advantage of the ship’s many amenities, from wellness programs and spa treatments to gourmet dining and wine tastings
  • Spend a day in one of the world’s most beautifully situated cities, Cape Town, traveling to the top of Table Mountain for sweeping views and admiring the unusual flora at the renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
  • Spot rare birds and other wildlife on the uninhabited and seldom-visited Nightingale and Inaccessible islands
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Special Offers

  • DISCOVERY PACKAGE INCLUDING $2,000 AIR CREDIT
  • 25% SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS
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Atlantic Isles

New Islands of the Atlantic Ridge: Brazil to the Azores

Special Offers

Duration

24 days
Apr

From

$29,390

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)
Highlights

Atlantic Isles

New Islands of the Atlantic Ridge: Brazil to the Azores

Duration

24 days
Apr

From

$29,390

Top Highlights

  • Enjoy a rich program of lectures by an expert team of naturalists, historians, and photographers; and take advantage of the ship’s state-of-the-art amenities from wellness programs and spa treatments to gourmet dining options and wine tastings
  • Explore rarely seen, remote islands with deep-seated cultures, unique cuisines, and seafaring traditions
  • Enjoy special access to the unspoiled islands of Fernando De Noronha, a World Heritage Site. Snorkel amid the rich marine life and see a rich population of spinner dolphins
  • Learn about the 18th century Atlantic Slave Trade at the Cape Verde Islands and walk through a UNESCO World Heritage-designated old town
  • Search for marine life, including dolphins and sperm whales, plus the possibility of Blue whales, orcas, and pilot whales
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Special Offers

  • DISCOVERY PACKAGE INCLUDING $2,000 AIR CREDIT
  • 25% SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS
View ItineraryBook Now

Atlantic Isles

Europe & British Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Islands of the Azores: Fado Music to Fin Whales

Duration

10 days
Apr

From

$10,721

Prices are per person

Highlights

Atlantic Isles

Europe & British Isles

New and Noteworthy

New Islands of the Azores: Fado Music to Fin Whales

Duration

10 days
Apr

From

$10,721

Top Highlights

  • Aboard National Geographic Endurance, take advantage of the ship’s state-of the-art amenities, from wellness programs and spa treatments to gourmet dining options as we travel to the more secluded and seldom-visited islands of the Azores Archipelago
  • April is one of the best months to see the many whales that pass through these waters on their annual migrations. With the help of some of the best whale spotters in the world, search for fin, blue, sei, and pilot whales, just to name a few
  • Discover the varied past and the stories of explorers, whalers, and conquerors who all had a part in weaving the tapestry of island history
  • Experience the commitment the locals have to sustainable growth and protecting the natural beauty and ecosystems of the archipelago
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Special Offers

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Expedition Highlights

Immerse yourself in the theme of island exploration and make plenty of discoveries of your own: virgin wildness, world-class whale watching, gardens in bloom, birds, and ancient lore. Discover them through curated daily activities—in our decades of exploring we’ve found the best hikes to see wildlife, where whales come to feed, and the top cuisine and cultural sites. See terraced hillsides, verdant forests and craggy canyons, and receive a world-class welcome from the friendly locals everywhere you travel.

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Our Ships in the Atlantic

National Geographic Endurance

National Geographic Explorer

Life Aboard

There’s no need to dress up, ever; life aboard is casual all the way. There’s no assigned seating in the dining room—whether you choose the dining room or one of your ship's more casual dining spaces. In fact, many tables accommodate uneven numbers, making for easy mingling and the fun of sharing breakfast, lunch, or dinner with different new friends, staff, or guest speakers.

The Whales of Cape Verde

About 250 humpback whales travel to the Cape Verde islands every year to breed and calve, filling the ocean with song.

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How Much Do You Know About the Azores?

Literally in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the nine volcanic Azore Islands stretch over 350 miles.

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Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

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1.800.397.3348

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Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.397.3348

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Book Now

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Coming into the harbor or seeing the outline of an island on the horizon—the feeling of the sea and exploration is there, and it's amazing.

Alyssa S.

Explore with top expedition teams

See, do, and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades. Go with an expedition leader, naturalists, historians, and more.

Expedition Leader

Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.

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Naturalist

Sail with a team of naturalists, each passionate about the geographies they explore (and return to regularly) and who illuminate each facet through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Choose to spend time with whoever shares your interests in birding, human history, flora and fauna, and so much more.

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Video Chronicler

Video chroniclers accompany every expedition, shooting vivid HD footage—with no recycled footage ever—to provide you with a professionally edited and completely authentic memento of your expedition. Working during the day, and editing into the night, they have your DVD ready for preview prior to—and available to purchase at—disembarkation.

