Featured Region - Azores

Featured Region

AZORES

The ArchAngel Archipelago

Whenever a talk about exotic or new places to explore erupts, it always seems like the usual “Iceland’s”, “Patagonia’s” and “Thailand’s” get their mention. But everyone forgets about Portugal’s hidden Hawaii: the Azores.

Precariously perched on three of Earth’s tectonic plates, the Azores form a chain of nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic, all with their own hidden secrets and masterpieces.

Story | PhiliPPe Sommer

Basking in a subtropical climate, the Azores cut a swath in the ocean, 1,525 km off the Portuguese coast. The biggest island in the archipelago is Sao Miguel, named after Archangel Saint Michael, patron saint of mariners.

The islands have recently relaxed their tourism laws which has created an influx of visitors and still ranks the highest in sustainable tourism. Only five percent of the islands are built up, leaving the beauty and miradouros for all to behold.

Bring your hiking shoes as there are plenty of trails to explore; you will want to rent a car though, as it makes it easier to see all the island has to offer.

Arriving at the Sete Cidades caldera is like dreaming while awake; its twin lakes of azure and teal lap steep walls of lush foliage.

Take the car and hairpin your way up to the crest of the caldera to enjoy truly unforgettable vistas. The two other caldera lakes on Sao Miguel are worthy of attention as well.

Go snorkel in Lagoa do Fogo where the blue waters conceal an array of marine life. Keep your swimsuit on and go where the hot springs are plentiful; areas around Lagoa do Furnas bubble with geothermal activity.

Venturing out into the open Atlantic might provide you with a once in a lifetime opportunity as the islands are well known pit stops for migrating turtles, dolphins, sharks, and blue whales.

If you want to do something truly unique, the islet of Vila Franca do Campo is an ancient volcano that lies one kilometre off of Sao Miguel; the crater barely pierces the ocean’s surface, creating an open ocean lagoon protected from the Atlantic currents.

In March, the islanders gather to watch one of the most challenging and breathtaking rally races in the world, the Azores Rally. Criss-crossing through the countryside and skirting volcanic craters, this race is as diffcult and dynamic as it gets.

After a day at the races, head into town to enjoy spectacular local cuisine and nightlife, where there is always a beach bar open and drinks are poured with a heavy hand.

Gettng off Sao Miguel is easy as you can find regular flights and ferries to the other islands. The island of Flores is your stop if you’re looking for a Jurassic Park vibe, with sheer rock walls from which waterfalls emerge.

Pico Island flaunts vibrant vineyards as well as a stunning cloud-capped and climbable stratovolcano. On Terceira, you can descend 100 metres below into an extinct magma chamber; it’s the only one world you can enter without melting.

So if you’re thinking of a new adventure, leave the Bali’s and Seychelles to the mainstreamers and hop on a flight to the land forgotten by tourists.

Swim in a caldera, watch a rally car drift around a volcano, gaze in awe at the ocean’s gentle giants, eat food cooked by the earth, and take in everything that makes the Azores an unforgettable escapade. This archangel archipelago is as unspoiled as it gets.