Itinerary

Arrive in St John’s and pick up your hire car at the airport.

Check into your hotel, then explore Newfoundland’s capital and North America’s easternmost city, famous for its colourful ‘jellybean’ row houses and attractive harbour.

We recommend the Historic St John’s & Cape Spear Tour to see much of the city’s attractions, including Cabot Tower and Signal Hill, Quidi Vidi Village, Jelly Bean Row, Government House and the Roman Catholic Basilica.

A highlight is Signal Hill where the first transatlantic radio signal was received, and the iconic Cabot Tower, which commemorates explorer John Cabot’s voyage to Newfoundland in 1497. Nearby Cape Spear is the most easterly point in North America with the oldest standing lighthouse.

Today we highly recommend a boat tour to Witless Bay Reserve to watch humpback whales and puffins.

Many species of whales inhabit this region and humpbacks are often seen breaching out of the waters, while the area is also home to North America’s largest Atlantic puffin colony.

St John’s claims to have the most pubs per square mile in North America and is renowned for its breweries, so sample the local beer in the evening, as well as some great seafood in the restaurants.

Spend another day exploring St John’s, visiting any historical attractions you haven’t already explored.

A great option is to sample St John’s cuisine on a city food tour exploring the city’s gastronomic highlights. Try specialities that range from moose meat, toutons with molasses and fish cakes to Newfoundland berries.

Head north today to the town of Gander. On the way, we recommend stopping off in Bonavista, where explorer John Cabot first sighted land in 1497 and apparently exclaimed “Oh, buono vista!” The town is famous for its red-and-white Cape Bonavista lighthouse. Climb the tower and see the original 19th century apparatus.

Gander was once known as the “Crossroads of the World,” due to its perfectly positioned airport. Once the largest airport on earth with runways big enough to land a space shuttle, it was a strategic location for refuelling and a bustling centre during wartime.

In recent years, the community became a focal point for human kindness during the tragedy of September 11, 2001. More than 6,000 passengers in 38 planes stayed here for several days, relying on the generosity of locals in a town with only 500 hotel rooms.

We recommend you watch the local award-winning theatre production of Come From Away, which tells the remarkable story of Gander’s role in 9/11.

This morning, take the ferry crossing to Fogo Island. It’s imperative to check the ferry schedule for departure times. There is no reservation system in place, and we recommend being in the line-up an hour before your scheduled departure time.

Fogo Island has become a haven for artists from around the world with a welcoming fishing community. The island is famous for the Nordic-style Fogo Island Inn where you will be staying.

This remote luxury hotel of whitewashed wood is perched partially on stilts on the edge of the ocean. It’s one of the world’s most unique hotels, and hugely popular so must be booked well in advance. The Inn has spacious rooms with floor to ceiling windows, as well as its own art gallery, cinema, library and roof deck with saunas and hot tubs offering panoramic views.

Settle in and relax for your first night in this most dramatic of locations.

Spend a day embarking on unforgettable excursions on Fogo Island.

Recommended activities that can be booked with Fogo Island Inn guides include wildlife watching, boat trips, cycling, hiking and star-gazing. Wildlife commonly seen near the Inn includes seals, caribou, puffins and whales.

Between mid-May and June, you can enjoy the amazing sight of icebergs floating past Fogo Island, carried south from Greenland by the powerful Labrador Current.

Spend another day enjoying excursions on Fogo Island or simply relax in the wonderful facilities at the Inn.

Optional attractions to explore include Fogo Island Marine Interpretation Centre, Bleak House Museum and Marconi Wireless Interpretation Centre, where you can learn about the early communications history of Fogo Island.

An optional recommended excursion is the Lion’s Den Hiking Trail. This 4km loop trail weaves through four communities. Wild red foxes are often seen on the trail.

Another good hike is the trail to Brimstone Head, believed by flat-earthers to be one of the four corners of the Earth.

Take the ferry back to Farewell from Fogo Island. It’s imperative to check the ferry schedule for departure times. There is no reservation system in place, and we recommend being in the line-up an hour before your scheduled departure time.

Drive back to St John’s Airport, drop off your hire car and take your flight home.