Hot springs to history, adventure to architecture: The Azores offer unspoiled beauty
A four-and-a-half-hour direct fight from Boston can bring you to a little oasis in the middle of the Atlantic, where a Portuguese archipelago is waiting to roll out the green carpet for you.
Located about 2,200 miles from Massachusetts, the Azores are a string of nine volcanic islands that have been blessed with breathtaking scenery shaped by untouched landscape with luxuriant vegetation, jagged cliffs giving way to charming beaches and natural ocean pools, cascading waterfalls, stunning crater lakes, mineral hot springs, and roads lined with bright hydrangeas.
Such a diversified landscape and mild, temperature climate give the autonomous region of the Azores year-round appeal for nature and adventure lovers alike.
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Sport and adventure seekers will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of activities offered, including golfing, sailing, surfing, fishing, waterfall and mountain hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, scuba diving, wild swimming with dolphins and whale watching, among many others.
Europe’s leading adventure tourism destination
It’s not by chance the Azores were named as Europe’s leading adventure tourism destination in the last two years by the World Travel Awards, fondly known as the "Oscars of Tourism." In 2022, the Azores have been nominated in three different categories: Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination; Europe’s Leading Island Destination; and Europe’s Responsible Tourism Award. Winners will be revealed this fall.
Although the archipelago is mostly known as a nature and adventure destination, gastronomy lovers will also not be disappointed as they will find plenty of succulent dishes prepared with fish and seafood freshly caught on a daily basis, organic meat from cows that feed off the islands’ green pastures, and many other local ingredients dipped in rich cultural flavor.
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Cultural buffs can dive in a history with hundreds of years, as the archipelago was a frequent stopover point for world explorers, American whalers and Europeans sailing around the world.
How to get there
To top it all off, the Azores have been classified as a "European safest destination 2022," offering peace of mind and the safe distance visitors need, with many outdoors activities, during these troubled times of COVID-19.
Each of the nine islands boasts its own distinct character and appeal, but São Miguel and Terceira are the two connected by direct flights from the United States.
Azores Airlines flies direct from Boston to Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island year-round and to Lajes on Terceira Island once a week. Azores Airlines (from JFK-New York, on select days) and United (from Newark, N.J.) both offer summer nonstop service to Ponta Delgada. Azores Airlines also flies from Oakland, Calif., to Terceira Island every other week during the summer.
São Miguel, the Green Island
São Miguel is the largest and most populous Azorean island, measuring approximately 40 miles in length and nine miles in width. Nicknamed the Green Island, it is best known for its pristine landscape, rolling hillsides, nature-infused activities and rich marine life. It is also here that you find Europe’s only two tea plantations and the oldest greenhouse pineapple plantations.
Its main city, Ponta Delgada, is the economical hub of the Azores. Competing to become the European Capital of Culture in 2027, it offers a perfect mix of old and new, quaint cobbled streets, mosaic pattern squares, beautiful parks, an extensive seaside promenade and marina. A port of destination for many cruise ships that cross the Atlantic, it exudes a delightful cosmopolitan European atmosphere, although it’s only minutes away from unspoiled nature.
Located on the western end of the island, the viewpoint of Vista do Rei is arguably the best-known picture postcard of São Miguel. From there you can take in the stunning beauty of Lagoa das Sete Cidades (Lagoon of the Seven Cities), which consists of two small lakes situated in the crater of a dormant volcano. One blue and one green, the lakes are connected to each other by a natural narrow channel, and you can opt for a hike around the crater rim.
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In the center of the island, Lagoa do Fogo (Lake of Fire) is another awe-inspiring location. Surrounded by mountains and endemic vegetation, its pumice beach was recently voted as the best wild beach in Portugal, as part of the "7 Wonders – Beaches of Portugal Contest." On the north slope of the Fogo Volcano, you can find the Caldeira Velha Hot Spring, a warm waterfall ideal for one to take a dip.
Another heralded island spot is the Furnas Valley, also known as the thermal hot spot of the Azores, where multiple hot spring pools offer visitors the perfect location for soaking and swimming. Here, you may catch locals cooking what is arguably Portugal’s most unique dish — the Cozido das Furnas, a hearty stew slow-cooked underground with steam from the hot springs.
You can stroll along the nearby Terra Nostra Park, a 30-plus acre botanical garden of rare beauty featuring thousands of flowers and trees all manicured perfectly, ponds, and a huge thermal outdoor water pool, which some believe has magical water that reduces aches and pain and stress. Another option in Furnas is the Poça Dona Beija, a complex with five thermal pools, each with a different water temperature.
São Miguel offers many other tourist attractions and unique festivities to choose from, as well as great hotels, delicious local restaurants and bars, and guided tours and excursions for every preference and budget.
Terceira, the Lilac Island
Although it is nicknamed the Lilac Island due to the abundance of soft blue and purple hydrangeas, Terceira is actually more like a palette of colors.
Its largest city, Angra do Heroísmo, is painted in hues of blue, yellow, violet, red and other vibrant colors, making a stark contrast to the surrounding green hills and rugged coastline.
A stroll through its cobblestone historic center is a stumble in history as it is filled with colorful churches and buildings with beautiful facades bearing witness to Angra’s golden age, when the city blossomed economically and culturally as a stopover for fleets returning to Europe with spices, silk and porcelain from Asia. The interior of palaces and churches are even more dazzling with the gilded cherry woodwork imported from Brazil in the early 15th and 16th centuries. Because of its historical significance and architecture, Angra do Heroísmo was classified as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1983.
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The island measures 18 miles long by 11 miles, offering spectacular views in every direction.
Besides featuring endless green patchwork fields, quaint black-sand beaches and dozens of gorgeous natural swimming pools, Terceira is home to some iconic volcanic cavities, such as the Sulfur Caverns and the ancient lava tube of Algar do Carvão, where visitors can descend more than 300 feet in depth and observe stalactites unique in the world.
There’s a palpable energy in Terceira as there are always festivities going on in the streets year-round. The island hosts many lively festivals and street bullfights, having the reputation of being the "life of the Azorean party."
Friendly, affordable destination
To say that Azoreans are friendly is an understatement as locals are known for going out of their way to be hospitable to visitors, and many speak English.
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There are many choices for accommodations and to savor the local cuisine, and an added bonus is that Portugal is considered one of the least expensive destinations in Western Europe.
The best time to visit the archipelago is June through September.
For more information, visit the official tourism website of the Azores at https://www.visitazores.com/en.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: The Azores: COVID-safe, award-winning beaches, adventure tourism
