Sandra has lately returned from her native Azores, the place she was researching the upcoming Pocket Azores guidebook, out in October 2024. Right here she shares her native information of the archipelago that can assist you select the perfect island to your journey.
Well-known for climbing trails and lagoons, inactive volcanoes and whale watching, the Azores naturally enchantment to the outdoorsy. However these islands are additionally wealthy with a singular delicacies, distinctive wines, vibrant cultural occasions and conventional celebrations.
The Azores continue to grow in reputation as a vacationer vacation spot, however some islands stay off most vacationers' radar. Certain, quite a lot of this archipelago's enchantment comes from its lovely landscapes, the place nature is virtually untouched but not fully out of attain. However the landscapes change from island to island, generally inside the similar one, which is why “seen one, seen all of them” doesn't apply right here. Learn on to seek out the right islands to your Azores journey.
1. Santa Maria
Greatest island for summer season festivals
Dubbed “the sunny island” by Azoreans, summers right here see loads of wonderful days of seaside climate – an oddity by Azores requirements. However the promise of morning-to-evening days spent absorbing the solar and the salt of the ocean isn't the one purpose why vacationers flock right here in the course of the summer season months. On my early morning and virtually empty flight to Santa Maria, on a late-January weekday, most of my fellow passengers have been locals returning house or happening a enterprise journey.
In mid-July, the village of Anjos welcomes blues followers to the three-day competition Santa Maria Blues. Then, on the finish of August, Praia Formosa turns into the epicenter and principal stage of Maré de Agosto, Portugal's oldest music competition, turning 40 in 2024. Marienses (Santa Maria residents) actually know how one can placed on a memorable present.
Learn extra: All the pieces it’s good to know to your first journey to the Azores
2. Sao Miguel
Greatest island for issues to do
The biggest island, São Miguel will get essentially the most vacationers and has frequent flights from varied locations two to 5 hours away. For a lot of guests it's compromise between spending time on a distant island however with out feeling such as you're too distant from house.
Right here, you’ll be able to spend the morning discovering lagoons in Sete Cidades, then whereas away the afternoon soaking in a thermal tub heated by an underground volcano in Furnas. Within the night you’ll be able to pattern worldwide delicacies and uncover native artists at O Quarteirão, a neighborhood within the historic middle of the island's capital, Ponta Delgada.
And on a type of wet days, when sightseeing goes out the window, stroll across the procuring middle or catch a film.
Learn extra: Tips on how to get essentially the most out of the Azores with out renting a automotive
3. Terceira
Greatest island for tradition
Terceira has a sure majestic high quality – maybe a hint of its former life as the center of the Portuguese Kingdom. The celebration of native heritage is powerful right here, from the handfuls of fastidiously stored, colourful imperios (small temples constructed to show symbols of the Cult of the Holy Spirit) that dot each village and city on the island, to the cobblestoned streets of Angra do Heroísmo's historic middle, the primary UNESCO World Heritage Web site in Portugal.
The island has birthed notable intellectuals, artists and writers. However there’s room for fewer intellectual cultural manifestations, together with the sarcasm-riddled track and dance exhibits referred to as Bailinhos throughout Carnaval, and the dwell music and avenue parades throughout Sanjoaninas in June.
4. Graciosa
Greatest island to go to with household
Graciosa is without doubt one of the least vacationer islands. On the floor, the second smallest island within the archipelago appears to have little to do – by comparability with the remainder, after all. However this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve doesn't have to flaunt deep lagoons and waterfalls to get your consideration.
In half a day, you’ll be able to drive across the island and hit all of the must-see spots, and locals will state this reality to you. Nevertheless it's excellent when you're touring with youthful youngsters who get fussy on lengthy drives. The highway journey contains recognizing a whale-shaped rock off the coast, fully molded by nature. You possibly can even take them on an journey, strolling down a stone spiral staircase into the center of Graciosa's inactive volcano, Caldeira (or Furna do Enxofre).
The island can be house to burro da Graciosaan endangered species of donkey that has been rescued, protected and bred by a neighborhood nonprofit group. Anybody can go to the farm to see the donkeys from afar, or pet them if they arrive nearer to the fence.
Native tip: Graciosa is legendary for its red-roofed, Dutch-style windmills. Most of them are now not operational and have been become short-term rental homes by their house owners.
