The Hawaii of Europe · The Azores Islands
Do we have to fly to the other side of the world to see green-majestic mountains, volcanoes, and huge waves? There is a hidden gem in Europe that resembles a lot like the Hawaiian archipelago. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, there are nine islands showing nature in its purest state, and one of the largest whale sanctuaries. I am talking about the 9 islands of the Azores. This Portuguese autonomous region has very cheap and direct flights from Europe and also from the United States.
After visiting the Azores in 2018, I was surprised how this place was kept secret from everyone. I was lucky to have an authentic experience, admiring viewpoints and stunning nature with no tourists around. The 'island culture' is strong and intact, you can see it while wandering in the fishing villages, that reflects the humble lifestyle of the local farmers. Agriculture is the main industry of the Azores — there are estimated to be more cows than people living here. When you walk in the streets of Ribeira Grande — a village on the Northern side of Sao Miguel Island, you feel the slow pace of daily life, where stress and worries seem a distant memory. Local people often look with curiosity at passers-by from their balconies, or they just like to listen to the sound of the waves.
I recommend visiting the Azores as soon as you can, while this place still remains a hidden and unexplored gem of Europe.
How to reach it?
Direct flights from the UK
Ryanair operates a direct flight from Stansted to Sao Miguel each Saturday, and from Manchester to Sao Miguel on Fridays during the summer.
British Airways also operate direct flights in the summer - from Heathrow to Sao Miguel on Saturdays, and to Terceira on Sundays.
Direct flights from the US
The only airlines flying directly to Azores from the United States are Azores Airlines, TAP Portugal and United. You can fly directly via Boston or New York.
If you want to fly from other countries you need to make a change in Lisbon, to reach the Azores Islands. However, flights are very affordable and well connected. Most of the flights connect to Ponta Delgada (Sao Miguel Island) — the largest municipality and the economical capital of the Azores.
When to go?
Due to their unique position on the Gulf Stream, the Azores maintain a temperate, subtropical climate, with mild air and ocean temperatures all year long. Average temperatures sit comfortably at about 13ºC (55ºF) in the winter, and 24ºC (75ºF) in the summer.
☀︎ The best time to visit the Azores is from April until September
☂️ They rainy season starts from October until February. Because of their location, the Azores have experienced the effects of at least 21 Atlantic hurricanes, or storms that were once tropical cyclones. The most recent storm to affect the archipelago was the Tropical Storm Sebastien in 2019.
🌀 The storms are usually in October and November.
What do you need to travel to Azores?
TRAVEL DEBIT CARD
Saving money while travelling around the world can be a hustle! Different currencies and sky-high exchange fees. Luckily, during my 4 months in South East Asia I found a solution to travel stress-free without having to worry about money — TransferWise — the cheapest way to send money to more than 80 countries. The exchange rates are some of the best you'll find. You can order a debit/credit card for free, which arrives home after one week.
I have been using TransferWise for 3 years, and it has been life-changing especially when travelling abroad!
If you want to be well organized with your expenses while travelling, I recommend you to create ‘jars’ with the TransferWise Bank Account. You can split your savings for different purposes: grocery - restaurants - flights and so on.
Registering on TransferWise is free of charge and if you register through this link, you’ll get a fee-free transfer of up to 500 $.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
In these uncertain times with a pandemic raging throughout the world, there is no better feeling than some certainty when travelling in different countries.
One of the best reasons to buy travel insurance is to have a trip cancellation policy. In certain cases, SafetyWing offers a Covid refund — this made me feel a lot safer while travelling overseas.
If you feel like supporting a small content creator like me, and you need a travel insurance for your next trip, I can wholeheartedly recommend SafetyWing!
What to see in the Azores?
Lagoa do Fogo
Sao Miguel Island
Lagoa do Fogo (Lake of Fire) — is a crater lake located in the heart of Sao Miguel, also known as “The Green Island”, and the largest and most populated island of the Azores. This lake — is my favourite location in Sao Miguel. You feel like in Jurassic park — surrounded by lush green mountains, and crystal-clear lakes. This place is so peaceful, that you only hear the sound of seagulls and frogs, living their best life. The region is protected by governmental regulation, that does not allow any construction around the lake.
As you are making the winding journey up to the Lagoa do Fogo area, you will first come across a viewpoint area called Miradouro da Barrossa. This is a great spot to get your first glimpse of Lagoa do Fogo, and the surrounding nature.
