10 Important Issues to Know Earlier than Touring to the Azores Islands

There’s this magical chain of islands within the North Atlantic ocean identified for dramatic landscapes of blue-green lakes, steaming scorching springs, and rolling inexperienced hills dotted with hydrangea bushes. Some folks name this archipelago “the Hawaii of Europe” – however I might simply name them the Azores.

The Azores are a gaggle of 9 volcanic islands within the North Atlantic Ocean, positioned roughly 870 miles (1400 kilometers) west of Portugal. These islands are technically Portuguese, however the Azores really feel worlds away from Lisbon or Porto and even the Algarve.

The biggest and most populated island within the Azores is São Miguel, and that is the place I visited on my first journey. (I say first, as a result of there will certainly be extra!) And after planning and taking that journey, I spotted that many individuals know nothing in any respect concerning the Azores.

So I am right here to spill the tea (one thing you may additionally discover right here!) on what it’s essential to know earlier than going to the Azores your self.

With the hyperlinks to Portugal, most individuals within the Azores communicate Portuguese. Many individuals communicate at the very least a bit of little bit of English, too (we didn’t have any points as vacationers who’re solely fluent in English), nevertheless it would not harm to study at the very least a number of phrases of Portuguese to your journey.

2. There are a number of islands

The cool factor concerning the Azores is that each island is a bit of bit totally different! The 9 islands within the Azores are:

1. São Miguel – The biggest and most populated island, this island is understood for its lakes, geothermal exercise, and meals.
2. Terceira – The second-most-popular (and second-most-populous) island, identified for the primary designated metropolis within the Azores (Angra do Heroísmo, which can be a UNESCO World Heritage Website), together with mountain climbing and festivals.
3. São Jorge – An extended skinny island within the central Azores nicknamed “The Dragon,” this island is understood for is views, villages, and cheese. It is also residence to a espresso plantation.
4. Pico – The youngest island and residential to Portugal’s highest mountain. It is identified for its volcanic panorama, whale watching, and even vineyards!
5. Faial – The primary inhabited island within the Azores, identified for its hydrangeas, volcanic panorama, and city of Horta.
6. Graciosa – A quiet central island that can be a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
7. Flores – A really inexperienced, nature-centric island identified for its summer time flowers and waterfalls.
8. Santa Maria – The southernmost island that has a hotter, drier local weather. It has some nice mountain climbing and seashores.
9. Corvo – Smallest and most distant island with simply 400 inhabitants. In style for chicken watching.

The islands aren’t notably shut collectively, although; to get from São Miguel to any of the opposite islands (like Terceira or Pico or Flores), for instance, you need to take an inter-island flight with SATA/Azores Airways. The one islands you may go to simply by ferry are the Ilhas Triangulo, or Triangle of Islands, that are Pico, Faial, and São Jorge within the central Azores.

Because of this, if you wish to go to a number of islands in your Azores journey, it’s essential to enable sufficient transit time!

There are a number of day by day flights to a number of Azores islands from Porto and Lisbon, and likewise day by day direct flights to Ponta Delgada (PDL) on São Miguel from different massive European cities like Paris, London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Madrid, Milan, and extra. AND there are day by day direct flights from US cities like Boston and New York.

There are additionally direct worldwide flights to the island of Terceira.

The primary airline flying to and throughout the Azores is SATA/Azores Airways, however you can too discover flights on TAP Air Portugal and Ryanair in Europe, and United Airways from the US. (My husband Elliot and I flew from Newark direct to Ponta Delgada, which solely takes about 5 hours.)

Because the Azores develop into much more fashionable, I count on that extra direct flights can be added within the coming years.

Even on São Miguel, the largest island within the Azores, there’s not likely numerous public transit choices. Taxis exist, sure, however if you wish to see all of the corners of the island, you are going to want your individual wheels.

The excellent news is that the roads on a lot of the islands (and particularly on the larger ones like São Miguel) are fairly well-maintained and simple to navigate. In actual fact, driving on São Miguel couldn’t be simpler! Within the Azores (like the remainder of Portugal), they drive on the correct, so my US and Canadian pals can breathe an indication of aid.

You possibly can lease automobiles on all of the islands within the Azores – simply e book prematurely, since there are a finite variety of accessible automobiles on every island.

(And for those who do wish to e book a tour as a substitute, this one by Collette visits a number of islands plus Lisbon.)

5. This isn’t Hawaii

Okay, so that you WILL discover pineapples and excessive humidity ranges within the Azores. And these islands had been additionally shaped by volcanoes. However that is actually the place the direct similarities to Hawaii finish.

