Santa Maria's Dalberto Pombo Science Center

Centro de Interpretacao de Ambiente

Which means the Nature Interpretive Center.

Which means it is awesome.

Make this one of your first stops.  The center gives an excellent context for the nature of the island around you. 

It is based off of the collection of Dalberto Pombo, a Portuguese naturalist who collected specimens of butterflies, insects, birds & fossils.  Beware when you tell Portuguese people you went to the Centro de  Pombo, it could also mean you were in the middle of a pigeon. (pombo= pigeon)

This is the oldest island, 10 million years, the last volcano was 4 million years ago. There is no bird called the Acore, even though that is what the islands are named for (the bird is either extinct or a legend), but look for the Milafre, which is about the size of a hawk. The only bird endemic to the islands. The others are just tourists/migratory.

Ask for an English paper guide to translate the info in the displays.  

Also make sure to ask the receptionist about the films they have available for viewing.  They have Portuguese/ English options (although the one in English was broken the day I was visiting). Watch whatever they have available, watching it in Portuguese is still fascinating.  Plus I had the auditorium all to myself.

This is an eel that always has it's mouth open. Or a sea monster.

Myself and a turtle. Tortaruga!!

All in all, the Centro got me excited to explore the island and look for fossils!  This is the island of details and grand views, make sure not to miss either!!