Azores Island São Miguel - Portugal

The Azores are a relatively unknown archipelago of Portugal, often referred to as the Hawaii of Europe. Due to their location in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly in line with southern Portugal, these islands enjoy a balanced subtropical climate. Thus, the best time to visit the Azores is essentially always, as daytime temperatures range annually between approximately 15 and 27°C.

The Azores consist of nine islands. The largest (and thus the main island) is São Miguel, which has its capital in Ponta Delgada. The large airport there has several daily flights to and from the European mainland, with a few even direct to Germany. Because of its accessibility, São Miguel is very popular for a vacation in the Azores. Therefore, the following activities and tips mainly focus on São Miguel. This island has much to offer for any type of holiday: whether for relaxation, hiking, or adventure. There is something here for everyone.

Here, I've summarized my highlights for you; enjoy!

Ponta Delgada is the capital of the Azores and is located on the island of São Miguel. For a capital, Ponta Delgada is quite small and charming. There, as well as throughout the entire archipelago, you will find many houses and churches in a very distinct Renaissance style. This style can be seen, for example, in the Ermida de Mãe de Deus.

It's worthwhile to wander aimlessly through the small town and look around a bit. There are also typical sights such as the central square Largo de Gonçalo Velho Cabral (which unfortunately was under renovation when I was there), the baroque church Igreja do Colégio dos Jesuítas, the municipal building Càmara Municipal, the main church Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião, and nearly countless other churches and architecturally valuable buildings.

If you're not so enthusiastic about architecture, you can also grab an ice cream or frozen yogurt and watch the ships from the harbor.

Fresh pineapples from local farmers taste so sweet that you can almost taste the sun of the Azores.

Due to the subtropical climate of the islands, exotic fruits such as bananas and pineapples are also grown locally. You can even visit some plantations or stay overnight on them. Whether directly from the plantation, at the market, or from the store, you should definitely buy a freshly harvested pineapple and some bananas. Warning: these fruits are so incredibly delicious that imported fruits in American supermarkets may not taste the same afterwards.

Since the Azores are volcanic islands, you can experience volcanoes in many different ways. The most relaxing way is undoubtedly by bathing in warm volcanic springs and crater lakes.

On São Miguel, there are several baths that offer soaking in hot springs and facilities like showers and changing rooms. My two favorite baths were the volcanic pools in Parque Terra Nostra in Furnas and Caldeira Velha. Personally, I didn't enjoy the Poça da Dona Beija as much because the pools were relatively small and somewhat crowded.

The Parque Terra Nostra is an old botanical garden where a thermal pool was built as early as 1780. Nowadays, there are two small and one large pool that attract with temperatures between 35 and 40°C. You can spend a whole day in this park viewing the subtropical plants and taking breaks to swim.

Caution: Bringing food is not allowed; however, you can leave and re-enter the park anytime with a day pass. Nearby, there are also restaurants in case you don't have food in your car.

If you're already in Furnas, you should also check out the geysers Caldeira das Furnas to feel even closer to the volcanoes. Here, steam flows boiling hot from the ground. In some places, it is pleasantly warm, which is why some cats can be found sleeping among the geysers.

Caution: It smells very strongly of sulfur here, so if you are bothered by intense and unpleasant odors, this is not a place for you.

At the Caldeira Velha, there are also three pools, one of which even has a small waterfall. The entire area is very natural and truly beautiful. You almost feel like you're bathing alone in the middle of the forest. In small wooden buildings, there is also information about the islands, their plant diversity, and volcanoes.

The pools are approximately 38°C warm. If you occasionally have circulation problems, it's advisable to be cautious when entering and exiting a pool, I speak from experience. Just take it slow and you won't feel dizzy.

What is a wonderful way to burn your feet? Right, on a sunny day walking barefoot on one of the beautiful black sand beaches at the water. This is even possible in the spring; I tried it for you.

