It has been suggested that human presence on the Azores Islands could date back 2, years ago. However, there has been no conclusive evidence that human occupation on the islands precedes the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century. The Europeans at least knew of the islands as early as the 14th century, and they did appear in maps and sea voyage accounts.
Before the Portuguese could settle on the islands, they brought in sheep that would provide food for future settlers. The Portuguese Civil War in the early 19th century had a great impact on the Azores. When Liberals won against the monarchists, they made Terceira Island their new headquarters.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the archipelago experienced tremendous growth, including industry establishment and the introduction of more new crops. In , the archipelago became a Portuguese Autonomous Region. The Azores Archipelago is one of two Portuguese autonomous regions. It has its own government and legislature, with governmental organs including executive and legislative assemblies.
The Legislative Assembly comprises 57 elected deputies who serve a 4-year term. The pub is supposed to have some good food options on the menu but you better make reservations if you want to get a chance at trying them. Bordering Horta on the south-side is this picturesque bay with a very photogenic black sandy beach. A former whaling factory at the foot of Monte da Guia has been transformed into a museum about whaling. This lookout offers a great view of Horta on one side, and you can see the beach of Almoxarife on the other side.
If you are looking for more amazing things to do on Faial, click here. This is the only city worth mentioning and the only location on the island where you have a choice of pubs and restaurants. We stayed in Lofts Azul Pastel. The hotel is slightly outside Horta. We had a spacious room with a sitting area and kitchenette. From our room, we could see the Caldeira on one side and the ocean on the other side. Especially the hike around the Caldeira and the rocky landscape of the Capelinhos are highly recommended.
Here you can find more fun things to do on Faial island. This long and narrow island is also part of the central islands of the Azores. It lies at about one-and-a-half hours by boat from Pico Island.
The north side of the island is characterized by rugged, steep mountainsides, which means that the largest cities if you can call them that way, are all located on the south side of the island. There are several lagoons on the north coast. It is a paradise for birdwatchers, but these serene locations are also great for just unwinding. You can taste them in some of the restaurants on the island. Belgians once started producing cheese near Topo.
Nowadays, many different varieties are made. This is a small island where you can spot a lot of seabirds. This accommodation is located on an organic farm and consists of 6 detached bungalows. Guests are free to pick everything on the farm and use it to prepare lunch or dinner in the kitchen or on the barbecue.
There is no real breakfast provided but there is home-made bread and home-made jam available and you can also bake an egg. Thanks to the shared kitchen and living area this is a great place for those who want to socialize with other travelers. This beautiful crater lake is the highest on the island. We visited it at sunset on a clear day, and the glow of the setting sun made it a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
This hike starts near Praia. You can check beforehand whether it is worthwhile driving to the top. The owner thought this was a fantastic spot for a hotel, but apparently, his spatial planning was better than his financial planning as the hotel went bankrupt after a year. You can stop in the car park along the main road, but you can also take your car down a dirt road opposite the car park until this road eventually terminates in another small car park.
It is a 10 to minute walk from the main road to this car park at the end of the dirt road. From here, steps lead up to the viewpoint. The climate of the Azores is particularly suited for growing tea. At 32 acres, the tea plantation is relatively small. Everything here is small-scale and the thee is really produced by loving hands. The Azores are the place to be to see the largest mammals on earth.
Here you can spot whales all year round. Some species stay around. Some other species are only around for certain months of the year when their migration brings them past the Azores. There are viewpoints on the island from where you can spot the whales, but if you want to see a whale up close, it is recommended you book an organized tour. The tours are canceled if the weather is bad. Due to the unpredictable weather in the Azores, we advise you not to wait until the last day to book a tour.
Check prices and availability: Overview Whale watching tours. Here you can read the review of the whale watching tour we booked.
In the middle of the jungle-like nature, you can relax in the hot water while looking out on a waterfall. We passed by here three times at different hours of the day, and it was incredibly busy every time.
As a busy pool full of other tourists is not our idea of relaxation, we went for a dive in the Terra Nostra baths in Furnas instead.
If you are planning to go to Caldeira Velha, it is easily combined with a visit to Lagoa do Fogo. Furnas has a lot to offer. Therefore we recommend you stay here for at least a few days if you can. First, there is the Lagoa das Furnas, a beautiful, stretched crater lake. Beside the lake is the Caldeiras da Lagoa das Furnas. This is where they prepare the local specialty Cozida das Furnas in pits in the gound. You can taste this dish in several of the restaurants in town, but you need to order it in advance.
Furnas is known for its thermal baths. There are several options. The ultimate comfort is to stay in a thermal spa hotel, such as the excellent Furnas Boutique Hotel. Not cheap, but we definitely think it was worth it.
