LivingTravelTravel guide to the Azores islands

Travel guide to the Azores islands

The Azores Islands are a fascinating island archipelago belonging to Portugal. A stepping stone for Americans who don’t like long flights, the islands lie in the Atlantic, about a four-hour flight from the east coast of the US and a two-hour flight to Lisbon.

You may not expect the tropical conditions you find in the Azores. Small and intensely tasty pineapples, as well as tea plantations, can be found on the island of São Miguel. Flowers are everywhere, especially in spring.

The volcanic origin of the islands leaves unmistakable marks on the landscape and even on the kitchen. There are hot, steaming pools everywhere, and the iconic dish of the Azores, a stew called Cozida, is cooked by placing the pot in a hole in the ground near the famous caldeiras de Furnas, a town between Villa Franca and Nordeste in the Map.

Arriving at the Azores islands

The nine Azores islands are served by SATA airlines. International flights arrive at the main settlement of Ponta Delgada on the largest island of the Azores, São Miguel or São Miguel. During peak season, SATA flies to the Azores from Boston, Oakland, Porto, Lisbon, Faro, Frankfurt, Paris, Dublin, London, Amsterdam and the Canary Islands. If you are coming to the Azores from Lisbon, you can get direct flights to Horta, Terceira and Santa Maria, as well as Ponta Delgada. In the off-season, check SATA for the latest information as these departures change frequently.

The Azores took fifth place in the European Best Destination 2016 competition, between Nantes, France and Paris.

Ease your jet lag with a stop in the Azores

The Azores are only four hours from Boston. A trip to the Azores can be the start of a series of budget airline short hops that will ease the spectrum of jet lag: four hours to the Azores, two hours to Lisbon, three hours or so to Italy.

The Azores offer a completely different European experience for the traveler who wishes to experience a cultural and environmental contrast to ‘The Continent’.

The flight from Boston will take you to Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island. It is the largest island in the Azores chain, and there is a lot to do. From there you can go to other islands or continue to the mainland by flying to Lisbon.

Getting around the Azores islands

During the high season, there are flights between the islands. Ferry services can be erratic, and many boats only operate for a limited time during the summer season.

If you want to travel to two islands from the US, it is best to make your airline reservations at the same time. In other words, the frugal will want a Boston-Ponta Delgada-Terceira ticket rather than separate round-trips from Boston-Ponte Delgada and Ponta Delgada-Terceira.

About the accommodation

Major cities like Ponta Delgada, where you are likely to arrive in the Azores, have a variety of hotels, but hanging out in rural Azores is the big draw. There are a variety of options within the Rural Tourism program. If going to rural areas attracts you, you can try looking for accommodation in Rural Tourism in Portugal.

While the Azores tourist hotels offer good value for money compared to other European destinations, many rural accommodations, restored country houses and stately homes could be your first choice to stay in the Azores. Most offer a real sense of gentile life and offer good food (if you like) and a laid-back lifestyle. The owners are often very interested in seeing that you make the most of your visit. For the romantics, renting a secluded cabin with an ocean view is the private way to go.

Moving within an island in the Azores

Public transport is aimed at Azoreans going to work and many of the public transport schedules are probably inconvenient for most tourists traveling to the Azores. Renting a taxi for a half day tour is reasonably inexpensive and gets you exactly where you want to go. Rental cars are available and good to have on larger islands like San Miguel.

There are many hiking trails on the islands, as walking is one of the attractions that tourists enjoy in the Azores.

When to go

The stable subtropical climate of the Azores makes the islands the ideal place to go in the off or shoulder season. It is also ideal for people who want to vacation in summer but do not like intense heat. Go in spring for the flowers.

Travel safety in the Azores

There are few signs of poverty in the Azores, and there are few recorded crimes against tourists.

During the lean years, many Azoreans have emigrated to the United States and then returned, so there tends to be a more comprehensive view of the policy adopted by the current American administration than you will find in other European countries. This also means that many citizens and visitors to the Azores are fluent in English, a benefit for non-Portuguese speaking tourists.

When to go to the Azores islands

The Azores are awash with flowers in the spring, so May may be the ideal time to visit. Ferries start operating in June so this could be a consideration for you. I would say that April to September would be the season in the Azores. You may want to avoid the rainy season, from November to March. The Gulf Stream keeps the water quite warm throughout the year, and Nordic visitors like to come to the Azores to swim in winter. Summer is the best time to watch whales.

Island Hop a Madeira

If you like tropical islands, you can try some Gulf Stream Island Hopping by flying from Ponta Delgada in the Azores to Funchal on the island of Madeira. The flight takes just a little over two hours.

Who should go to the Azores?

Active travelers interested in the island’s culture and activities will find a combination here. Activities include trekking, boating and kayaking, golf, paragliding, and diving. Here you will find islands with tropical characteristics but of a European character. You can swim and boat during the day, then sit down to a typical meal with fine (and sometimes local) wines in the evening. The Azores are not one of those places where you find yourself in a glamorous complex protected from a poorer population.

What you can’t expect in the Azores

It may surprise you to learn that the beaches are not the main attraction in the Azores. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any sandy stretches that attract bathers, but we’re not talking about Hawaii here either. Still, swimmers (and divers) can have a great time in the Azores; the Gulf Stream warms the water and there are many opportunities to swim in the “natural pools” formed by the collapse of small volcanic craters.

And you won’t find many backpackers in the Azores.

What could surprise you in the Azores?

The Azores used to be a main supplier of oranges for the mainland. After disease wiped out the crop, tea and pineapples were introduced. Today you can tour two tea plantations with tasting rooms on the island of São Miguel. You can also tour a pineapple plantation. Pineapple has become a part of Azorean cuisine, most people have a large portion after dinner, but it is also served with a small grilled blood sausage as a typical appetizer. Cows, milk and cheeses are also famous.

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