Though some folks name the Azores “the Hawaii of Europe,” the 2 units of islands are actually fairly totally different, particularly with regards to the climate and panorama.

Whereas Hawaii is scorching and tropical, the Azores are extra temperate and delicate compared. The climate within the Azores does change with the seasons (not like in Hawaii), with winter temperatures averaging round 55-60 levels F, and summer time temps averaging from 70-80 levels F.

The landscapes are additionally fairly totally different. In Hawaii, you anticipate finding palm bushes and delightful white and gold seashores. However within the Azores, you are extra more likely to discover rolling inexperienced farmland extra akin to Eire, plus black sand and lava rock seashores.

6. The Azores aren’t a seashore trip

Talking of seashores… the Azores actually is not thought to be a seashore vacation spot. Certain, there ARE seashores, and lots of of them are stunning. However they usually aren’t tremendous accessible, and due to the milder local weather, the water is not at all times heat.

Many of the islands within the Azores have black sand or black lava rock seashores, too, which are not at all times essentially the most conducive to sunbathing (although loads of folks nonetheless do it!).

Among the non-hiking issues we did included visiting wind-swept viewpoints, strolling via a tea plantation, soaking in thermal baths, taking a ship journey, visiting fumaroles, strolling via parks and gardens, and watching seashore sunsets. We even ate a number of of our meals outdoor now that I give it some thought.

The Azores islands are largely identified for his or her stunning landscapes, and to totally respect them you are going to must spend most of your time outdoors.

Like most island locations on the earth – and particularly island locations which might be far out in the midst of the ocean – the climate can and does change quickly within the Azores. Pack to your journey based mostly on the climate forecast temperature-wise (since that may fluctuate a bit of bit relying on while you’re going), however then at all times be ready to come across solar, clouds, wind, rain, and humidity all in the identical day, generally in fast succession.

Elliot and I visited the Azores in September, and whereas the forecast was for largely sunny climate throughout our keep, we had been glad on a couple of event to have rain coats with us within the automobile.

I visited the most important and most-populated island within the Azores (Sao Miguel), and even it isn’t actually geared in the direction of mass tourism. In actual fact, I think about that some spots on the island would possibly wrestle if tourism grows rather more. For instance, once we visited the Gorreana Tea Plantation (the one tea plantation in Europe), it was nearly unattainable to get down the slender one-way driveway due to massive tour buses making an attempt to squeeze previous automobiles parked alongside the edges of the bushes.

There are some “fundamental” vacationer spots on each island, and the Azores are under no circumstances a “secret,” particularly not for European vacationers. However this is not a celebration vacation spot, neither is it a spot the place you may at present discover tons of giant resort lodges or 4-lane highways.

Even being the largest island, Sao Miguel nonetheless feels fairly rural and native outdoors of the few fundamental points of interest. You possibly can nonetheless stumble throughout extra native bars and eating places than ones constructed for vacationers; you may discover little homes and bowls of meals set out for the native cats at nearly all the scenic viewpoints; and you’ll go to nearly any seashore with out anybody making an attempt to promote you something.

Assist the Azores hold this vibe by being vacationer. Spend your cash regionally when you may; clear up after your self; keep on designated trails; and do not be a loud and entitled asshole wherever.

Even when the Azores do not see the quantity of vacationers that basically fashionable locations do, the smaller stock of locations to remain and automobiles to lease implies that these issues completely can get booked up through the excessive season. For those who’re planning a summer time journey, it is not a nasty concept to pre-book lodges and rental automobiles months prematurely if potential.

We visited Sao Miguel in September, and although it was edging towards shoulder season then, I nonetheless discovered many lodges utterly booked out by the point I began wanting in July. And for those who’re visiting smaller islands with even fewer lodging choices, you may wish to plan even additional prematurely.

Earlier than you even e book your flights to the Azores in the summertime, I might do a fast seek for lodge and rental automobile availability, simply to ensure issues can be found to your dates. (They need to be, however what a horrible shock that will be for those who booked non-refundable flights solely to seek out all the nice lodges already stuffed up, or no inexpensive automobiles accessible to lease.)

It is a good suggestion to make dinner reservations at fashionable eating places, too, particularly in Ponta Delgada.

(Having stated all this, although, it actually didn’t really feel “busy” on Sao Miguel in any respect, aside from on the tea plantation.)

Now that you simply’re armed with this Azores information, it’s best to be capable of strategy planning your individual journey a bit of extra confidently. It is a wonderful vacation spot, and I do know I will be visiting once more.

Have you ever ever been to the Azores? If not, are you able to plan a visit now?

Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 nations on 6 continents from her residence base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey via the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares suggestions based mostly on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!