Another option is to visit one of the public baths. The Parque Terra Nostra is a beautiful park where you can enjoy a wonderful walk before or after your bath. Right outside Furnas, you can view a number of other geysers, the Recinto das Caldeiras.
We will have to rely on what others say about this place, as the weather was dreadful and rainy when we were here. There are several picturesque waterfalls waiting to be discovered. Some of them are just next to the road. Others lie in the middle of lush nature and are the cherry on top of the cake of an already wonderful walk. Our number 1 was this waterfall near the beach of Moinhos. There is no signpost, which adds to the charm, as it is not yet discovered by tourists. We were completely alone, and that gave us an opportunity to splash into the water, a unique experience!
It is not hard to find the park, as the entrance is marked by a beautiful waterfall right next to the road. However, this is only one of three waterfalls inside this park. So if you have time, park the car, put on your hiking boots, and go see the other two cascades. The Salto do Prego lies hidden in the woods, but the road there is nearly as pretty as the waterfall itself. Another positive point is that the trail is a loop. On the way back, you pass the fairytale abandoned village of Sanguinho, after which you are treated to a spectacular view of Faial da Terra, where the trail starts and ends.
We were lucky to have the place to ourselves for the first minutes of our visit. Afterward, there was a constant flow of tourists coming and going. The charm of this waterfall is somewhat diminished by the power station located at the foot of it. In Furnas, you can relax in the hot water baths and it is a great base to explore the rough east coast of the island.
Ponta Delgada offers a wider choice of restaurants and is better positioned to visit other parts of the island. If you are looking for great Ponta Delgada Airbnbs, click here. If you prefer hotels, take a look at our suggestions below. We stayed in the Furnas Boutique hotel.
You start the day with a delicious breakfast on the pleasant terrace. After a long day, you can relax in the hotel thermal pools, the sauna, and the steam bath.
Casa do Contador is right in the center of Ponta Delgada. You always have to choose and we decided to keep these for a future visit. The Azores is an archipelago of nine islands located in the north Atlantic ocean, about 2 hours from Europe and 5 from North America. Apart from international airports of Santa Maria, Ponta Delgada, and Angra do Heroismo, there are flights to the islands operated by the regional airline TAP Air Portugal and ferry boats between the islands.
Even the blase visitor to the Azores will be touched by the sapphire blue and emerald green lakes, fertile prairies, volcanic cones and craters, colorful hydrangeas and azaleas, 15th-century churches, and majestic manor houses. Offers excellent water sports facilities. Sao Miguel island is the biggest of all Azores islands.
Special reference to the forts of Sao Sebastiao and Sao Joao Baptista 16thth-centuries ; the palaces of the Bettencourts Baroque and of the Capitaes-Generais; the Cathedral, with its silver altar front and treasure; the churches of Colegio dos Jesuitas, Sao Goncalo and Nossa Senhora da Conceicao 17th-century ; the churches of Misericordia and Nossa Senhora da Guia 18th-century, the latter encloses the Angra Museum.
In Santa Cruz da Graciosa you will find ancient streets and manor-houses, a beautiful mother-church 16thth centuries , Santo Cristo Church 16th century , Cruz da Barra Manueline and Ethnographic House.
In the Furna do Enxofre, dazzling sights and a vaulted cave over an underground lake between 11 am and 2 pm the sunlight filters in. You must also visit Guadalupe and its Baroque church, Luz and Praia typical windmills.
Faial is one of the favorite central islands in the Azores. In Horta, the famous yacht harbor, look at the beautiful tiles and gilded carvings in the 17th and 18th century churches of Sao Salvador, Nossa Senhora do Carmo and Sao Francisco. Pico features the highest mountain in the Azores and Portugal. Owes its name to the ft high volcanic cone. Velas, with its fishing port, is the main town.
The smallest of all Azores islands and a peaceful sanctuary. In Caldeirao enormous volcanic crater , there are two lakes with nine small islands, just like the archipelago.
The Capelinhos Volcano that surged up from the seabed off Faial in is one of the best documented sites in the world. Azoreans use the thermal heat to slow-cook their traditional cozido , a stew of meat and vegetables, under the ground.
At ft m , Mt. Fans of adventure sports might find themselves paralyzed by indecision, such is the choice on offer. The many waterfalls cascading into ravines make for world-class canyoning. The Azores have also hosted a paragliding festival for the past 20 years. Budget carriers Ryanair and easyJet shook up the local industry by introducing flights to the Azores in Azores Airlines runs daily flights between the islands.
Alternatively, you can explore them all in leisurely fashion by ship with Atlanticoline. James Kay traveled to the Azores with support from Visit Azores. Lonely Planet contributors do not accept freebies in exchange for positive coverage. With more than suggestions for destinations across Europe and the best time of year to experience them, this book is the ultimate trip planner for every month of the year.
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