5. Sao Jorge
Greatest island for climbing
Whether or not you arrive on the island by sea or by air, São Jorge resembles the scaly again of an unlimited dragon nearly asleep in the course of the ocean. On this lengthy and slender island, most cities and villages are wedged between the ocean and steep cliffs on volcanic floor that slide down the coast and fashioned fajas (coastal plateaus).
Despite the fact that a few of these fajas will be reached by automotive, with the ability to get to them as locals did within the previous days, by way of official trekking trails, makes São Jorge the perfect island for climbing.
Native tip: Given the island's tough terrain, all official trails on São Jorge vary from average to onerous, which require some climbing expertise. Trekking boots and poles are beneficial for a secure and comfy hike.
Learn extra: Uncover the 7 greatest hikes within the Azores
6. Pico
Greatest island for native heritage
Known as “the mountain island” for being house to Portugal's highest peak, Pico can be traditionally a land of whale hunters and winemakers.
Watching whales took over from looking them within the mid-Eighties, with loads of former hunters instructing whale-watching corporations all they knew concerning the mammals and how one can monitor them. You'll see the previous business introduced at museums and previous processing factories. Right now, whale-watching excursions have change into one of the vital widespread actions on Pico.
Producing wine from vines that develop on volcanic soils, sheltered from the wind and the ocean by basalt rock partitions, proves that picoenses (Pico residents) are ingenious. The winemaking business is at the moment reaping the fruits of a renaissance on the island, with the Panorama of the Pico Island Winery Tradition turning into acknowledged by UNESCO in 2004.
Native tip: Common, year-round ferry rides connecting Faial, Pico, and São Jorge – also called the “Triangle Islands” – imply that island-hopping between the three is simple. Whereas the tendency is to remain on Faial (partly due to flight frequency), Pico is a greater island to make use of as a base – Madalena on Pico is a 30-minute ferry journey from Horta on Faial; São Roque on Pico is 50 minutes from Velas on São Jorge.
7. Faial
Island with the perfect seashores
On most islands within the Azores, pure swimming swimming pools outnumber sandy seashores, and Faial is not any exception, with 5 seashores to its seven pure swimming pools. The cool Atlantic waters (generally even in the summertime) additionally don't precisely pinpoint the islands on the map of greatest seaside locations. However, Faial's stretches of sand are value visiting.
Praia do Almoxarife is arms down the seaside with the perfect view. Think about lounging on the black sand or taking a dip whereas trying throughout the water at Portugal's highest peak, Mt Pico.
Praia de Porto Pim is a neighborhood favourite inside strolling distance of Horta metropolis middle. The proximity to an city space doesn't taint the beach-going expertise in any respect, and the bay is sort of a shelter.
8. Flores
Greatest island for untouched nature
Most individuals who go to Flores imagine that that is essentially the most lovely island within the Azores, evaluating it to such locations as Hawaii, Switzerland, and Eire.
The evergreen island has dozens of waterfalls cascading down vertiginous cliffs into the ocean or into ponds of contemporary water, seven lagoons nestled within the pits of collapsed volcano craters and a rugged coast hiding caves and tales of pirates – and solely a handful of those delights are inside human attain.
Native tip: When the climate turns unexpectedly on Flores, locals have a enjoyable saying: “Right here right now, tomorrow in Flores.” Granted, burdened vacationers could miss the irony on this tidbit of native knowledge once they start to foresee the domino impact of canceled flights. For those who're staying three days on Flores, give your self some leeway and plan for 2 additional days of touring time – don't e book connecting flights for a similar day you propose to reach on or depart Flores.
9. Corvo
Greatest island to loosen up
With no noise, no visitors (nicely, hardly any vehicles, for that matter), no air pollution, and no fuss, Corvo, the smallest of the 9 islands, is ideal for unplugging and recharging.
Strolling the maze of slender cobblestoned streets that reduce by means of impossibly shut homes and patios that when protected corvinos (Corvo residents) from harsh winds and pirate invasions does make you imagine that if you may make it right here, you may make it anyplace. And these islanders have been making a life right here for 4 centuries.
Native tip: Most individuals hop right here on a ship from Flores, do a fast tour round city and go to the volcano Caldeirão. However to completely expertise life on essentially the most distant island within the Azores, plan your journey to account for a one-night keep (no less than) on Corvo.