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Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.397.3348

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Daily Expedition Reports

Follow Along

Daily Expedition Reports

4/26/2023

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National Geographic Endurance

Sao Miguel, Azores

Four options offered everyone aboard National Geographic Endurance an opportunity to choose an expedition suited to their interests for exploration of Sao Miguel, the largest island of the Azores. While some guests chose to explore Ponta del Gada on their own, most of us headed off to explore various places on the island. Three coaches and a van carried all of us from the ship to different destinations on Sao Miguel. One group headed off to the northeast end of the island to explore part of the native laurisilva forest and search for the endangered and endemic priolo, or Azores bullfinch, in the Terras de Priolo Reserve. Others headed directly to Terra Nostra Garden to try swimming in the iron-rich thermal lake. The rest of us traveled east from the current capital city in two coaches, observing the scenic coast on our way to Villa Franca do Campo, the former capital of the island. En route, we passed many farm fields lined by the now familiar lava rock walls that checkerboard all the Azores. A variety of crops thrived in the numerous enclosed plots, including bananas, taro, corn, and melons. We also spotted dairy cattle. A large, flat area that is protected from the winds by a mountain, offering good access to the sea, seemed like an ideal site for the capital when Sao Miguel was settled. A landslide destroyed the town in 1522, though. While the town was entirely rebuilt, Villa Franca never regained its status as the capital of Sao Miguel. Our coach drivers skillfully maneuvered down the town’s narrow, winding cobblestone streets interlacing the white-sided, red-tile roofed homes and buildings characteristic of all the island cities and villages we have visited. Our destination was the picturesque harbor filled with sailboats and a particular local pastry shop, Do Morgado Queijadas de Vila Franca Do Campo. Inside, we watched the preparation of the special pastries through large glass windows. Many of us sampled some of their treats along with small cups of espresso. From there, we headed farther east to the famed Terra Nostra Garden and its thermal springs. We met up with our fellow travelers who had enjoyed swimming in the warm, iron-red waters of the thermal lake at the edge of the garden. While the swimmers washed off the red hues of the mineral rich water, the rest of us wandered through the gardens along well-manicured, cobblestoned trails. Trees and flowers from all over the world, from New Zealand to China, have been planted here in the 200 years since the gardens were established in 1776. A beautiful new addition to the garden features native and endemic Azores flora, a stark contrast to the garden’s history of featuring plants from far flung lands. We admired and photographed some of the plants growing here, up to one thousand species. Heading farther east after the garden visit, we stopped briefly at Furnas to observe the unique geothermal cooking method used for our noon meal. As we watched, two strong men pulled up a huge steel pot that had been lowered into a concrete pit in the ground near a steaming, bubbling thermal hot spring. They judged the meal cooked and carried the pot off in a truck to a nearby restaurant. We soon rejoined our fellow travelers at the restaurant. We enjoyed local wines and a hearty stew of potatoes, taro, carrots, kale, cabbage, and tender beef. This was all topped off by fresh pineapple and pastries from Do Morgado Queijadas. We left fueled for our afternoon activities. The morning’s swimmers headed off to hike along a trail around Lagos de Furnas. The trail meandered past a beautiful church and through another garden of cultivated trees and flowers. The birding group headed back to Sao Miguel for an afternoon exploring Ponta del Gado. The rest of the group made a visit to the Cha Gorreana tea factory. Here we observed the entire process of tea manufacturing with interpretation by our local guides. Surrounded by hills draped with lush green rows of thriving tea shrubs, the tea processing occurs inside a large white building filled with interesting machinery designed to dry, sort, and process the tea leaves prior to packaging the orange pekoe, black, or green tea. A scenic trip along the precipitous north and west coast of Sao Miguel took us back to the ship where we ended our day with the Captain’s Farewell Cocktails and a delicious dinner topped off with a decadent chocolate dessert. The night was not yet over, as the Alfredo Gago da Camara performers were aboard to entertain us in the Ice Lounge after dinner. This professional local Fado group features a singer and three musicians who played Portuguese guitar, classical guitar, and bass. It was a fitting end to a full day of exploration.

Daily Expedition Reports

4/25/2023

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National Geographic Endurance

Terceira Island to Santa Maria Island

Waking onboard National Geographic Endurance as we sailed from Terceira Island to Santa Maria Island, the seas were turned up a little by the prevailing winds. However, our steadfast ship carried us smoothly to the sheltered port of Vila do Porto, Santa Maria. Throughout the morning, we heard several presentations from our natural history staff. We learned how the spice and food trade connected the Azores, Portugal, with the rest of the world, and we joined in a conversation about ocean plastics and the mismanagement of waste. Once safely in the Vila do Porto harbor, we headed out to explore the island, by bus or foot. Some chose the beautiful scenic hike around Pico Alto, while others took a scenic bus tour around this island stopping to admire local art, small mountain towns, beautiful views of the island, and a bit of time exploring downtown. Known for its lighthouses and old-fashioned windmills, everyone had a wonderful sunny day getting to know the small island of Santa Maria.

