The Azores Islands: The Hawaii/Galapagos of Europe!

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If you have never heard of the Azores.. JOIN THE CLUB, NEITHER HAD I!!! But after visiting this magical island paradise I cannot believe it is not more well known or well travelled, as so much of it feels so untouched and raw and wholesome! I find it absolutely mind blowing that this is a part of EUROPE!!

The Azores are kinda like the Hawaii or Galapagos (minus the wild biodiversity) of Europe. They are an archipelago about 1,500 km off the mainland, a part of Portugal but basically smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic between Europe and the US. The islands are lush and peaceful, just farmlands with grazing cattle set up on beautiful rolling hills with sea views (these cattle have a goooood life), wild purple hydrangeas lining the roads like EVERYWHERE, waterfalls, gorges, natural pools, and beaches. It kinda feels like a step back in time, a time where things were…. simpler 🥹

Here are the details!!

GETTING AROUND

Boating between most of the Azores islands would be a veryyyy long ferry ride so we flew between islands with SATA Azores Airlines, and then on Flores and Sao Miguel we rented a car to get around. We booked through Azores Car Rental and I would defffffinitely recommend renting a car to be able to explore the islands to their fullest.

BOOK YOUR AZORES CAR RENTAL

FLORES

We started at Flores cause it’s the westernmost island and then made our way back to Sao Miguel for the flight out (I was already halfway to Canada so could catch my flight to Toronto from there!)

Flores was just absolutely STUNNING. It’s known as the Hawaii of Europe (although I feel like i’ve heard/said this about a few islands on this trip lol). Honestly it was probably the most amazing stop on our whole #stage5summerclinger trip. The main reason was the lack of tourists — we had the most magical waterfalls all to ourselves!!! We weren’t rushed to hit up all the tourist attractions or beat the tourist crowds, we literally just got to take it easy, swim in waterfalls, drive around on the roads lined with hydrangeas, drank wine on a rock for sunset, honestly it was such a dream and such a relaxing stop amidst our whirlwind trip.

WHAT TO DO

Highlights were Cascata da Ribeira do Ferreiro (the main one when you Google Flores — about a 10-15 minute hike from the main road — check out my reel here!) and Poço do Bacalhau waterfall — came back to this one twice for sunset swims! Reels here and here! So serene walking down the path amongst the cows grazing on the hills, and getting a massage from the waterfall! Also had such a nice sunset at Miradouro Raul Brandão. Other than that I don’t have a ton of recos for things to do, just cruise around and admire the flowers and views!

WHERE TO STAY

STAY IN FAJA GRANDE OR LITERALLY DON’T EVEN BOTHER. This is THE CUTEST TOWN, 5 mins from the main waterfall Cascata da Ribeira do Ferreiro and our fave waterfall Poço do Bacalhau, you can stroll right down to the ocean and the natural rock pools and it’s a perfect spot for sunsets. This side of the island is so lush and jaw-dropping I could not imagine staying anywhere else.

>>> STAY AT THIS PERFECTLY LOCATED APARTMENT <<<

WHERE TO EAT

Ok we were very over Europe’s pastries in every snack bar and were craving fresh healthy food so we went to Big Love by Monica’s for like 3 meals during our 2-night stay. Still drooling over their smoothies and salads.

Also in our village Faja Grande we loved Café da Laura and Barraca Q'abana for a chill local bar!

PICO

I wanted to go to Pico for the diving but that backfired, despite trying to call and email the dive shops multiple times in advance — so my main advice is, make sure you are booked in advance!!!! I was so so crushed about not being able to dive here!!!

You can do the shark dive (apparently it’s baited which I don’t love but the dive operations here are apparently very conservation-focussed)… or Princess Alice to see the mobula rays (can snorkel or dive with them) — the catch is a 3-hour rocky (pukey) boat ride each way. We actually had an amazing time swimming with the dolphins, and also went whale watching which was pretty cool but I enjoyed the dolphins the most by far! Super cool to be basically guaranteed to see and swim with them in the wild, which is rare anywhere in the world let alone EUROPE!!! Reel here!

LOVED Ilha food truck, Cella Bar was epic and bougie, and there were some little natural pools along this coast. I loved our accommodation here too, a 10-minute walk from town and next to the best natural pools.

>>>> BOOK YOUR STAY AT JEIROES DO MAR HERE <<<<

SAO MIGUEL

Sao Miguel is the main island of the Azores, where you will fly into/out of, and is definitely the most popular, and so so beautiful!!!

THINGS TO DO

Go check out the blue/green lakes Sete Cidades, cruise along the coasts to stop at the miradouros —- I LOVED Miradouro da Ilha Sabrina on the West Coast (grab a pizza nearby from O Sole Mio for sunset there), and Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego, a beautiful garden viewpoint on the East Coast. Also Cascata da Ribeira dos Caldeirões is a fairy dreamland with waterfalls and rainbows and I’m pretty sure fairies and pixie dust floating in the air.

LOVED Furnas, a magical lush valley, and Parque Terra Nostre was one of the most immaculate enchanted parks I’ve ever been to in my life!!

Sao Miguel is known for its natural hot springs but unfortunately most of them were out of commish when we were there due to contaminated water. The Terra Nostra one is famous as well as the Centro de Interpretação Ambiental da Caldeira Velha.

Vila Franca do Campo, an epic little island off the coast of Sao Miguel that you can visit for day trips (or drone trips!)

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed in Ponta Delgada but honestly hated it lol, the island is so beautiful and this was just a regular town, did not find it cute or charming at all and was brutal trying to find parking/get around anywhere. Would recommend staying somewhere in the countryside, amongst nature, or maybe the North coast like Ribeira Grande, somewhere in the middle so you can do day trips to both sides.

>>> BROWSE SAO MIGUEL ACCOMMODATIONS HERE <<<

WHERE TO EAT

I was OBSESSED with the breakfast bagel at Jardim Natural Food & Coffee in the botanical gardens and ate here twice (beware there may be a long line and service was not delightful, but the food is sooo good). I was able to collab with Parque Terra Nostra and had an exquisite fine dining experience at their Restaurante Terra Nostra.

Those are my main tips and recos for the Azores, let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!

Happy island hopping!!!!