Would you hike a volcano, kayak across twin-colored lakes and soak in a hot spring all in one place? Welcome to the Azores, the wild Atlantic secret of Portugal you may not heard of.
Floating midway between Lisbon and New York, this nine-island archipelago defies every island stereotype. It is greener than Ireland, more dramatic than Hawaii and wilder than New Zealand. Still, the Azores is blissfully relaxing and crowd-free.
Whether you are chasing waterfalls, whales or wine, Corvo, Faial, Flores, Graciosa, Pico, Santa Maria, São Jorge, São Miguel and Terceira are not just destinations, but adventures at every step.
While most tourists arrive between April and September, the mild, year-round temperatures mean the islands are quiet and peaceful with ample things to do even in the off-season.
Spot Whales And Dolphins Near Pico Or São Miguel Islands
For a front-row seat to dolphins slicing through the waves or whales breaching the surface, few places rival the Azores.
The islands are one of just 11 Whale Heritage Sites worldwide since 28 species of whales and dolphins live and migrate here. Last year, the archipelago also established Europe’s largest Marine Protected Area, covering 30% of its surrounding waters, to safeguard these marine giants.
Visitors can go on whale watching tours from São Miguel Island and Pico Island. During peak season from April to September, multiple tour operators offer morning and afternoon tours that last about 3 hours. The price usually varies from €55 to €75, depending on season and operator.
Watching pods of dolphins chase the waves and swim alongside your boat is an experience you won’t soon forget. Spotting the tail of a humpback whale is when time seems to pause. Being in their presence for the first time is both humbling and exhilarating. It certainly ranks among the most special wildlife encounters of my life.
Soak In Hot Springs And Try Volcano-Cooked Stew In Furnas
While the entire Azores archipelago is volcanic, Furnas on São Miguel Island is where this powerful energy feels most alive. When I first arrived in the middle of a giant crater where Furnas lies, imagining an active volcano simmering beneath my feet was surreal since the scenery was so peaceful.
But in Furnas, the volcanic origins are impossible to miss. You can see the crater’s rim all around you, steam rising from the earth in multiple spots, and hot spring wells bubbling along the streets. Even the river running through the town is warm to the touch. Now imagine this all framed by a lush green landscape, and if you visit in spring, hundreds if not thousands of hydrangeas and azaleas add even more color.
The Terra Nostra Botanical Garden is one of the Azores’ oldest and most impressive gardens, full of centuries-old trees, exotic plants and peaceful walking paths. At its heart lies a massive geothermal pool where visitors can soak in mineral-rich yellow waters all day long.
Furnas is also home to the traditional ’Cozido das Furnas,’ a hearty stew slow-cooked underground using the natural heat of fumaroles along Lagoa das Furnas.
I have never tasted anything like this before. The vegetables had a distinctive sulfur taste, while the meat melted in my mouth. While all hotels and restaurants serve ‘cozido’ in the Furnas Valley, Tony’s Restaurant has been a local favorite for over 40 years.
Because ’cozido’ takes six to eight hours to cook, you must plan ahead if you want a taste. You need to book a table in advance—especially in high season—or join the line at its pop-up restaurant across the street and hope to get lucky. But be warned: once it’s gone, it’s gone. ‘Cozido’ is not a dish they can just throw together in the kitchen.
Hike Portugal’s Highest Peak And Taste Lava-Grown Wine In Pico
Pico may be the second-largest island in the Azores, but its population is small and primarily concentrated in coastal towns. So why do visitors flock to Pico? The island is home to the Pico Mountain Nature Reserve, which includes the majestic Mount Pico—the highest peak in both the Azores and all of Portugal.
Of Pico Island’s 14 hiking trails, the most sought-after leads up Mount Pico. The trail is steep and grueling, with an elevation gain of about 3,770 feet for almost 2.4 miles. It usually takes hikers 3-4 hours to reach the caldera’s rim and another 3-4 hours back to the Mountain’s House in Madalena, accessible by car. If you want to do this trail out and back, you must register in advance since there is a daily cap for hikers.
After the hike, do not leave Pico just yet. The island is a famous wine region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its centuries-old vineyards, covering 2,440 acres, shaped by volcanic landscapes and generations of winemakers.
With only five main wineries on the island, you can easily tour them all in a day or two and sample a wide range of local wines.
The largest and oldest among them is the Pico Island Wine Cooperative. Wine tastings typically range from €20 to €35 per person, depending on the number of wines included.
