Places & Exploring – Azores Travel Blog

Places & Exploring

One Day in Ponta Delgada from a Cruise Ship: A Self-Guided Walking Itinerary

September 11, 2026 · By Antonio Coelho

This guide began with a thoughtful note from an Azores.com reader. He and his wife would have only one day in Ponta Delgada during an October cruise. Rather than spend their entire port call on a bus crossing São Miguel, they wanted to walk around the city in the morning, visit the food market and […]

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Adventure & Fun

Azores Natural Pools: Tides, Safety & Best Spots

July 15, 2026 · By Eunice Costa

The Azores are full of volcanic swimming pools, sheltered lava-rock coves and ocean bathing areas, but choosing where to swim is about more than finding the prettiest spot. Tide, swell, wind, access, lifeguard cover and current water conditions can turn the same pool from inviting to unsafe within hours. This guide helps you choose an […]

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Articles & Guides

Complete Guide to São Miguel, Azores

May 15, 2026 · By Antonio Coelho

Volcanoes, Crater Lakes, Hot Springs, and the Green Island of Portugal São Miguel is the largest and most diverse island in the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal located in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. Known as “The Green Island,” São Miguel is famous for its volcanic landscapes, crater lakes, lush forests, geothermal […]

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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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Adventure & Fun

How to Plan Your Canyoning Adventure in the Azores

November 11, 2025 · By Antonio Coelho

Canyoning in the Azores takes you inside the islands’ volcanic landscapes rather than simply past them. A guided descent may combine walking through a stream, scrambling over wet rock, swimming across natural pools, sliding down smooth channels and rappelling beside waterfalls. The exact mix depends on the route, recent rain and the participants’ experience. For […]

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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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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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