Floating roughly 930 miles west of mainland Portugal, the Azores have earned a nickname as the Hawaii of Europe, and one look at their volcanic craters, emerald pastures and wave-battered coastlines explains why. The nine islands fall into three groups, with São Miguel the largest and most visited. For East Coasters, the trip is surprisingly easy: direct flights from cities like New York and Boston take under five hours.
São Miguel's signature view is Sete Cidades, a pair of lakes, one green and one blue, cradled in a vast caldera. Viewpoints such as Vista do Rei show them off, while a short walk to Boca do Inferno earns an even higher perch. Clouds roll in quickly, so keep your schedule loose and be ready to return when the sky clears.
- Soak at Termas da Ferraria, where hot springs mix with the Atlantic; low tide is the sweet spot.
- Tour Gorreana, billed as Europe's oldest tea plantation, and sip a cup in its tea room.
- Head out whale watching between April and October.
- Hike to the Salto do Prego waterfall through lush, fern-filled forest.
In the Furnas valley, cooks bury pots of cozido in the warm volcanic ground and let the earth simmer the meat-and-vegetable stew for hours; call ahead in the morning, because it sells out. Island-hop to Pico to climb Portugal's highest mountain or explore the Gruta das Torres lava tube, or wander the UNESCO-listed streets of Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira, pausing for a glass of wine grown in black volcanic soil.
Source: Matador Network