Daily Expedition Reports

4/24/2023

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National Geographic Endurance

Terceira, Azores

Our morning began with foggy skies and misting rain on board National Geographic Endurance . Guests joined various tour options, including an overview of the east side of the island or a short birding excursion to a local watering hole. The birding spot was a recently recovered wetland known as Paul da Praia da Vitória located very close to the center of town. Local guides were optimistic about the clouds and fog clearing as the day went on, and thankfully, they knew what they were talking about! The afternoon held some of the best weather we’ve had thus far in the Azores. Bright, sunny skies with little to no wind allowed us to take off our rain jackets and enjoy that beautiful, bright light in the sky. This afternoon, we offered two options: a guided, walking tour of Angra do Heroismo and a hike at Baías da Agualva. The hike was the best one yet – full of wonderful views and not too strenuous. The city walk was incredibly rich, and guests enjoyed diving into the history and culture of the local people. We learned about various disputes between Portugal and Spain while walking in between restored buildings after the earthquake of 1980. To many, this was the best day of the trip so far!

Daily Expedition Reports

4/23/2023

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National Geographic Endurance

Graciosa, Azores

Another full and beautiful day here in the Azores! The day began with a threatening storm that had been aggressive overnight. However, drizzling rain did not deter the fearless travelers on National Geographic Endurance from getting the most out of our day. We were heartily rewarded with what turned out to be gorgeous weather, including some sunshine and blue skies. Some guests went on a scenic tour of the island, and the rest of us went for a hike around the caldera on Graciosa. The hike was a beautiful trail slightly lower than the rim of the caldera with incredible overlooks, lush vegetation, and lots of singing chaffinches and European robins. After the walk, the bravest of the brave walked down 200 steps to the base of the caldera, which felt a bit like the dark, damp entrance to Hades. A small lake even looked like the river Styx with an abandoned rowboat. After our morning activities, we were all treated to a visit to the local pastry shop. We got to sample a specialty of the island, Queijadas da Graciosa! They were deliciosa! Some of us may or may not have sampled more than one of the delicacies. The afternoon was a nice chance for a Zodiac cruise around the Ilheu da Praia, a small islet that is a critical nesting habitat for Monteiro’s storm petrels. In 2016, they found 178 breeding pairs on the island. This is over half the global population! Once we were back on the ship, we enjoyed visits from a few different schools of common dolphins, and we had the pleasure of learning lots of information from Jim Kelley’s presentation about the geology of the Azores archipelago. Following that, we enjoyed cocktail hour and recap. It’s been another great day here in the Azores, and we are all looking forward to tomorrow. What a time to be alive!

Daily Expedition Reports

4/22/2023

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National Geographic Endurance

São Jorge

Happy Earth Day! Today we celebrated by exploring the breathtaking island of São Jorge, one of the three so-called “triangle islands” of the Azores. Our group split up this morning, with some going hiking and some going on a tour of the island. The tour stopped at several beautiful spots along the way; at some spots, we were in the clouds. Luckily, the tour also included a cheese tasting at one of the island’s queijarias, or cheeseries. All the islands of the Azores have a unique style of cheese, but the cheese from São Jorge is arguably the most well-known and the most delicious. The hike descended from one of the highest points of the island down to Fajã dos Cubres, an almost six-mile adventure through fog and rain and incredible scenery. This afternoon, we left from the port of Velas to explore the north side of the island aboard National Geographic Endurance , always keeping an eye out for cetaceans. We spotted a sperm whale and several dolphins, as well as many Cory’s shearwaters flying out in front of the bow. For a very special Earth Day event, we listened as guest speaker Andrew Garling, one of the original Earth Day founders, told his story. We learned so much about the history of this important day. In the evening, we turned north from São Jorge towards the island of Graciosa, arriving in the port of Praia to spend the evening and gear up for tomorrow’s adventures!

Days at sea are all about looking for wildlife. And we're constantly on the watch for fish, birds, mammals, and you never know what you’re going to see.

Mike Greenfelder, Undersea Specialist

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.397.3348

Call now

Make a reservation

Book Now

Sign up for our newsletter & special offers

Sign up

Talk to an Expedition Specialist

1.800.397.3348

Call now

Make a reservation

Book Now

Sign up for our newsletter & special offers

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