Right below the viewing area, you will find the start to a winding pathway to the bottom of Lagoa do Fogo. The trail takes 30 minutes, and once you arrive at the shore, you get to enjoy the landscape from a small sandy beach. It is important to know that it is NOT allowed to swim in the lake, since it is protected by the Azorean government.
Looking at the Lagoa do Fogo for the first time is to be completely dazzled. It is impossible to remain indifferent to such natural beauty. The lake colours change according to the sky — when cloudy, the lagoon transforms into a greyish-green tone. When sunny, the lake becomes turquoise-blue.
A local once told me — «Depending on the preference of the lake, you understand the personality of a person. Lagoa do Fogo (my favourite) — reflects an introverted person, looking for the wilderness. While people that prefer the lake Sete Cidades — have an extrovert and sociable personality». You can test it yourself and see if you agree.
Not far from Lagoa do Fogo, you can also visit the
Hot springs of Caldeira Velha
Just 10 minutes away from the main viewpoint of Lagoa do Fogo, you will find the Caldeira Velha thermal pools. Here, you can sit back and relax in a natural hot spring in the middle of the Sao Miguel forest.
2. Sete Cidades
Sao Miguel Island
Sete Cidades — located on the Western side of Sao Miguel, is worldwide famous for its iconic twin-lake viewpoint. This awe-inspiring landscape, is the Azores most famed postcard image, also listed as one of the “7 Wonders of Portugal.”
Boca do Inferno Viewpoint
The best spot to fully appreciate the breathtaking view, is — Boca do Inferno Viewpoint. Expect jaw-dropping 360 degrees views overlooking the Lagoa do Canario, the other lagoons, and Sete Cidades village. An expansive view of the Atlantic beyond the ridge of the crater.
15 minutes by car from Sete Cidades, you can refresh in the
natural pools of Mosteiros
..and enjoy the sunset at
Praia dos Mosteiros
3. Maia
Sao Miguel Island
On the Northern side of Sao Miguel, you will find the island´s most beautiful trail, with spectacular views overlooking the Ocean.
The coastline Trail
The trail starts in the village of Lomba da Maia, goes along the beach of Praia da Viola, and continues all the way to the small town of Maia. It is a simple hike 9.5 km long.
Directions
The trail begins next to the church of Lomba da Maia, and follows the regional highway for about 400 metres, where it turns right, down Rua do Forno da Telha, (which is opposite a drinking fountain).
If you continue down this street, you will leave the residential neighbourhood, and arrive to a pastureland area, which gives access to a footpath that leads down towards Praia da Viola beach. On the way down, you can enjoy the views of the villages — Maia and the Ponta Formosa.
Praia da Viola Beach
After reaching the beach, the trail continues all the way to the Maia's village, where the best part of the hike starts, with picturesque views overlooking the coastline.
4. Gorreana Tea Factory
Sao Miguel Island
The tea plantation is located between the villages of Sao Bras and Maia, on the Northern side of Sao Miguel Island.
The Chá Gorreana farm, is Europe’s largest and oldest tea plantation, which has been founded in 1883 by the Gago de Camara family. The plantation is spread over 45 hectares and produces approximately 40 tons of tea annually, mostly green and black tea. Apart from mainland Portugal, their tea is exported to USA, Canada, Austria, Germany, and Hungary. The factory – which has been functioning non-stop for the last 135 years, is managed by the 6th generation of the founding family: Madalena and her sister Sara Mota.
The tea plantation overlooks spectacular ocean views, and the air is filled with the aroma of drying tea leaves. Visiting the tea plantation, is completely free, and every visitor is also invited to a tea tasting (also completely free). Visitors can witness the entire tea-making process, that seems to be done in a simple old-fashioned way. You will experience first hand, how much hard work goes into having a nice steaming cup of tea.
Where to stay in Sao Miguel?
Located in Ribeira Grande, Matriz Guest House has a garden, complimentary breakfast and stunning Ocean views from the terrace. This property is located a short distance from the main attractions such as Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Estrelas.
5. Cascata da Ribeira do Ferreiro
Flores Island
The waterfall — Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro — is located in Flores Island, one of the most remote islands of the Azores. Together with Corvo Island, is at the westernmost point of Europe, and is part of the American tectonic plate. Around 4000 people live in this remote piece of paradise, which has a landscape of extreme natural beauty, that makes you think to be in Hawaii. Flores Island is a UNESCO biosphere reserve — heaven for sustainable eco-tourism, and an ideal place for hiking and canyoning.
Where to stay in FLORES?
This spacious apartment is only 10 minutes by walk from the beach and the most majestic waterfalls of the Island.
