7 days & 6 nights in
São Miguel
all-inclusive Azores travel journal trip
Alicia Bruce
brought to you in collaboration
with artist & world travelEr
Highlights
- stay at a private villa in Ponta Delgado
- dinners prepared in-house by a locally acclaimed private chef
- whale and dolphin watching excursion
- explore breathtaking volcanic vistas and crater lakes
- experience the lush landscape
- private workshop with a local paper-cut artist
- optional excursion to explore the east side of the island and a tea farm
- workshops & guidance on making travel journals
- and more!
Angie Chua
and special guest,
bobo design studio founder,
September 19-25, 2027
group capped at 12 people
Escape to São Miguel in the Azores, sometimes called the 'Hawaii of Europe', for an all-inclusive art journal retreat where creative expression meets untouched volcanic beauty. Designed for the adventurous and creatively curious, this journey invites you to capture dramatic crater lakes, lush botanical paradises, and coastal vistas on in your own travel journal while enjoying exquisite meals prepared daily by our own private chef.
You'll experience workshops to help you express yourself through travel journaling, and we’ll even venture into the vast Atlantic for an unforgettable whale-watching excursion. Join us for a seamless blend of art, indulgence of the senses, and exploration, and bringing home a deeply personal keepsake of paradise.
Travel journal questions
WHAT IS A TRAVEL JOURNAL?
As travel enthusiasts, we believe that trips to different parts of world enrich our lives in so many ways. But for here, we'll just speak to the memories- you know those incredible things that don't go out of style or break down. A travel journal is a really beautiful way to slow down during your trip and enrich those memories. Then you have a tangible, incredible item to bring home and keep those memories burning bright.
WHAT IF I'M NOT THAT "ARTSY"?
If you don't consider yourself very artistic, then guess what? This trip is great for you! Alicia will be breaking down the different ways to create these memory holders. Not everyone's travel journal is going to include stunning drawings. Your journal can be more writing focus or a great place to store your photos or some cool lettering with notes or practice sketches. The wonderful thing is that it will look different for everyone. Alicia is going to help with step by steps and ideas and examples. If you're an artist to begin with, this will be a chance to grow and stretch yourself. When we say "all levels welcome," we actually mean it.
The Palette of São Miguel
accommodations & FAQ
>
trip cost
Shared room (two twin beds) with ensuite bathroom-
• $3,995/person
Private room with ensuite bathroom-
• $5,100
what's included
- 6 nights at a private villa with a private pool & jacuzzi
- all breakfasts
- one lunch out
- all dinners created by a critically acclaimed local chef
- a Bobo Design Studio Wanderlust Passport travel journal
- art supplies for journaling
- travel journal workshops by Alicia and Angie
- whale and dolphin watching excursion
- volcanic crater sight seeing excursion
- private workshop with local papercut artist
- west side of the island tour
- time in Ponta Delgado
- transportion for all excursion
- tips for guides and drivers
what's not
- airline tickets/transportation to villa in São Miguel
- optional east side of the island excursion (cost- $150)
- all but one lunch
- spending money
- mandatory travel insurance
*The first $1,000 is due at sign-up and is non-refundable unless you are able to find a replacement for your spot. The rest of the payment is due 60 days prior to the beginning of the trip. Payment plans available upon request.*
accommodations
Our accommodations
FAQ
What airport should I fly into?
Aeroporto João Paulo II (PDL)
Where would I buy the mandatory travel insurance?
For travel insurance, my suggestions would be Allianz, World Trips, Travelex, World Nomad, or InsureMyTrip. You can compare and decide what policy is right for you. You may already have a policy available to you at no extra cost. Check your credit card, bank account, or other bundled services or memberships. If you feel that this coverage is sufficient for your needs, then you can simply show me proof of this.
What about all my other questions about our time together?
I do my best to prep you for all you need to know about visa, travel, what to bring, etc. through a series of emails I send out before the trip. If you have another other questions you need answered before committing, reach out to me at Hello@AlyssaAnneTravels
The cultural experience that you created was so meaningful and it made me appreciate the country I was visiting and have a better understanding of the people and customs. I feel this was so nurturing especially in our world today.
-Mary
I’m the type of person that gets exhausted with a task as simple as trying to pick a place to eat for dinner, so it was such a relief to have all that planned for me. I liked having all the major decisions made for me already so i could focus on the experience and the culture. Even though there was some free time built into the schedule, I didn’t feel any type of decision making pressure.
-Bex
The trip truly was amazing! I saw Italy in a way I never would have had I planned the trip on my own. Everything was planned to perfection and you are a delightful and generous host. It was such a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for an incredible and unforgettable adventure!
-Deanna
Having everything planned out was a game-changer: zero stress on me. Alyssa executed everything perfectly, with just the right mix of activity and downtime. She was super flexible too, especially when it came to meals. I could actually relax and enjoy every moment.
-Terrie
By far the best-planned trip we have ever been on. Perfect mix of events and personal time. We love how Alyssa is purposeful to find local businesses and out-of-the-way attractions so as to help the locals and not the big tour companies. The venue was more than perfect. We would HIGHLY recommend this talented tour service and are already signing up for another adventure.
