Azores: The Hidden Gem of the Atlantic

Hello fellow travelers,

Like most, including myself at one time, I wanted to know what exactly are the “Azores” and why haven’t I heard of them before.  Well little did I know that I would be discovering my new favorite travel destination.  These hidden gems are also known as the Hawaii of the Atlantic.  The Azores, a self-governing region of Portugal, are an archipelago (or chain of islands) in the mid-Atlantic. They are composed of nine different volcanic islands each with their own unique history and culture.

Out of the nine islands, São Miguel is the largest island (293 square miles) and holds the capital Ponta Delgada.  The smallest of the islands, Corvo, is only seven square miles.   Although all of the islands have a slight difference, they all house fertile land, volcanic craters, 500-year-old churches, an area of different cultural and spiritual traditions and of course a multitude of vibrant colorful hydrangeas.

The fertile beauty of these islands may also have something do to the magnificent year-round temperatures ranging from 57°F to 71°F.  Not too cold, but not too hot either.  The rich and colorful landscapes, turquoise ocean waters, along with the vast history that these islands, makes the Azores a hot spot for tourists from all around the globe. Tourism, fishing, and agriculture are the major industries in the Azores.  The fertile soils allow for the growing of a variety of crops, vineyards, and of course, lots of grazing cattle.  If you are a tea lover like myself, you will find that the Azores are only tea plantations in Europe.  Yes, you heard that correct, the only one.  Most of the food in the Azores is locally sourced, so you know that you will be getting the freshest and nutrient-rich foods you can consume.  They take pride in their hard work and harvest and the proof is in the taste.

 

Since each island is different, they each hold fantastic activities you can do on each island.  Pico, for example, is the best island for whale watching, while in São Miguel, you can enjoy a hot bath within the magnificent volcanic springs at Poca da Beija.  We were able to find a fantastic group called Rope Adventure Tours in Terceira island, to show us how to rappel down waterfalls.  I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great adventure and will be posting pictures on the blog post, Terceira Island: Part IV for any who are interested in partaking in a fantastic adventure with amazing guides.

These islands are so vast with different activities and breathtaking scenery that there is something for everyone at all ages.  Whether you want to sip some delicious local wine or explore through extinct magma chambers, the Azores are a magnificent way to explore the beauty of another country.

Although most of his journey to the Azores was spent in Terceira Island, we learned that since every island is so vastly different, we get to plan more adventures when we come back.  We would like to experience each unique aspect of each island.  Therefore, we will start with our adventures in Terceira Island aka Lilac Island.  We have detailed each day we were in Terceira Island and the things you MUST do while in Terceira.  I will be posting links to as our I write each day so that you can follow our journey.

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to travel!

Brizzy