Articles & Guides – Azores Travel Blog

Articles & Guides

Azores vs Madeira vs Canary Islands: Which Is Best for Your Trip?

February 18, 2026 · By Antonio Coelho

The Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands are all volcanic Atlantic destinations, but they suit very different vacations. The Azores are strongest for travelers who want whale watching, crater lakes, geothermal landscapes and the option to combine several distinct islands. Madeira is especially strong for structured hiking, gardens, dramatic mountain scenery and an easier one-island […]

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Articles & Guides

Why the Azores Look Like Jurassic Park: 10 Real Places to See

August 13, 2025 · By Antonio Coelho

The Azores can look uncannily like a real-world Jurassic Park: mist sliding across volcanic ridges, giant ferns hanging over ravines, crater lakes filling old calderas, waterfalls spilling down dark cliffs and geothermal steam rising through green valleys. The resemblance is cinematic—but the geology and ecology are real. There is also a genuine pop-culture footnote behind […]

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Articles & Guides

First Time in the Azores: The Essential Trip Planning Guide

April 23, 2025 · By Eunice Costa

Planning a first trip to the Azores is easier once you understand one thing: the archipelago is not a single destination. It is a group of nine islands, and the best first vacation depends on how much time you have, whether you want to drive or be guided, and how many island changes you are […]

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Adventure & Fun

Scuba Diving in the Azores: Best Dive Sites, Islands & Planning

April 4, 2025 · By Antonio Coelho

Last reviewed: September 2026. Scuba diving in the Azores is shaped by the same volcanic geography that defines the islands above water: lava reefs, walls, caves, wrecks, offshore banks and seamounts surrounded by deep Atlantic water. The best dive trip depends on your certification, recent experience, tolerance for current and boat time, and whether your […]

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Adventure & Fun

Azores Volcano Tours: Best Volcanic Sites, Caves & Hikes

March 14, 2025 · By Antonio Coelho

Last reviewed: September 2026. Volcano tours in the Azores are not about standing beside an erupting cone. They are about exploring the landscapes left by volcanism: vast calderas, crater lakes, fumaroles, geothermal springs, lava tubes, young ash fields and Portugal’s highest mountain. For a first volcanic-focused trip, São Miguel offers the greatest variety in one […]

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Travel & Tours

Azores Honeymoon: Best Islands, Romantic Experiences & Trip Planning

March 5, 2025 · By Eunice Costa

An Azores honeymoon is a strong choice for couples who want dramatic scenery, thermal pools, coastal drives, food and wine, whale watching and outdoor experiences rather than a conventional all-inclusive beach resort. The islands can work equally well for a quiet one-island escape or a multi-island honeymoon with contrasting landscapes. For most first-time couples, São […]

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Fauna & Flora

Dolphin Watching in the Azores: Best Time, Species & Swimming Rules

January 16, 2025 · By Eunice Costa

Last reviewed: September 2026. Dolphin watching in the Azores can mean two very different experiences: observing wild dolphins from a licensed boat, or joining a regulated open-ocean swim when the species, sea conditions and animal behavior allow it. Both take place with free-ranging wildlife, so the most important expectation is simple: the dolphins decide whether […]

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Articles & Guides

Azores vs Hawaii: 12 Differences, Similarities & Which to Choose

January 16, 2025 · By Antonio Coelho

The Azores are often described in travel writing as the “Hawaii of Europe.” The comparison makes sense at first glance: both are green volcanic archipelagos with dramatic coastlines, whale watching, surfing, hiking and black-sand beaches. But they are not interchangeable destinations. The most useful way to compare the Azores vs Hawaii is to ask what […]

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Places & Exploring

The 8 Best Lakes and Lagoons to Visit in the Azores Islands

January 3, 2025 · By Eunice Costa

The Azores are famous for volcanic crater lakes, but the experience changes dramatically from one island—and one lake—to another. On São Miguel, Sete Cidades, Furnas and Lagoa do Fogo are the headline landscapes. Smaller upland lakes add quieter stops, while Pico, Flores and Corvo show how different the archipelago’s lake country becomes beyond São Miguel. […]

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Travel & Tours

7-Day São Miguel Itinerary: One Week in the Azores

November 15, 2024 · By Eunice Costa

One week on São Miguel is enough time to experience the island’s defining landscapes without turning every day into a race. This 7-day São Miguel itinerary combines Ponta Delgada, Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo, Furnas, the north and east coasts, plus one flexible day for whale watching, hiking or a slower coastal day. The itinerary […]

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