Azores

It is a wonderful group of islands with great diversity. You can easily visit the islands. When you visit, you will better understand why the archipelago is a special part of Europe.

The islands are unique because of their location. The Azores are located more than 1,300 kilometres from Portugal and the European continent and about 1,600 kilometres from Africa. The islands are perfect for hikers and nature lovers. With an all year-round pleasant climate.

The islands are remarkably diverse, each with its own character. And special places to discover. Island hopping is popular and the best way to experience the Azores. I have collected the best tips and attractions for visiting the Azores.

Read about the most important things to see and do, how you can travel to the Azores and the best time for a visit. These are the islands of the Azores.

São Miguel has the largest airport near the capital Ponta Delgado. This is why many travellers start their journey here. This island is known as the green island. The island is well worth exploring. With one of the most beautiful vantage points of all the islands. And hot springs in which the locals cook. And walks along waterfalls. It is also one of the best places for a whale and dolphin watching tour.

Flores is wonderfully rugged with no fewer than seven crater lakes with different colours. And you will find numerous waterfalls on the island. You can see them on foot, but also often from special vantage points. Hiking is a must on Flores, there are various hiking trails. Although it can be quite challenging, you get spectacular views in return.

The island of Pico is not extremely large, but the volcano with a similar name is not. In fact, at 2,351 meters it is the highest mountain in all of Portugal. It is a volcano that you can climb. And where you can enjoy a special sunrise at the top. Pico is also a wonderful hiking island. And the best place to dive with the blue shark.

Corvo is the smallest island of the Azores with an imposing volcano. Which you can visit. It has a small village and a small airport. The island is 6.5 kilometres long and 4 kilometres wide. And popular with nature lovers and hikers. It is near the island of Flores.

Faial is one of the most popular islands in the Azores. It is 21 kilometres long and about 14 kilometres wide. It has a pentagonal shape, with a volcano in the middle. Which is worth a visit. Faial is sometimes called the blue island. This is due to the many hedges of blue hydrangeas. Faial is also one of the best places to go on whale-watching tours.

Santa Maria is one of the lesser-known islands of the Azores. The island is often skipped by many travellers. But it's clearly different because of yellow beaches and a wonderful red desert. This is because it has a different history.

The island of Terceira is famous for its capital Angra do Heroísmo. This city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. You will also find special caves here, which served as housing to the early inhabitants before the Portuguese arrived. And fields where steam still comes out of the ground.

São Jorge is really nothing more than a headland. And if you have the time, São Jorge is well worth a visit. Numerous hikers and bird watchers visit the island. Simply because it is different from the rest of the Azores.

You can visit the Azores all year round. But if you want to see whales and dolphins, for example, you only have a good chance for a few months.

The best time to see whales in the Azores is from April to October. Especially in April and May you have a reasonable chance of seeing the blue whale, the largest of all whales.

The best spots for whale watching are on Pico and Faial, where you have a 90% chance during a tour. On Sao Miguel it is around 60 to 70%.

Dolphins are seen all year round in the Azores. The animals live in the waters around the islands. You have the best chance of seeing the common dolphin, as well as the bottlenose dolphin and the gray dolphin.

You also have a chance to spot the spotted dolphin and striped dolphin. These playful animals can be seen mainly in the months of May to August. So if you go out on the water during these months, you can see various species. Which often happens.

Check if there is a direct flight to the Azores from your country. Otherwise, you can fly from Portugal. The island of São Miguel has the most connections. There are also flight connections with Air Açores between the islands, so you can easily go island hopping. There are also several ferries that sail between the various islands. Only in bad weather the ferries will not go.