However, when the weather cooperates, it is essential to stick your feet in the black sand and warm them up. A dark sand beach is rather unusual by European beach standards, but several can be found on the island of São Miguel. Thus, the Azores offer a truly unique beach vacation.

My three favorite beaches are Praia das Milicias, Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara, and Praia dos Mosteiros. However, the pictures hardly do the spectacle justice; you must see it with your own eyes.

The Azores are perfect for a spectacular hiking vacation. There are many hiking routes you can view online here. A hint: the estimated hiking times are very inaccurate, except perhaps for very athletic individuals! The trails are well marked, making it very easy to follow a route.

Many of the hikes lead to waterfalls and through beautiful subtropical forests. If you don't want to search through or try all the routes, I have here two of my favorite hiking routes for you: one to Salto da Farinha & Poço Azul (PR 21 SMI and one to Salto do Prego (PRC 09 SMI.

If you only have time to hike one route, then you should choose the one to Salto da Farinha and Poço Azul. I shortened the hike back then and started at the end to see the large waterfall Salto da Farinha first. From there you walk up the mountain through a dense forest, occasionally interrupted by streams and waterfalls, even a double waterfall.

The highlight of the hike is the Poço Azul, an azure blue lake that lives up to its name and looks as if it isn't real. Because this is not a circular hiking route, I walked back along the road to my rental car from there. This way, I shortened the hike and still experienced the absolute highlights of the hike.

Another hike to spectacular waterfalls is the one to Salto do Prego. This hike also takes you through a green-drenched forest with great views of a small river and more waterfalls. There is hardly any reception on this hike, so it's best to download the map beforehand, otherwise you'll reach the first waterfall thinking you've made it.

I speak from experience, as this is not the Salto do Prego, but an unnamed waterfall whose pool is not swimmable, unfortunately:

The natural swimming pools in the ocean are another phenomenon we owe to the volcanic activity of the Azores. Some of these pools formed from solidified lava and offer a completely new bathing experience. However, you need to be careful to bathe at the right tide; at high tide, the current is too strong, and some pools may be closed. To avoid my mistakes, it's better to check the tides online beforehand to arrive at the right time.

There are many of these pools on several Azores islands; a few very popular ones from São Miguel include Ponta de Ferraria, Frade Natural Pools, and Piscinas Naturais.

The ruins of the abandoned Monte Palace Hotel are a must for any horror fan. In the 1980s, the 5-star hotel was built, but the anticipated influx of customers did not happen. The Azores were not yet very touristy at that time. Hence, the hotel permanently closed its doors in 1990 and has been unattended since the mid-2000s.

Entering the hotel is officially prohibited and not recommended for travelers with children, as the interior has much mold, debris, slippery floors, unguarded abysses, and puddles. If you want to enter the hotel, I recommend absolute caution, common sense, and rubber boots! From the outside, this luxury hotel offers as spectacular pictures as from the inside. There, you can witness how nature reclaims what belongs to it.

There are rumors that the hotel is supposed to be renovated and allegedly set to reopen in 2021 this year. Nevertheless, it is worth a detour as it is only a stone's throw away from the next highlight of the Azores. If you have recently been to the Monte Palace Hotel, feel free to leave a comment on how it looks there now!

The water-filled volcanic craters of Lagoa de Cete Cidades are THE postcard motif of the Azores. And yes, you can just buy a postcard. However, from the viewpoint Miradouro da Boca do Inferno near Lagoa do Canário, you can see not only the crater lakes but also the south and north sides of São Miguel at the same time.

A long strenuous hike is not necessary for this. If you follow the signs, you will come out at a parking lot just a few hundred meters away from where I took this photo:

São Miguel is small enough that everything is reachable from the capital Ponta Delgada. But the island is also ideal for a round trip by car, a mini road trip. This way, you can enjoy the charming little places, try several cute accommodations, explore small shops and cafés, and even save time and gas with a more direct travel route.

I have created my favorite route around the island with many of the highlights and sights mentioned above. You can save this route offline on your phone and thus navigate easily from A to B on site.