António Macanita is an award-winning winemaker who began his journey in the Azores, but has since expanded to the Douro, Madeira and Alentejo regions. Wine tastings of Azorean wines start at €30, but visitors can sample selections from all Portuguese regions during an exclusive session priced at €45.
His on-site restaurant offers tasting menus paired with wines, starting at €130 for a six-course meal with four wines, and going up to €375 for a seven-course meal with seven wines.
Follow Columbus’s Footsteps On Historic Santa Maria Island
For travelers drawn to places steeped in history, Santa Maria Island is a must-visit in the Azores. While it may be a coincidence that the island shares a name with one of Christopher Columbus’s ships, there is a real connection between them.
Christopher Columbus stopped at Santa Maria in 1493 when returning from the Americas. He anchored his ship in Baía dos Anjos (translated as Bay of Angels), where he and his crew attended the Thanksgiving mass at the chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos.
The small town of Anjos lies on the northern side of the island, opposite Vila do Porto, the oldest settlement in the Azores. The chapel still stands today and is open to visitors, with a statue of Christopher Columbus prominently placed in front.
While you have retraced Columbus’s steps, consider heading south to explore some of Santa Maria’s other fascinating sights.
Due to the volcanic origins of the Azores, most beaches across the islands are black sand beaches. However, Praia de São Lourenço on Santa Maria stands out with its rare golden color.
On your way there, stop at Miradouro de São Lourenço for a breathtaking panoramic view of the crescent-shaped bay, surrounded by steep terraced hillsides dotted with vineyards, tumbling down to the turquoise Atlantic. It looks surreal and unforgettable.
Visit Over 20 Waterfalls On Lush Flores Island
The Azores archipelago is often called the ‘Hawaii of Europe’—and nowhere is that comparison more striking than Flores Island, home to over 20 distinct waterfalls.
Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro, a dramatic wall of cascading water, closely resembles the ‘Wall of Tears’ in the West Maui Mountains, Waialeale Falls (‘The Weeping Wall’) in Kauai Island or the famed ‘Bridal Veil Falls’ in Wailuku River State Park on the Big Island.
After landing at the airport near Santa Cruz das Flores, you should pick up a rental car and set off on one of the most scenic road trips in the Azores, stitched with waterfalls at every turn.
Your first stop should be Miradouro Arcos Ribeira da Cruz, where you can glimpse your first waterfall, Poço da Ribeira da Cruz.
The next stop is the famous Ribeira do Ferreiro, reached via a well-marked trail just half a mile from the parking area.
Turn north and head to Fajã Grande. On your way, you will first see the tallest waterfall of the Azores, the 590-foot-high Poço da Ribeira Grande. You can reach the bottom of the falls via a largely unpaved trail of 1.2 miles.
At Fajã Grande, 295-feet-high Poço do Bacalhau awaits all visitors, cascading between two dramatic cliffs in a slender drop.
I have only highlighted four waterfalls, but this is only the beginning on Flores. Road-tripping on this island is like a never-ending showcase of hidden cascades waiting to be discovered.
Visit The Azores’ Smallest Island For Crater Views And Rare Birds
If you are tired of seeing waterfalls, head to the neighboring Corvo Island to explore its massive volcanic crater, measuring approximately 1.4 to 2.2 miles wide. Corvo is next to Flores Island, with a daily ferry service connecting the two.
Corvo is the smallest island of the Azores, but it does not mean it lacks natural beauty or things to do there. On the contrary, the island is home to the Caldeirão, a crater so striking that, were it not for its remote location, it might be the most Instagram-worthy spot in all the Azores.
But since it is far from the usual tourist path, few visitors get to witness its dramatic cliffs draped in pastures and peat bogs and the two serene crater lakes at its center.
The circular 3-mile trail begins at a parking lot near the Miradouro para o Caldeirão, a viewpoint so breathtaking you might find it hard to tear yourself away and start the steep 1,837-foot descent into the crater.
Corvo is part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is popular for birdwatching areas in the Azores. Avibase reported that almost 300 bird species have been sighted on the island since 2013.
Bike Around The Twin Lakes Of Sete Cidades, São Miguel
São Miguel is the largest and most diverse of the nine Azorean islands. Spending a week here will lead you to the steamy hot springs of Furnas and to unforgettable moments during a whale-watching tour.
The island is also home to a breathtaking crater filled with twin lakes—one blue (Lagoa Azul) and one green (Lagoa Verde)—where you can cycle along the rim and take in one of the Azores’ most iconic views.
Start with a stop at Miradouro da Vista do Rei, a popular viewpoint with easy parking and panoramic views of the entire caldera.
The 7-mile Mata do Canário trail (PR4SMI) traces the crater rim and is ideal for both hikers and cyclists, beginning near the moss-covered Muro das Nove Janelas aqueduct. On the other hand, families often choose to bike around the lakeshore or rent a kayak to paddle across the two-toned waters.
Those drawn to spooky adventures should take a short walk through an unlit tunnel—just under a mile long—from Sete Cidades to the coastal village of Mosteiros. It is a tunnel to prevent flooding after heavy rainfall; thus, it is only accessible when the water levels are low. Grab a flashlight and your courage before entering.
Walk Through Faial’s Otherworldly Volcanic Desert
Faial Island is a paradise for geology fans. The island has unique formations, from caves and volcanic craters to isthmus and solidified lava flows.
After a 13-month-long volcanic eruption, Faial Island’s landscape changed forever. Not only did it add almost a square mile of new land, but it also turned the terrain barren, gray and ash-strewn.
Capelinhos is a dramatic volcanic peninsula at the western edge of Faial Island. Unlike the rest of the Azores, known for their green landscapes, Capelinhos is empty. Its ash-covered terrain is still largely devoid of vegetation. One could feel like walking on the Moon.
The lighthouse at Capelinhos still stands but has turned gray from the volcanic ash, losing its original white color. While visitors can walk along a fence on the edge of the cliff for panoramic views, stepping onto the protected peninsula is prohibited.
A narrow road from the Visitor Center leads to a small parking area, where you can access a rugged rocky shore to get another angle of this otherworldly landscape.
Closer to Horta, you will find Monte da Guia, a small volcanic cone with two craters filled by the ocean. It is only connected to Faial by an isthmus, a narrow strip of land with a dune system. It is a protected area, but you can explore its rim with a short walking trail with excellent views of Praia do Porto Pim, a sandy beach famous for its calm waters.
Descend To The Hidden Fajãs Of São Jorge Island
São Jorge stands apart from the other Azorean islands thanks to its distinctive coastline shaped by 40 distinctive ‘fajãs.’
While the rest of the Azores archipelago features steep cliffs and rugged shorelines occasionally broken by sandy coves, São Jorge reveals a different landscape. Its coastline is dotted with narrow, flat plains at the foot of towering cliffs formed by lava flows or landslides.
These ’fajãs’ are home to small, often isolated communities that rely heavily on agriculture or clam farming. Many are only accessible by boat, quad bike, or on foot. They feel worlds away from modern life.
When I first set foot in the Azores, it felt like stepping into a place where the noises and worries of everyday life were only a distant echo. Since the islands are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the world, filled with overtourism, stress, social media distractions, and disconnect from all things nature, felt wonderfully far away.
The island’s culinary gem is the freshwater clams, harvested from the lagoons of Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo in northern São Jorge. While the clams likely reach restaurants by boat, getting to the ‘fajã’ on foot is a different story.
If you want to visit the clam farms and spend some time there, you need to descend via a six-mile trail through rugged terrain. However, the real challenge awaits you at the end of your stay when you need to climb nearly 2,300 feet back up to the trailhead.
Some ‘fajãs,’ like Fajã do Ouvidor, the largest on the island, are accessible by car without any strenuous hike.
Celebrate On Terceira, The Azores’ Festival Island
Terceira Island is the second most populated island after São Miguel. It is lively, historic and full of surprises. Terceira is the Azores’ cultural heartbeat.
The biggest and most famous festival in Terceira, held in Angra do Heroísmo, is Sanjoaninas Festival. This year, between June 20-29, the town is filled with colorful parades, folk dances, theater performances, poetry readings and nightly concerts.
The festival also features a special event unique to the Azores and Terceira, the ‘Tourada à Corda.’ It means a bullfight with a rope. It is non-lethal and quite different from Spanish-style bullfights or the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona.
In ‘Tourada à Corda,’ the bull is tethered with a long rope held by handlers known as ‘pastores.’ Participants, often daring young men, engage with the bull by provoking it with umbrellas or clothes. It is a cherished cultural tradition on Terceira, reflecting the island’s unique heritage and communal spirit.
During our 10-day trip to the Azores, every turn I took, every sight I saw and every location I explored strengthened my conviction that this place is a rare find because nature, tradition, and tranquility still hold the spotlight.
No matter which island you choose, it will invite you to slow down and reconnect with what truly matters. We returned with lasting memories and a promise go back again to discover all nine islands of the Azores.