About

Welcome to The Azores, an English travel guide to all nine islands of the Azores, written by someone who grew up there.

I'm Michael, and I'm from Terceira. The Azores are nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic, and no two are alike. Most visitors only see São Miguel, which is a great start, but the other eight islands are just as rewarding and much less known. This blog is here to help you plan a trip to whichever islands suit you.

What you'll find here:

• Island guides to São Miguel, Terceira, Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa, Flores, Corvo and Santa Maria, and how to choose between them.
• Hikes and nature: crater lakes, volcanic caves, waterfalls, fajãs and Mount Pico, Portugal's highest mountain.
• Hot springs and swimming: thermal pools, natural lava pools and the few sandy beaches the islands have.
• Whale and dolphin watching: when to go and what you might see.
• Culture, festivals and food: Holy Spirit festivals, Terceira's rope bullfights, alcatra, cozido, local cheese and wine.
• Practical planning: flights, inter-island ferries, car hire, weather and when to visit.

Every guide is written in plain English and checked against official and local sources before it's published. The Azores weather changes fast, and so do ferry schedules, opening hours and prices, so always confirm the latest details with the operator or official source before you travel.

If you're heading to Terceira, you can also find island information on my other site, Fly Terceira.

Have a question, a correction or a place you think we should cover? Use the Contact page. I'd love to hear from you.

Boa viagem!
— Michael, The Azores