Atlantic Islander
09-12-2013, 01:02 AM
Whether you walk across its lush meadows, swim in its clear lakes or marvel at its wildlife, the unique sights and sounds of the Azores make for an extraordinary holiday
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Shaped by ancient volcanoes and surrounded by the Atlantic, the Azores archipelago is a holiday destination unlike any other. Photograph: Mauricio Abreu/Corbis
The emerald green islands of the Azores are an astonishing place to visit. Once thought to be part of the lost continent of Atlantis, these Portuguese islands sit north-west of Madeira in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 932 miles (1,500km) from Europe and 2,485 miles (4,000km) from North America.
Ancient volcanoes gave these islands their shape and form and created extraordinary scenery: moss-draped sinkholes, wide caldera filled with turquoise water, bubbling, sulphurous pits, thermal pools and lush green landscapes. They are a walker's and photographer's paradise.
And it's not just the volcanoes; the sea shapes the islands, too. Sitting astride the migratory whale path across the Atlantic, there are countless opportunities to watch humpback, sperm and minke whales, along with dolphins and sharks, from zodiac boats. The relative remoteness of the islands means there's real charm to rural life, with pretty whitewashed villages and fishing communities living in the same way they have for decades.
When it comes to planning your trip, there are nine islands to choose from. It takes less than four hours to reach the Azores from the UK, with direct flights landing on São Miguel Island from 30 March to 19 October. Flights via Lisbon operate daily year-round. With a mild climate all year, it's always a good time to visit.
Start at São Miguel and aim to spend at least two days there, taking in the thermal pools at Furnas, visiting pretty fishing villages and exploring the waterfalls and caldera in the north-west of the island. Santa Maria is the next closest island to Sao Miguel: flatter and warmer, it has the best white sand beach on the archipelago and is just a 30-minute flight away.
If the unique volcanic landscape has piqued your curiosity, Terceira is a good island to visit, with its deep caves, lava tubes and lush green meadows surrounded by towering volcanic mountains. It, along with Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial, forms the central group of islands. São Jorge is great hiking territory and Pico is home to the highest mountain in Portugal along with Unesco-listed vineyards. São Miguel and Faial are the best places to go whale watching in the Azores.
To the west of these islands lie Flores and Corvo, the most outlying group. Flores has miles of hydrangea hedges and meadows of flowers with waterfalls from its high mountains, while Corvo has one settlement with whitewashed cottages and an immense caldera in its centre.
It only takes about an hour or so to hop from one island to the next by air, and half an hour by boat between Faial and Pico, making island-hopping a great way to explore. Sunvil Discovery is one of the leading promoters of responsible tourism on these unique islands and can help you plan and book the perfect Azores holiday.
source (http://www.theguardian.com/visit-the-azores/the-azores-europes-wildest-destination)
http://imageshack.us/a/img827/4674/humt.jpg
Shaped by ancient volcanoes and surrounded by the Atlantic, the Azores archipelago is a holiday destination unlike any other. Photograph: Mauricio Abreu/Corbis
The emerald green islands of the Azores are an astonishing place to visit. Once thought to be part of the lost continent of Atlantis, these Portuguese islands sit north-west of Madeira in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 932 miles (1,500km) from Europe and 2,485 miles (4,000km) from North America.
Ancient volcanoes gave these islands their shape and form and created extraordinary scenery: moss-draped sinkholes, wide caldera filled with turquoise water, bubbling, sulphurous pits, thermal pools and lush green landscapes. They are a walker's and photographer's paradise.
And it's not just the volcanoes; the sea shapes the islands, too. Sitting astride the migratory whale path across the Atlantic, there are countless opportunities to watch humpback, sperm and minke whales, along with dolphins and sharks, from zodiac boats. The relative remoteness of the islands means there's real charm to rural life, with pretty whitewashed villages and fishing communities living in the same way they have for decades.
When it comes to planning your trip, there are nine islands to choose from. It takes less than four hours to reach the Azores from the UK, with direct flights landing on São Miguel Island from 30 March to 19 October. Flights via Lisbon operate daily year-round. With a mild climate all year, it's always a good time to visit.
Start at São Miguel and aim to spend at least two days there, taking in the thermal pools at Furnas, visiting pretty fishing villages and exploring the waterfalls and caldera in the north-west of the island. Santa Maria is the next closest island to Sao Miguel: flatter and warmer, it has the best white sand beach on the archipelago and is just a 30-minute flight away.
If the unique volcanic landscape has piqued your curiosity, Terceira is a good island to visit, with its deep caves, lava tubes and lush green meadows surrounded by towering volcanic mountains. It, along with Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial, forms the central group of islands. São Jorge is great hiking territory and Pico is home to the highest mountain in Portugal along with Unesco-listed vineyards. São Miguel and Faial are the best places to go whale watching in the Azores.
To the west of these islands lie Flores and Corvo, the most outlying group. Flores has miles of hydrangea hedges and meadows of flowers with waterfalls from its high mountains, while Corvo has one settlement with whitewashed cottages and an immense caldera in its centre.
It only takes about an hour or so to hop from one island to the next by air, and half an hour by boat between Faial and Pico, making island-hopping a great way to explore. Sunvil Discovery is one of the leading promoters of responsible tourism on these unique islands and can help you plan and book the perfect Azores holiday.
source (http://www.theguardian.com/visit-the-azores/the-azores-europes-wildest-destination)