top of page

School trip for DP2 to São Miguel Island, Azores

Updated: Oct 6


The IB Humanities & CAS trip for DP2 students to São Miguel Island, Azores, was an incredible week. We hiked volcanic landscapes, went canyoning through steep gorges, spotted Sei whales, and watched Atlantic spotted dolphins putting on a show with backflips. We swam at black volcanic sand beaches, dived into plunge pools, and enjoyed breathtaking sunrises and sunsets from our hotel.


The absolute highlight was visiting Casa do Povo, an association that last years CAS Council students fundraised for. Spending a beautiful afternoon singing, dancing, and playing with the kids was both heartwarming and inspiring for all of us. Well done to our students, who upheld the IB Learner Profile in action by being caring, open-minded, and communicators.


Students testimonals:


"Clustered in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores Islands are a group of extraordinary volcanic mountains full of stunning landscapes, rich culture, and unique ecosystems. This September, the island of São Miguel acted as our temporary classroom as we explored the multitude of geographical features. Our diverse excursions, such as hiking, whale watching, driving tours, canyoning, and a visit to Casa do Povo, immersed us in not only the beauty and history of the island, from volcanic craters, thermal and hot springs, to waterfalls, gorges, and rolling lush hills, but also in the local community and culture.

 

These experiences, as well as our enthusiastic tour guide, allowed us to develop a strong, tangible understanding of the tectonic activity and geological features that shape the island’s unique beauty. The trip not only educated us in an innovative way but also allowed us to apply IB knowledge to a real-world context. It also encouraged us to embrace the IB learner profile: being inquirers as we questioned the formation and development of the landscape, open-minded as we engaged with a new culture and area, and caring as we strove to protect the ecosystem with sustainable tourism practices. The trip to the Azores was more than just a school trip; it was an unforgettable learning and growing experience that we will all remember for the rest of our lives.

 

Thank you to Ms. O'Brien for making this trip the best it could possibly be, and to Ms. Raguin for accompanying us."

 

Juliette Reid


"The 2026 IBS trip to the Azores was a roaring success! From insane whale watching to exhilarating canyoning, to jaw-dropping hikes and majestic volcanic beaches, the entire group had an incredible and memorable experience. We toured a pineapple plantation, as well as the factory of the famous patented Azorean pastries: Queijadas de Adelino Morgado & Filhas.The IBS CAS Council spent the entire school year last year raising money for an association in the Azores called Casa de Povo. Focused on aiding the local community, the association invited us in for a day, and we had the opportunity to interact and play with the children at Casa de Povo’s childcare program. Tearing down the barrier of language, we instead connected with the children through music, dance, hugs, art, and laughter.  Because of this, all of the effort put into organising, preparing, and taking part in CAS Council and its events has been incredibly fulfilling.  Keeping track of the funds and ensuring we raised enough, particularly as treasurer, was an enormous responsibility, but it was worthwhile once we accomplished our objective.

Thank you to the school for making this trip possible, and a very special thanks to Ms. O’Brien for organising everything. Our gratitude also goes to Mme Rimpault and Mme Deceglie for managing the CAS Council and guiding us through each event and bake sale. Most importantly, thank you to the entire CAS Council for their year-long fundraising efforts."


Zoe James and India Fulgent Lewis 


bottom of page