David Sayers is a horticulturist who studied at Kew and overseas, and has spent a lifetime exploring the world for plants. Abandoning gardening after 20 years and graduating in social sciences, he worked in social policy and corporate planning, at the same time using annual leave to lead adventure/botanical holidays to the Himalayas for Thomas Cook and others. In 1982 he formed a company specialising in botanical and garden travel and for 26 years arranged and led tours worldwide. In 1984, he offered the Azores for the first time and led the first ever tour group to climb Pico and to visit São Jorge, Flores and Corvo. He now writes on botanical travel.

Murray Stewart is an experienced guidebook updater and something of an island and archipelago specialist having updated Bradt's guidebook on Cape Verde , another mid-Atlantic destination. He is a keen walker and has a passion for wildlife and the outdoors in general. He speaks five languages, including some Portuguese.