203 Visiting the Azores, Portugal

What is green and blue and volcanic all over? This week on the podcast, Kim and Tamara are joined by Katja Gaskell from Globetotting.com to talk about their recent trip to the Azores in a continuation of our Portugal coverage. The Azores are an archipelago of nine Portuguese islands in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean and they are a unique blend of the landscapes of Hawaii, Ireland or Wales, and Iceland with the culture of the Portuguese mainland. Hear what makes these islands so special, and what you need to know before you plan a trip to the Azores.

Disclosure: Our trip was hosted by EPIC Travel, a boutique travel agency specializing in arranging custom itineraries in Portugal and Morocco. EPIC’s in-country travel planners have close relationships with hotels, guides, drivers and tour operators and can design the perfect trip for your travel style and interests. EPIC focuses on adventure and cultural experiences to allow you to have a deeper and more epic journey. If you book with EPIC Travel and mention that you heard about them on the Vacation Mavens podcast, you will receive a VIP Welcome Gift on arrival.

Tips for Visiting the Azores, Portugal

• The Azores are nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean that are part of Portugal
• You can fly direct from Europe on Ryan Air and some other airlines, or you can go through Lisbon via Tap Airlines and utilize the free layover offering
• From the USA you can fly direct from Boston on Azores Airlines/ SATA Airlines and starting May 2022 United will offer direct service from Newark
• The largest island is São Miguel and the main city where the airport is is Ponta Delgada (PDL)
• São Miguel is a unique mix of landscapes and the island is very well maintained and beautiful
• The Azores are a real adventure destination for adventure tourism
• There are currently not a lot of restaurants and hotels for tourists, so you really need to plan very far in advance and be flexible with your plans. It also helps to stay at a hotel with a restaurant
• You should plan a trip six to nine months in advance
• The weather can be volatile where you experience many seasons in a day, but the water stays warm thanks to the Gulf Stream and it doesn't get terribly cold in the winter
• Summer is the ideal time to go, but also the busiest
• Plan on spending at least three to four days in São Miguel, more if you want to take part in some more of the adventure activities
• If you plan on visiting multiple islands with a full Azores trip, plan on 10 to 14 days in total
• A trip to the Azores is a sightseeing and active vacation, and not a resort-based, relaxation island vacation
• Other Azores islands to visit include Pico, Sao Jorge, Faial (which are very close to each other) and Terceira
• If you are not comfortable driving through small towns with narrow streets or along cliffs then you may want to take a private tour with a driver/guide
• Some roads get washed out due to rain or storms that cause mudslides
• Guides will also be able to check apps and weather to see what conditions are like in different places and can adjust on the fly
• Best places to see in Sao Miguel include:
  • Caloura (fishing village)
  • Sete Citades (blue and green lakes)
  • Furnas (thermal activity and hot springs)
  • Ribeira dos Caldeiroes (waterfalls)
  • Ponta da Ferraria (cliffs and lava beach)
• There are many adventure activities on Sao Miguel, perfect for adventurous families and families with teens including:
  • Coasteering
  • Snorkeling
  • Cliff diving
  • Canyoning
  • Kayaking
  • Surfing
  • Dolphin and whale watching tours
• Where to stay on Sao Miguel:
  • Azor Hotel in Ponta Delgada is convenient for access to the airport and town, with nice spacious rooms, nice views, and a great restaurant, but it is better to get outside of Ponta Delgada if possible
  • Furnas Boutique Hotel is in Furnas and has a nice spa, hot springs, and pools heated by geothermal activity. There are activities on site and the hotel staff is extremely friendly and personable, but the rooms are on the smaller side.
  • Santa Barbara Beach Resort is an eco-resort located above a nice swimming and surfing beach. There are different types of suites with kitchenettes, spread across different buildings, some of which have a shared infinity pool
• To visit the Azores, we needed a separate negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure. You need to complete a locator form and upload your test results and these are checked upon arrival at PDL. Masks are also required indoors everywhere when we visited.
• To get inspired for future travel, watch 14 Peaks on Netflix and read Around the World in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh