Why a guide for beginners? Because once you’ve seen the Azores, you’ll never forget them. With a load of different islands to explore – São Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo – and the islands not so easy to travel between, it can take several holidays to get the full picture.
In this post we dive into why, from the first time you see the amazing landscapes and seascapes to the day you leave, you’ll be speechless with wonder. This place is all drama. No wonder it’s nicknamed the Hawaii of Europe.
When’s the best time to go to the Azores?
The Azores is yours all year round, especially good when you’re not that bothered about the weather. A bit of rain doesn’t hurt when the landscapes are this spectacular. It’s more about the walking, the nature and the sights, more about the volcanoes and the extraordinary hot springs than beaches and clubbing.
As a rule the summer is always the most popular, with the most visitors and also the most local people popping home to visit their families. It’s a lot more chilled out in winter but the weather can be crazy, with powerful winter storms rolling in across the Atlantic. For those of you who adore the drama, it’s fantastic. Just bear in mind flights to the Azores can be cancelled and delayed in the winter months, so you’ll need to be able to be flexible.
Visit in summer and you can easily see rain, mist, hot sunshine and thick clouds within a few short hours. The same goes for the volcanoes and mountains. Just like everywhere else on earth the higher you climb, the lower the temperature and the more risk of the weather turning weird. Lashing rain and low visibility up a 2000 foot peak doesn’t suit everyone, but for some it’s all part of the thrill. Just bring decent waterproofs and learn beforehand how to look after yourself if you’re stranded, day or night.
Reaching as high as 26C in summertime, winter temperatures rarely fall below 12C, making the climate not unlike the UK: relatively unpredictable, never too hot, always prone to rain. On the other hand the weather can depend on the island you’re on. The ocean and its currents affect its patterns differently on each island, as do the mountains.
Travelling to the Azores by air or ferry
São Miguel is the biggest Azores island, effectively a hub from where you can access the others. Ponta Delgada international airport flies people in from the US, North America and Europe, and some long haul flights land on Terceira island. Otherwise it’s a two-hop job – one hop from the UK to Lisbon or Porto airport, then another flight onwards to the archipelago around 900 miles out into the Atlantic. São Miguel airport is home to inter-island flights from the local airline, which can fly you to all of the islands.
If you dislike sitting 30,000 feet up in a metal tube, try the ferry for a more leisurely, less terrifying journey between the islands. The Atlanticoline ferry service joins up Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo islands, and if you have a hire car you can take it on the ferry.
Azores holiday transport once you’re there
Once you’re there, a hire car is the easiest way to get around, especially if you want to go exploring off the beaten track. It’s what most visitors do, since so many of the best bits are out-of-the-way. If you do venture off-piste into unknown territory make sure you tell someone your plans, your location and the time you expect to get back, so if you’re stuck up a mountain someone will know to raise an alert and get you found. With some of the islands being quite big – São Miguel at 287 square miles, Pico at 172 sq miles and Terceira at 154 sq miles – it’s worth every penny to be able to travel independently. If you love public transport best of all you can catch the bus on every island except tiny Corvo.
Chill out, slow down, be immersed in nature
Whether you hire a car or not you’ll want to spend as much time outdoors as possible marvelling at the natural wonders, breathing in the beautiful fresh air and mellowing out against the vivid green landscapes. The views in these islands are literally awe-inspiring. The trails and hiking paths are stunning. The bird song, the tinkling streams, the dazzling azure lakes, vibrant flowers and craggy peaks, it’s like something out of a Lord of the Rings movie.
Stay as long as you can
All this magic takes time to explore. If you can manage it, make it a two or more week holiday and see more than one island. Or take a week and spend it all getting intimate with São Miguel, home to a broad range of activities and superb places to eat as well as oodles of astonishing natural wonders to inspire you.
Unmissable Azores treats
- Have you ever actually seen a real, actual cluster of volcanoes? Now you can, and it’ll blow your mind
- Wander along the black sand beaches, a surreal experience, and feel how hot the sand gets as it absorbs the heat from the sun
- Treat yourself to a dip or several in the islands’ many iron-rich thermal springs heated by the volcanic activity not too far below the earth’s surface
- Sample traditional cozido dos Açores, an Azorean stew particular to the Furnas area, cooked underground by the planet’s natural heat – so delicious, with an exciting eggy aftertaste thanks to the sulphur. It sounds awful but it’s not 😉
- Relax in natural hot pools that are carved in stone by the Atlantic and heated by volcanic activity
- Find out about the horrific underwater Vulcão dos Capelinhos which erupted in the 1950s and sent half the island’s people packing in terror. An excellent visitors centre tells the story
- Visit the summit of Mt Pico, the highest point in Portugal and a challenging climb with every step
- Visit the vineyards on Pico, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Go whale or dolphin spotting
- Go to the famous Gorreana Tea Factory, the oldest tea plantation in Europe
- Visit the Fajãs da Caldeira, on the hiking trail between Serra do Topo to Fajãs dos Cubres
How to stay safe and not cause any damage
The Azores’ stunning landscapes are dangerous as well as gorgeous, with massive volcanic craters, steep slopes, sharp edges, huge falls and dizzing drops. These natural ecosystems are also unique and precious, and they deserve the greatest care and respect.
Don’t mess with the plants or disturb the animals. Stick to the trails, never wander off them. Don’t swim in the lagoons, which look heavenly but are far from safe for swimming. And always keep an eye on the weather, bringing waterproofs in your backpack even when it’s sunny. Good walking boots are essential and a pair of walking poles will help keep you on your feet in dodgy conditions and scary situations. And last but not least, bear in mind you won’t always have a phone connection. Now all that’s left is to go book your Azores break. Whatever you do, it’s going to be magical.
Comment (0)