Not everyone knows that the Azores belong to Portugal. The islands are about 5 hours by plane from the United States (about 2 flight hours from Lisbon). The neighboring island of Madeira is located southeast in the Atlantic.

As previously mentioned, the Azores consist of a total of nine islands. You can focus on one island, or embark on an island-hopping tour.

Depending on what type of person you are, some islands might suit you better, although all are somewhat similar.

This is where not only the airport is located, but also the capital. More than half of the population lives here. An ideal starting point for exploring the Azores.

The island of Faial is known for its many hydrangeas. Flower fans will enjoy their time here. Additionally, spectacular formations from the volcanoes can be seen inland. On the coast, steep cliffs are the highlight. You should not miss the town of Horta with its harbor for world travelers who continue their journey to the Caribbean with their sailboat, as well as the volcanic crater Caldeira do Faial and the Punta dos Capelinhos.

You can find more tips from Petra at Passenger on Earth

Once known for whalers, Pico is now an ideal starting point for whale watching (dolphins are a bonus). The island is named after the Pico volcano, which at 2,351 meters is the highest mountain in Portugal. You can climb to the summit.

The southernmost island, ideal for a day trip by ferry from São Miguel. Santa Maria has great sandy beaches for relaxation.

The third-largest island, Terceira even has a UNESCO World Heritage Site: The capital of the island, Angra do Heroísmo, was rebuilt after an earthquake in 1980 and has been a World Heritage Site since 1983.

The once hidden gem for experienced surfers is known for its spectacular steep coasts that drop 800 meters into the sea. São Jorge is called the "cheese island" because supposedly the milk from the cows gives the cheese a special taste.

The second-smallest island (translated as "the Gracious") impresses with round and gentle volcanic hills, instead of the rugged coastline of the other Azores islands. You'll find windmills, smaller volcanic cones, a large caldera, and vineyards on Graciosa. The wine from the grapes is considered the best in the Azores. A highlight is the crater cave Furna do Enxofre. Take a hike to the crater basin Caldeira da Graciosa for the best view.

Flores has the highlight in its name: flowers! All over the so-called spring island, you'll find an incredible diversity of plants that bloom in all colors. If you love hiking, Flores is ideal. One of the most beautiful hiking trails of the Azores islands is located here: Faja Grande. On Flores, you'll find the westernmost point of Europe.

The smallest Azores island has only 17 km², meaning it also only has one road. And that leads to the crater of the extinct volcano. The only town on the island is Vila Nova do Corvo, which has only about 480 inhabitants. The best way to reach Corvo is by boat from Flores.

Due to the subtropical climate, the Azores have a very high humidity, which is easy to forget since this is quite unusual for Europe. Therefore, I can only recommend packing quick-drying clothing and towels. Additionally, the Azores' location also brings rapid weather changes, wind, and rain, but also plenty of sunshine. Thus, you can wear a windtight rain jacket and use sunscreen all in one day.

Find out more about the climate in the Azores here

If you are considering getting a rental car, I can only advise you to take the smallest possible one. The reason for this is the narrow roads that sometimes snake between two house walls. You will be grateful for every centimeter of width that your rental car doesn't take up.

For accommodation on the island, private rentals via Airbnb are highly recommended. This way, you can find a cozy place to stay in almost every little town that's not so generic like a hotel. This makes it easier to explore places like Nordeste. Additionally, the locals are very hospitable, and several of my hosts gifted me fresh bread or a basket of local specialties.

When you are driving around, you will often notice a sign pointing to a Miradouro, which are viewpoints. Often the view from those spots is spectacular, so it's worth making a detour for each miradouro, as long as you have enough time. Here for example is the view from the Miradouro da Tromba de Elefante.

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This post is by guest author Sophia Zell. She enjoys traveling with her camper Tiffy and her dog Nox. Sophia loves photography. Check her out at sophiaaezell.com or her Instagram @sophiaaez.

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