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

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

The Azores are a gaggle of 9 volcanic islands within the North Atlantic Ocean, situated 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 most important 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 will 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 least a bit little bit of English, too (we didn’t have any points as vacationers who’re solely fluent in English), but it surely would not damage to be taught at the least just a few phrases of Portuguese in your journey.

2. There are a number of islands

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

1. São Miguel – The most important 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, recognized for the primary designated metropolis within the Azores (Angra do Heroísmo, which can also be a UNESCO World Heritage Web site), together with 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 recognized for its volcanic panorama, whale watching, and even vineyards!
5. Faial – The primary inhabited island within the Azores, recognized for its hydrangeas, volcanic panorama, and city of Horta.
6. Graciosa – A quiet central island that can also be a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
7. Flores – A really inexperienced, nature-centric island recognized for its summer season flowers and waterfalls.
8. Santa Maria – The southernmost island that has a hotter, drier local weather. It has some nice climbing and seashores.
9. Corvo – Smallest and most distant island with simply 400 inhabitants. Widespread for chook 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, it’s a must 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 permit sufficient transit time!

There are a number of each day flights to a number of Azores islands from Porto and Lisbon, and in addition each day direct flights to Ponta Delgada (PDL) on São Miguel from different huge European cities like Paris, London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Madrid, Milan, and extra. AND there are each 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 too can 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 turn out to be much more standard, I count on that extra direct flights can be added within the coming years.

Even on São Miguel, the most important island within the Azores, there’s probably not plenty of 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 personal wheels.

The excellent news is that the roads on many of the islands (and particularly on the larger ones like São Miguel) are fairly well-maintained and straightforward to navigate. In reality, driving on São Miguel couldn’t be simpler! Within the Azores (like the remainder of Portugal), they drive on the appropriate, so my US and Canadian mates can breathe an indication of reduction.

You may lease automobiles on all of the islands within the Azores – simply ebook prematurely, since there are a finite variety of obtainable automobiles on every island.

(And when you do need to ebook 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 truthfully the place the direct similarities to Hawaii finish.

Though some individuals name the Azores “the Hawaii of Europe,” the 2 units of islands are truthfully fairly completely different, particularly in relation to the climate and panorama.

Whereas Hawaii is sizzling and tropical, the Azores are extra temperate and delicate as 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 season temps averaging from 70-80 levels F.

The landscapes are additionally fairly completely different. In Hawaii, you anticipate finding palm bushes and exquisite 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 seaside trip

Talking of seashores… the Azores actually is not considered a seaside vacation spot. Certain, there ARE seashores, and plenty 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.

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

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

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

Like most island locations on this planet – and particularly island locations which can be far out in the course of the ocean – the climate can and does change quickly within the Azores. Pack in your journey primarily based on the climate forecast temperature-wise (since that may range a bit bit relying on if 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 multiple event to have rain coats with us within the automobile.

I visited the biggest and most-populated island within the Azores (Sao Miguel), and even it’s not actually geared in the direction of mass tourism. In reality, I think about that some spots on the island would possibly wrestle if tourism grows way more. For instance, once we visited the Gorreana Tea Plantation (the one tea plantation in Europe), it was virtually unimaginable to get down the slender one-way driveway due to huge tour buses attempting to squeeze previous automobiles parked alongside the perimeters of the bushes.

There are some “predominant” vacationer spots on each island, and the Azores are certainly not a “secret,” particularly not for European vacationers. However this is not a celebration vacation spot, neither is it a spot the place you will presently discover tons of giant resort motels or 4-lane highways.

Even being the most important island, Sao Miguel nonetheless feels fairly rural and native outdoors of the few predominant points of interest. You may nonetheless stumble throughout extra native bars and eating places than ones constructed for vacationers; you will discover little homes and bowls of meals set out for the native cats at virtually all the scenic viewpoints; and you’ll go to nearly any seaside with out anybody attempting to promote you something.

Assist the Azores preserve this vibe by being a great vacationer. Spend your cash domestically 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 actually standard locations do, the smaller stock of locations to remain and automobiles to lease signifies that these issues completely can get booked up in the course of the excessive season. In case you’re planning a summer season journey, it isn’t a nasty thought to pre-book motels and rental automobiles months prematurely if potential.

We visited Sao Miguel in September, and regardless that it was edging towards shoulder season then, I nonetheless discovered many motels utterly booked out by the point I began wanting in July. And when you’re visiting smaller islands with even fewer lodging choices, you will need to plan even additional prematurely.

Earlier than you even ebook your flights to the Azores in the summertime, I’d do a fast seek for lodge and rental automobile availability, simply to verify issues can be found in your dates. (They need to be, however what a horrible shock that will be when you booked non-refundable flights solely to seek out all the great motels already stuffed up, or no reasonably priced automobiles obtainable to lease.)

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

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

Now that you just’re armed with this Azores data, it is best to be capable to strategy planning your personal journey a bit 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 by means of the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!