Azores

We have visited the Azores islands in August 2018 and it was an extremely interesting holiday: for lovers of outdoor physical activity, landscapes and nature.
We have chosen three islands to visit in two weeks: each island has its own particularity, we have chosen San Miguel, the largest and most visited island, Flores, island full of flowers and Pico, for the highest mountain in Portugal and its black volcanic rocks, which makes you feel in a lunar landscape.
The nine islands that make up the Azores are not very popular with mass tourism, perhaps because they offer tourism for the few, made of multiple paths amidst the lush vegetation, views to be seen from above on the cliffs or the volcanic origin of the islands that has made the beaches tinted by the many shades of black for the high content of basalt, resulting probably uninviting to lovers of beach holidays. For fans of trekking and breathtaking views, the Azores are the ideal destination.

1. Stare at the Miradouro da Boca do Inferno and watch all the lakes of different colors below

The island of San Miguel is the island of the lakes, of different shapes and colors and one next to the other. The Miradouro da Boca do Inferno is a beautiful vantage point from which you can see few lakes below but mainly two biggest than others: one blue and one green. These are all volcanic lakes and therefore around you can notice all the calderas that surround them. It is a truly unique show and it makes you feel very much in contact with nature, the main sensation that the Azores islands transmit.

2. The sunset in Mosteiros Beach watching the rocks coming from the water

All the sunsets are beautiful, but after a long walk in the middle of nature on the island of San Miguel, there is nothing better than relaxing with a cocktail and watching the sunset in Mosteiros beach.
There are two huge boulders sprouting from the water, and during the sunset the sun shines through them, creating a beautiful play of light and shadow.

3. Sit on the roots of a 200-year-old tree at Jardim Antonio Borges in San Miguel Island

In the center of Ponta Delgada, on the island of San Miguel, there is the Jardim Antonio Borges, which hosts a series of plants of various origins. In one part of the park there is also a romantic corner with caves and rocks, which leads to another area of ​​the park. At the entrance to the right there is a centuries-old Australian Banyan tree, which now with its imposing roots grows more in width than height.
You can easily climb on its roots and take a picture, in which you will certainly be very small compared to the size of the plant!

4. Take a bath in the ferrous thermal waters of the Parque de Terra Nostra in San Miguel Island

The whole valley of Furnas on the island of San Miguel is very green because of its sheltered position, but this is particularly true for the Parque de Terra Nostra. The entrance is a passage surrounded by greenery, with many plants and flowers, and a small channel of water inside which float beautiful water lilies. The thermal waters are ferrous and for this reason they have an orange-brown color. The water is absolutely hot so it is not possible to remain immersed for a long time, but after a bath you can lie down in the lawn surrounding the pool.

5. Admire the pure waters of Lagoa do Fogo after a walk immersed in the woods

The walk to Lagoa do Fogo is one of the most beautiful and interesting excursions that can be done in all the Azores islands. The walk lasts about three hours and you are completely immersed in the green, you enter much inside the island, so while walking you can meet areas of higher humidity and can start to rain suddenly, but this is part of the beauty of being so in contact with nature.
After this long walk you arrive at Lagoa do Fogo, a completely unspoiled lake surrounded by mountains, with pure and deep blue water. On its shores the lake is surrounded by plants and flowers, the scenery is wonderful and it’s worth the whole 6 hours of walk back and forth!

6. Watch the dolphins swim close to you on the boat trip to Corvo Island

The island of Flores has close to itself a small volcanic island also, the island of Corvo, practically entirely made up of the central crater and a small town of 400 people where everyone knows each other.
To get to this small island you book a boat ride, and if you are lucky along the way you have the opportunity to meet groups of dolphins swimming in the ocean. They have a lot of fun following the boat, so they could accompany you for a nice some time, enjoying being photographed!

7. Walk in the rain in the path from Ponta Delgada to Faja Grande

The excursion from Ponta Delgada to Faja Grande on Flores Island is the thing that we will surely remember more of our holiday in the Azores. We left with a beautiful sun and, as often happens in the Azores, the clouds arrive in a very short time and it starts to rain.
That day, shortly after our excursion had begun, a dense fog began to come down, which prevented us from seeing one inch from our nose.
It was therefore very difficult to find the directions of the path and to understand where we had to go, and at every step we thought we would have been lost.
Despite this weather conditions we were not prepared to, once the fog had gone the walk was spectacular, allowing us to see beautiful landscapes made of expanses of blue ocean and cliffs overlooking the ocean, all surrounded by plants and flowers colored.
Despite the fear I felt in some moments, I definitely would do it again!

8. Stop at a miradouro in Flores Island, admiring all the flowers around you

In every single miradouro on the ocean in Flores Island, you will find a picture postcard show.
A wooden fence overlooking the ocean, with flower beds full of colorful flowers, especially orchids but not only.
At sunset especially but also in the morning, when the sun starts to rise on the ocean, it is a show not to be missed.

9. Overnight climb to Pico Mountain

The mountain of Pico located on the island of Pico is the highest mountain of the Azores and of all the Portugal. You can reach the summit in about three to four hours of ascent, during which you cover just over 1.000 meters in altitude, from the last place accessible by car: the Casa da Montanha. The path is really very steep and rocky, and in case of fog, which often happens, it is difficult to get oriented.
However, the very tiring and demanding climb, if the day is sunny, is rewarded by a spectacular view of the whole azorean archipelago. My advice for lovers of landscapes and photography is the overnight climb, where you have the opportunity to get to the top at sunset and then see the dawn the next day.

10. Watch the sun setting behind the mountain of Pico in Lajes

Lajes is a small, pretty town in the south of the island of Pico, the second city of the island after Madalena.
It has a small church and some little restaurants and can be a good destination for an evening walk. In particular, because of its location has a spectacular view of the mountain Pico, and if you go there at sunset, it is really nice to watch the sun that slowly sets behind the mountain of Pico, creating incredible games of light.

When to go?

Winter

February is the coolest month, temperatures are between 12 and 17 degrees, precipitation is abundant.

Spring

Spring is not ideal as the summer where there are less rains and more sun, but in this period you can admire the blooming of the rich vegetation.

Summer

It is the best season both because it is the best time to swim and do water sports, both for hiking, and because there are many festivals and village events.

Autumn

It’s not the best time to go, not because of the temperatures, which can be good, but because of the abundant rainfall and the risk of tropical cyclones.

The best time to visit the Azores is the summer, especially July and August, which are the hottest and sunniest months; having an oceanic climate, the Azores are affected by the delay with which the sea heats up, so September is slightly warmer than June, and from the point of view of temperatures it is still a summer month, even if during the month the rains become a little more frequent. In July and August, temperatures are pleasant, the sunshine is discreet, the rains are not very frequent.
I visited Azores in August, and it was a great choice. We enjoyed several sunny days, we could do excursions and boat trips, we had a swim in the ocean. The weather was warm but not too much. So I would definitely recommend this month as the best.

three unmissable stops

Best photos spots

I’m a photographer, so I’m always looking for the best corner in the world to make the perfect picture. Often, with great pleasure of my traveling companions, I also spend hours staring at the landscape, waiting for the perfect moment with perfect light. Therefore, when I decided to create my blog, I could not avoid to include a dedicated section to photography enthusiasts like me, always looking for the landscape that leaves you breathless. Hope you will enjoy these places where, in my opinion, you can enjoy wonderful landscapes and take the best pictures.