When to go?
The best time to visit Flores is during the summer season, between June and September. In this period you can expect warm weather and sunnier days. I would avoid coming between November and February, when heavy rain and strong gaps of wind hit the island quite often. Locals told me that 50% of the flights get cancelled in winter months.
How to reach Flores Island?
The most convenient way to get to Flores is by plane. SATA has flights connecting the airport of Santa Cruz das Flores to- Corvo, Terceira, Faial and Sao Miguel Island.
If you are traveling in the summer, taking a ferry is another option to get to Flores. You can get to Lajes from Horta (Faial Island) using the yellow line of Atlantico Line.
How to travel safely?
In these uncertain times with a pandemic raging throughout the world, there is no better feeling than some certainty when travelling around the world. When I traveled in Europe, I had many layovers and flight changes, and new Covid restrictions that has been made while I was overseas.
One of the best reasons to buy travel insurance, is to have a trip cancellation policy. In certain cases, SafetyWing offers Covid refund — this made me feel a lot safer while travelling around Europe.
If you feel like supporting a small content creator like me, and you need a travel insurance for your next trip, I can wholeheartedly recommend SafetyWing!
Don’t miss..
Even though its name literally translates to 'flowers', for me Flores represents the 'water island'. Gorgeous lakes, creeks snaking through the hills, and towering waterfalls plunging down into the ocean — very Jurassic Park vibes.
My favourite waterfall is — Poço Ribeira do Ferreiro (pictures below). Here, more than a dozen waterfalls stream down the vibrant green mountains and converge on the same lake. You can also find many hiking trails around, where you can enjoy the scenic waterfalls from above.
6. Miradouro Lagoa Negra e Lagoa Comprida
Flores Island
There are 7 main lagoons in Flores, that used to be volcanic craters, and they are all very close to each other, which makes the activity of lagoon-hopping easier. If you are on a tight schedule and you have to prioritise, visit Lagoa Rasa and Lagoa Funda (1st picture below) which are side by side, but at different heights creating a cool visual effect.
Don’t miss — Lagoa Negra and Comprida (2nd picture below), are located side by side, and they are distinguished from each other by the different colour
I recommend going on a sunny day so that you can get good pictures of all the lakes from different perspectives. It is good to stay at least 4 full days, to be able to explore the whole island, do some hiking, and relax in nature.
Activities on the island
Boat tour to the caves
"Grutas dos Enxareus"
Whales and dolphins watching
W H A L E S & D O L P H I N S 🐳
In total there are 28 species of whales and dolphins in the Azores. The most sighted are — the sperm whale, sei whale, fin whale, pilot whale, minke whale, common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, striped dolphin, and Risso's dolphin.
S H A R K S 🦈
Fortunately, the Azores are in the migration pathway of some oceanic shark species that cruise the North Atlantic, such as the blue shark and the shortfin mako shark. You can spot also the smooth hammerhead, and if you are lucky also the whale shark.
Boat tour to
Corvo Island
For sealife activities, I recommend these tour operators:
Passeios turísticos Toste Mendes, Lda - located in Santa Cruz das Flores
Passeios turisticos Elisiario Serpa - located in Santa Cruz das Flores
Diving
🦈 The best period to be underwater
The best time to dive in the Azores is from mid-July to mid-October. The visibility ranges between 20 and 30 meters, at its best the chances of pelagic encounters are high on the offshore sites.
just try to avoid the..
🐙 Portuguese man o' war
Also known as bluebottle, or floating terror. Although it resembles to a jellyfish, it is in fact a siphonophore (a colonial organism, closely related to jellyfish). It has numerous venomous nematocysts, which deliver a painful sting powerful enough to kill fish, and has been known to occasionally kill humans.
Canyoning
The interior of Flores island hides waterfalls and streams that one can explore actively with Canyoning. Jump into crystal clear water pools, challenge yourself between rocks and waterfalls — these are the ingredients for moments of adrenaline and fun, in a genuine water park created by nature. I recommend to go through the tour agency — WestCanyon Turismo Aventura, located in Santa Cruz das Flores.
7. Miradouro Caldeirão
Corvo Island
Corvo Island — is the smallest and the northernmost island of the Azores, and the northernmost in Macaronesia. With 468 inhabitants it is the smallest municipality in Portugal.
Corvo works as a shield for the remaining Azores Islands. In fact, the storms of the Atlantic first have an encounter with Corvo, before heading to any of the other Azores Islands. Though small, it suspects the curiosity of the most seasoned travellers for diverse reasons: beauty, nature, mystery and isolation.
