The Archipelago of the Azores, comprising of 9 individual islands, float in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean between the United States and the coast of Portugal. Far away enough to feel like a really special trip, yet close enough to Portugal’s coast that you don’t feel too cut off. Yhey are an ideal holiday destination, particularly when you throw in the warm subtropical climate.
An introduction to Sao Miguel
The largest of the islands is Sao Miguel. This is also the best established, making it the ideal base for visitors to the Azores. That doesn’t mean to say that the remaining 8 islands, Santa Maria, Faial, Graciosa, Pico, São Jorge, Terceira, Corvo and Flores go unvisited. Island hopping is perfectly feasible during your time here. The other islands are quickly and easily reached via both frequent ferry connections and flights.
Ponta Delgada is the main hub of Sao Miguel; not quite a city by normal standards, more a large town, but it is generally the best place to stay. It’s attractive, particularly around the marina area with some historical attractions worthy of a visit.
Tips for planning
As a whole it is certainly worth spending some time exploring. With accommodation in mind, the number of options are restrictive compared to other destinations but there is still a nice selection of hotels, villas and apartments to choose from to suit different budgets and tastes. When it comes to food, each of the islands offers slightly different culinary specialities; for instance, on Sao Miguel it’s pineapples and on Sao Jorge it’s cheese. You won’t struggle to find delicious seafood wherever you go and restaurants of all calibres are readily available.
Explore the Environs
Delectably blanketed in flora and fauna, each island boasts stunning landscapes; volcanic craters, lakes, forests, waterfalls and meadows, rendering the Azores a sight for sore eyes. The evasion of mass tourism means a lot of the islands are very much untouched and raw, only highlighting the natural beauty further. Although equally beautiful, each island varies vastly in terms of culture, traditions, dialect and even gastronomy because they became inhabited over such a large time span. As such, an island hopping holiday here will never see a dull day!
SUV tours
4×4 tours allow visitors to uncover some areas of the island that are otherwise difficult to reach. Sete Cicades Lake formed within a volcanic crater and shrouded by legend being an excellent example. Hot springs are a welcome discovery and there are a number of them dotted around the islands. Furnas Valley is the perfect spot to experience them, where you can enjoy mud pools, thermal pools and thermal springs. The hot, volcanic earth is utilised by the locals and they frequently use it for cooking. Compliment your visit with a meat stew prepared and cooked in the ground for you by the locals.
Hit the water
Surrounded by uninterrupted ocean for thousands of kilometres, a highlight of a visit here is the boundless water based activities on offer. Whale and dolphin watching is profusely popular with boat tours running all year round. You could also try fishing or even water sports, as well as yachting; all of these make good use of the azure Atlantic. With such varied yet beautiful terrain to explore, hiking is almost customary, particularly on Pico Island where Mount Pico both challenges and rewards those who tackle it! That said, the miles of coastline also make for some enjoyable rambling with wonderful views.
As a rough guide, the Azores offer a winning combination of natural beauty, unique culture and a relaxing atmosphere; perfect an escape from the hustle and bustle and routines of everyday life and is certainly worth considering as your next holiday destination.
