From the towering heights of Mount Pico to the lush jungles and thundering waterfalls of Flores and the famous crater of São Miguel, the volcanic islands of the Azores might be one of the wildest places left in Europe - a place where you can still escape from Portugal’s well-trodden tourist trails. The archipelago, along with their Portuguese sister island of Madeira, have been dubbed the Hawaii of Europe. After visiting, it's easy to understand why it has captured the hearts of so many travellers, who return year-on-year to the charm of the Azorean island.
Within just a few hours I was lucky enough to see 10 sperm whales including two calves feeding, plus countless bottlenose and common dolphins...
A dream destination, I was lucky enough to visit the beautiful shores of the Azores earlier this year. While the islands have seen a surge in popularity among American tourists over the last few years, it still feels like a genuine step off the beaten track for British visitors. During my 10 days exploring two islands, I only met one British couple - who coincidentally came from my home county.
Yet for those who travel to seek adventure, the Azores are the perfect destination. Just a month after I visited, they were awarded Best Adventure Destination at the prestigious World Travel Awards. They’ve actually now taken the title two years running. While the Azores need to be on your radar, there's still not an abundance of information out there about what to do and where to visit on the archipelago. It’s not the easiest trip to plan - so here are my tips for travelling to the Azores.
Visit the Ancient Volcanoes
The Azores has a unique ecosystem and a landscapes which veer into vivid technicolour. If you want to know why, you need to take a closer look at the archipelago’s geological composition.
The islands sit at the tectonic plate boundary between the North American, Eurasian, and African plates, which explains their volcanic origins. When you arrive in São Miguel, you might be rushing to see the more popular dormant volcanoes of Furnas, Sete Cidades and Fogo.
But at 50,000 years old, these are actually some of the youngest volcanoes on the island. Instead, head to the northeast where you will find the oldest volcanic area - which dates back four million years. Why stop here? I'd recommend visiting Pico Island, where in the shadow of the youngest and largest volcano in the Azores, you can experience a real-life earthquake and journey to the centre of the earth at Volcanoes’ House.
This is a whale watching paradise
The unique biodiversity of the Azores has led to the islands becoming one of the world’s largest natural whale sanctuaries. More than 20 different types of whale and dolphin species either live here permanently, or pass through each year.
With deep, volcanic waters surrounding the island, and the perfect combination of mild air and sea temperatures from the Gulf Stream, the Azores provides the perfect location for whales to feed, breed and return, time and time again. There are opportunities to spot sperm whales and several types of dolphin - including the muchh-loved bottlenose, as well as the Atlantic Spotted dolphins and Risso’s dolphins, all year round. If you visit during the spring months, you could also see blue whales, minke whales, sei whales and more during their summer migration.
The unique biodiversity of the Azores has led to the islands becoming one of the world’s largest natural whale sanctuaries...
Don’t underestimate the whale watching tours. Within just a few hours I was lucky enough to see 10 sperm whales including two calves feeding, plus countless bottlenose and common dolphins. It was a dream come true but not as uncommon as you might think, with visitors spotting whales and dolphins on 98% of whale watching tours from the islands. Had I known how incredible it would be, I would have made time for another tour!
Dani Redd
The island’s waters are teeming with wildlife, and there are also opportunities to see whale sharks, manta rays and sea turtles. Just a few weeks after I visited, I learned that the Azores have created the largest marine protected area in the North Atlantic - a huge 115,830 square miles (300,000km2), which is nearly the size of Italy. These marine protected areas are like underwater national parks which means human activity is limited. The Azores pride themselves in protecting this fragile ecosystem and ensuring its longevity and a safe future for these creatures.
During the whale watching tours, the tour companies work hard to ensure that wildlife wellbeing remains a priority, and there are certain protective restrictions in place (for example, no feeding or chasing animals). Be sure to respect these.
Be flexible with your adventure plans
Although it's well known for its tropical and often mild microclimates, the Azores actually have quite volatile and unpredictable weather that can really impact your trip. While there is no real “off-season” in the Azores, it would serve you well to do your research before your trip and ensure you’re visiting at the best time of year for what you would, specifically, like to experience.
Visiting the islands is a lesson in patience, persistence and flexibility at the drop of a hat...
I had planned to climb Mount Pico while I was on the tiny island but found that three days in a row the full-day hike was called off due to storms, high winds and rain, which made it too dangerous to attempt. The irony was that at sea level we were able to sunbathe on those days because the wild weather we were hearing about, while vast, was engulfing the summit of Mount Pico. The cloud extended over the west of the island, which meant another hike I longed to complete, the Lagoa do Capitão, was also called off in favour of the sunnier sides of the island.
Visiting the islands is a lesson in patience, persistence and flexibility at the drop of a hat, so be prepared to change your plans if needed and give yourself the time to try again another day. Make sure you pack clothing for all weathers including waterproofs, warm layers and back-up shoes if you plan to hike.
Our first hike in São Miguel saw us attempting a ridge walk with some Canadian friends we had just met. The rain was going sideways and the wind was plastering our wet hair to our ice cold skin as it whipped around our faces. Needless to say, we skipped the few hours of hiking and managed just 20 minutes before catching the bus down to below the clouds where the sun was shining. With hiking shoes soaked through, our Canadian friends were crestfallen when they realised they had no back-up shoes and not enough time to reattempt the hike on another day.
Watch out for livestock!
If you’re visiting the Azores, there’s a good chance you’ll be hiring a car as it is the best way to explore the islands but don’t be surprised if you run into some traffic when you’re on the moo-ve. The region has a thriving dairy industry which provides many of the popular Azorean cheeses - my favourite of which was the Queijo Vaquinha, which has a black peppery flavour.
Part of the Azores’ idyllic charm is the beautiful farmland that stretches across the islands, with fields lined with hydrangeas providing a home for the cows. It’s beautiful to hike through the pastures, but as with any rural area, these cows are often on the move guided by their farmers along the main roads. It’s yet another lesson in patience and in being present as you creep along the main roads of the Azores. Sometimes the cows surround your hire car - a truly unique experience.
Look out for Hydrangeas
If you visit towards the end of the summer, you might be lucky enough to see the roadsides come to life with stunning floral displays. But, did you know that the hydrangea blooms the Azores are so well known for are actually an invasive plant?
Although the colourful hydrangeas are the national plant of the Azores, and you’ll often see them featured in videos of the islands on social media, they are not native to the island chain. It is believed the hydrangea was brought from Japan in the 19th century as an ornamental plant, but the plant thrives in the warm and wet climate. The blooms are in full force around the islands between August and October, but visit Faial Island, also known as Ilha Azul (Blue Island), to see them in all their glory.
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