How to get to Corvo?
DAY TRIP BY BOAT
You can get there with a rib boat. The "Extremocidente" company organises the transport between the Flores and Corvo Islands. It takes 1h20 minutes to get there and 45 minutes on the return.
For a day trip tour, you can choose between 2 companies:
"Passeios turísticos Toste Mendes" and "Passeios turisticos Elisiario Serpa" - located in Santa Cruz das Flores - both organise a day trip with a rib boat from Flores to Corvo Island. If you are lucky, on the way to the island, you can also spot some dolphins and whales.
BY FERRY
Take the ferry Atlanticoline from Santa Cruz das Flores to Vila Nova do Corvo. It goes twice a week and the travel lasts 40 minutes. It operates mainly in the summer season.
BY PLANE
Take a flight from Flores to Corvo with SATA Air. The are flights 3 times/week, on Monday - Wednesday - Friday. The duration is of 20 minutes and the flight prices range from $30 - return flight. Be aware that the runaway is 800 meters long, and 50 meters from the water's edge.
Where to stay in Corvo?
You don’t need necessarily to book accommodation on Corvo Island, it’s more convenient to stay in Flores. However, if you want an authentic experience nearby the hikes I recommend staying in Vila do Corvo.
In the centre of the small village of Vila do Corvo - Joe & Vera's Vintage is pretty much one of the few accommodations on Corvo Island. The property offers complimentary breakfast and comfortable rooms, close to the main attractions.
What to do on the smallest island of the Azores?
Despite its size, the island does not disappoint. Corvo provides an isolated getaway with astonishing green landscapes, narrow streets with black stone, and ocean views. Corvo is known as one of the best places in the world for bird watching and hiking. The island has a lot to offer, even for those who are not as adventurous. Take a dip in the natural pools, or visit Vila do Corvo village, for a relaxing getaway.
HIKING
This tiny island of the Azores only has two hiking trails, but these are definitely worth a try. In fact, one of the best hikes in all of the Azores is in Corvo:
Caldeirão Hike
A 4.8 km walk around the iconic crater, from where you can get scenic views. The crater is 300 meters deep, and the hike takes around 2h30m. Throughout the crater, you’ll see plenty of small lagoons and the highest point is called Morro dos Homens, 700 meters above sea level. From here, you can get a panoramic view over the Atlantic Ocean.
(pictures 1-2)
Cara do Índio Hike
This is a harder trail of 10 km that features gorgeous views of Flores island and takes around 3 hours. If you are new to the island, make sure to hike on the “official” trails, these are properly maintained and signed with hiking markers throughout, so people don’t get lost.
(pictures 3-4)
BIRD WATCHING
Corvo is internationally known as a birdwatching paradise — being the habitat of many bird species, like terns, shearwaters and wood pigeons. The migratory birds of North America also feed in this small location, in the middle of the ocean, while resting from their long crossing flight.
For resident species, the best time to spot them is during the summer. For migratory birds, the best time is at the beginning of autumn, in October.
Roseate Tern
CHILL - SWIM - DIVE
On the Southern side of the island — Praia da Areia is the main swimming spot in Corvo. This black sand beach is the only beach on the whole island and showcases gorgeous transparent waters. This is the perfect space to catch some sun and maybe even do some snorkelling! In the summer season, the water temperature never goes below 20 °C.
If you are an underwater lover, you should definitely try to dive near Corvo Island. The Baixa da Ponta do Marco - Marco Tip Reef, is located on the northwest tip of the island, about 400 metres from the shore. With the top of the reef, some 20-25 metres deep in an area subject to currents, this site is only recommended for the most experienced divers. The remote location makes it an excellent place to observe different sea-animal species, such as the longfin yellowtail, the Atlantic bonitos and the yellowmouth barracudas.
WALK AROUND VILA DO CORVO
The only village on Corvo Island — Vila do Corvo — is the smallest municipality in the Azores. This village has quaint small homes along narrow streets, made of traditional black stone. You can taste some typical Portuguese cuisine in the local restaurants. Corvo provides an isolated getaway with astonishing green landscapes. If you want to fully enjoy the island's nature and what it has to offer, I recommend staying for 2 entire days. There are many B&B selections in Vila do Corvo.
I’m excited to help you plan the best trips possible and share all of my favourite travel resources! Some links on this page are affiliate links — that means that at no extra cost to you, I earn a small commission if you book through these links, and that helps me keep this blog running. Enjoy!