Nine dots on the map. Nine green islands surrounded by ocean. Extinct volcanoes, emerald lakes, hot healing springs. The scent of hydrangea and the best pineapples in the world. Plus whale and dolphin watching. Here's why you should discover the Azores — the pearl of Portugal in spring: Terceira boasts the historic capital of Angra do Heroismo, quiet Graciosa enchants with its idyllic landscape, and São Jorge is famous for its excellent cheeses.
Corvo
Blooming Flores and tiny Corvo lie off to the side. But our goal is the three islands that are considered the flagship of the archipelago: the largest, Sao Miguel, beloved by sailors Faial, and Pico, where Portugal's highest mountain rises.
San Miguel
From Ponta Delgada, the capital of São Miguel, we drive to the east of the island. Along the road are rows of flowers whose scent hits your head. Every few kilometers there is a town or an intimate harbor. We pass white churches with facades decorated with black basalt and people sitting on the thresholds of houses. We hear the cry of seagulls and the rumble of fishing boats as the fishermen return from their catch.
Sete Cidades Lagoon
There are no big hotels, no crowded resorts, no loud night madness. Instead, there are steep cliffs and peaks hidden in the clouds, forests interspersed with tropical vegetation, and emerald pools on the edges of extinct volcanoes. The most beautiful of these is Lagoa das Sete Cidades - two connected lakes, one with blue water, the other with green water. A romantic legend says that they were created from the tears of separated lovers - a shepherd and a princess. In summer, hydrangeas bloom everywhere: white, pink and purple. They are a symbol of the archipelago, although few people know that they are noxious weeds, once brought from abroad and effectively choking out the local vegetation.
tours to the Azores
The climate and lifestyle of the Azores means that every busy European city dweller can have a full holiday here. The silence is broken only by the chirping of birds and the sound of the sea. The view of the picturesque green mountains and volcanic slopes is also calming. All the interesting places can be reached by bus, but it is best to rent a car (prices are low and the traffic is light, even a holiday driver can cope here).
Baixo Faj
Our first stop is the pineapple plantation at Faj de Baixo. Anyone who hasn't eaten Azorean pineapples has never eaten them. They are incredibly sweet, especially those that ripen from May to August. You can buy fresh fruit, jam, and pineapple liqueur.
Cha Gorreana
The second stop is Cha Gorreana, the only tea plantation in Europe. And finally, Furnas, a resort famous even outside Portugal. We will visit an ancient park with a botanical garden and a sulfur pond - the water is warm and brown, but has healing properties. The bubbling lakes and the sharp smell of sulfur remind us that although the volcanoes of the Azores are covered with grass, underground they do not sleep well.
Cozido
Locals cook dinner in a hot spring. Corn on the cob is dipped into boiling water as an appetizer, and the main dish, cozido, a cauldron with several types of meat and vegetables, is covered with hot earth for several hours. It's definitely worth a try!
Petrovsky Cafe Sport
Faial is a favourite stopover for sailors crossing the Atlantic. The marina of Horta, the island's capital, is always full of yachts. Here, sea dogs resupply, assemble crews and swap stories - preferably over a glass of gin at the famous Peter's Cafe Sport bar. Before setting sail, it is customary to leave painted images of yachts on the breakwaters. We also visit the fishing village of Capelinhos, which was covered in ash during the last volcanic eruption in 1958.
Varadoru
On the way to Horta we stop at the Varadouro swimming beach. What a relief to dip our feet in natural pools! The port overlooks the neighbouring island of Pico and the volcano that towers above. The climb to the summit, at 2,351 m above sea level, takes almost a full day and leaves healthy bones, but the view is unforgettable.
San Jorge
Upon returning, tired tourists can refresh themselves in one of the many cafes with a swordfish steak or delicious seafood and cheese, which San Jorge is especially famous for. Be sure to try the local "green" wine (it's not about its color, but about the young age of the light-tasting drink.
Whaling
Whale hunting is the highlight of the Azores holiday. Don't worry, bloodless! We leave Horta at dawn towards Pico. As the fog clears, the water becomes thick with the backs of dolphins. They chase, probably wink at us and... they are gone.
Azores
How to get to paradise? Preferably by plane. After a three-hour flight from Lisbon, located just over 1,400 km from the coast of the continent, picturesque hills emerge from the Atlantic. Santa Maria is small, has a mild climate and sandy beaches.
Source: traveltell.ru