Europe’s best kept secret
Nine exotic islands scattered 800 miles west of the Iberian peninsular make up the Azores archipelago. Far-flung in the Atlantic, this autonomous region of Portugal is known for its crater lakes, steaming volcanic waters and dramatic landscapes. Adventurous souls will find the Azores islands the perfect playground.
Daniele Nabissi / Unsplash
Words by Gemma Watson
Dubbed the Hawaii of the Atlantic, and still largely unknown, this remote destination offers a multitude of world-class activities. The largest of the nine islands and home to most of the Azorean population is São Miguel. Known as the ‘green island’, thanks to the luscious untamed greenery and rich terrain, São Miguel’s enviable landscape make it “the perfect island for discovering the Azores”, according to Lonely Planet.
To the west of the island are the twin blue and green lakes, which sit in the enormous volcanic crater of Sete Cidades. To the south sits the region’s capital, Ponta Delgada. Full of charm and history, the city is brimming with Portuguese colonial buildings, churches, monuments and a 16th century fort that provide for many a postcard moment.
The other eight islands will not disappoint either. The archipelago also boasts two Unesco World Heritage Sites: the Pico island vineyard, a 987-hectare site with a viniculture dating back to the 15th century; and the town of Angra do Heroísmo on the island of Terceria. This cultural site was an obligatory stop for fleets travelling between equatorial Africa, the East and the West Indies in the 15th century.