-Lee
The balance between activity and downtime made it feel both energizing and restorative. Overall, it was a trip filled with joy, discovery, and wonderful company—an unforgettable experience that I would recommend to anyone.
-Leonora
By far the best-planned trip we have ever been on. Perfect mix of events and personal time. We love how Alyssa is purposeful to find local businesses and out-of-the-way attractions so as to help the locals and not the big tour companies. The venue was more than perfect. We would HIGHLY recommend this talented tour service and are already signing up for another adventure.
-Lee
I went on my first yoga retreat to Italy with Alyssa’s group. It exceeded all my expectations!!! You could tell Alyssa did her homework in searching for the right place for this retreat…and she nailed it! We had a personal chef using farm to table ingredients, that I still miss every day!!! She arranged great excursions. You can’t go wrong if you choose Alyssa to help plan any adventure you choose! She’s a 5 star travel agent in my opinion!!!
-Karen
This group trip was the most relaxing vacation I've ever been on. I didn't had to think or worry about a single thing this whole time.
-Francesco
Alyssa is adept at sorting through the hype, and knows where to direct you to travel to not just SEE destinations, but EXPERIENCE them in full. We were given expert direction on dining, transportation, how long to dedicate to each stop, accommodations, best season to visit, and more - and now have a trip that feels like joyful anticipation rather than a daunting project.
-Penelope
We have a decent amount of experience with international travel [but] this most recent trip we decided to reach out to Alyssa. She was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. It made planning our trip so much more enjoyable and less overwhelming. She was thoughtful in her recommendations and made sure that we were frequenting places that supported the local community and provided us with opportunities for a more immersive experience. Whether you are new to international travel or a seasoned traveler, we highly recommend Alyssa’s services! We look forward to working with her on future trips!
-Lauren
The best parts of the trip were being immersed in the day to day lives of the locals, the guided tours and learning about the history and culture of the cities we visited. I am grateful for the friendships I've made in the short period.
-Laura
The cultural experience that you created was so meaningful and it made me appreciate the country I was visiting and have a better understanding of the people and customs. I feel this was so nurturing especially in our world today.
-Mary
I’m the type of person that gets exhausted with a task as simple as trying to pick a place to eat for dinner, so it was such a relief to have all that planned for me. I liked having all the major decisions made for me already so i could focus on the experience and the culture. Even though there was some free time built into the schedule, I didn’t feel any type of decision making pressure.
-Bex
The trip truly was amazing! I saw Italy in a way I never would have had I planned the trip on my own. Everything was planned to perfection and you are a delightful and generous host. Thank you for an incredible and unforgettable adventure!
-Deanna
Having everything planned out was a game-changer: zero stress on me. Alyssa executed everything perfectly, with just the right mix of activity and downtime. She was super flexible too, especially when it came to meals. I could actually relax and enjoy every moment.
-Terrie
By far the best-planned trip we have ever been on. Perfect mix of events and personal time. We love how Alyssa is purposeful to find local businesses and out-of-the-way attractions so as to help the locals and not the big tour companies. The venue was more than perfect. We would HIGHLY recommend this talented tour service and are already signing up for another adventure.
-Lee
The balance between activity and downtime made it feel both energizing and restorative. Overall, it was a trip filled with joy, discovery, and wonderful company—an unforgettable experience that I would recommend to anyone.
-Leonora
I'm an independent traveler who can plan like nobody's business, but it takes so. much. time. It's like having a part time job in addition to my real job and real life. There's nothing like knowing I can trust you to do the research and handle the logistics so I can just show up and enjoy. I don't need to worry about tips and drivers and deciding where to eat - some of the things that just feel like a chore when I travel - because you've already done it.
-Alicia
I went on my first yoga retreat to Italy with Alyssa’s group. It exceeded all my expectations!!! You could tell Alyssa did her homework in searching for the right place for this retreat…and she nailed it! We had a personal chef using farm to table ingredients, that I still miss every day!!! She arranged great excursions. You can’t go wrong if you choose Alyssa to help plan any adventure you choose! She’s a 5 star travel agent in my opinion!!!
-Karen
This group trip was the most relaxing vacation I've ever been on. I didn't had to think or worry about a single thing this whole time.
-Francesco
Alyssa is adept at sorting through the hype, and knows where to direct you to travel to not just SEE destinations, but EXPERIENCE them in full. We were given expert direction on dining, transportation, how long to dedicate to each stop, accommodations, best season to visit, and more - and now have a trip that feels like joyful anticipation rather than a daunting project.
-Penelope
We have a decent amount of experience with international travel [but] this most recent trip we decided to reach out to Alyssa. She was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. It made planning our trip so much more enjoyable and less overwhelming. She was thoughtful in her recommendations and made sure that we were frequenting places that supported the local community and provided us with opportunities for a more immersive experience. Whether you are new to international travel or a seasoned traveler, we highly recommend Alyssa’s services! We look forward to working with her on future trips!
-Lauren
The best parts of the trip were being immersed in the day to day lives of the locals, the guided tours and learning about the history and culture of the cities we visited. I am grateful for the friendships I've made in the short period.
-Laura
