Travel Guide
Move Over Lisbon! These Breathtaking Portuguese Islands Are Soaring In Popularity With American Travelers
Aug
Last Updated
Portugal has soared in recognition and is now a journey hotspot. But whereas Lisbon is heaving, there are nonetheless some locations you may go to to flee the crowds.
The Azores are generally known as ‘the Hawaii of Europe’, and it takes only one glimpse at their lush greenery and unimaginable seashores to know why.
You’ll be amazed on the lovely riot of colours right here.
477,000 vacationers visited the Azores in June alone. The greatest supply of these vacationers? The United States of America!
19.7% of tourists within the Azores had been from the U.S.
Here’s why these breathtaking Portuguese islands are hovering in recognition with American vacationers:
Easy To Access From The U.S.
The Azores are a volcanic island chain 1,400 km (870 miles) west of Lisbon, midway throughout the Atlantic between Portugal and the U.S.
So proximity is one issue within the recognition of the Azores amongst U.S. vacationers.
This makes flight time cheap and makes flights accessible.
You can fly on to Ponta Delgada (PDL) – the primary airport for the islands – from New York and Boston.
Flying from Boston for per week from October 4 to October 11 with Azores Airlines will value $1,625 for a spherical journey and the flight time is 5 hours outbound and 5 hours 40 minutes inbound.
It is less expensive to fly from New York, with flights on the identical dates costing $596 for a round trip with Azores Airlines. The flight time is 5 hours 55 outbound and 6 hours 5 minutes on the return leg.
When you attain the islands, top-of-the-line methods to get round is to rent a automobile.
Don’t fear if you wish to discover greater than one of many 9 principal islands as a part of your journey. On some routes, together with essentially the most well-known Pico–Faial–São Jorge triangle, you may take your rent automobile on the ferry.
Explore The Great Outdoors
The Azores is a superb trip vacation spot for outdoorsy varieties.
Walking, mountain climbing, climbing—if immersing your self within the native atmosphere is your thought of the right trip, then that is the place for you!
The tallest mountain in Portugal, Mount Pico, is situated within the Azores and attracts critical climbers.
However, mountain climbing is the primary vacationer attraction right here: the entire islands have their very own mountain climbing trails.
And mountain climbing is the easiest way to see the volcanic lagoons that they islands are most well-known for.
Some of the most effective mountain climbing trails embrace the Caldeirão path which presents epic views and the Agrião Trail, which takes you to one of many islands most epic waterfalls.
Another nice out of doors pursuit right here is spending time on the seashore.
This isn’t an apparent vacation spot for those who’re in search of a typical fly-and-flop trip. But that doesn’t imply you received’t discover lovely seashores within the Azores.
There are some black sand seashores, and a few spots the place locals leap into the ocean from the rugged rocks of the island itself.
One in style spot is Fajã Grande on the west coast of Flores Island.
Many locals have second houses right here in the summertime. The seashore itself is a small patch of black sand, however the amenities are wonderful, and it is a protected spot for ocean swimming.
The hottest seashores on the islands is Praia dos Mosteiros which is simply 30km from Ponta Delgada.
Local surfers hang around right here, and that is one other black sand seashore which solely provides drama to its rugged look.
This is just for skilled surfers, although. If you surf as badly as me, then go away your board behind and pack your swimmers as an alternative as a result of the waves crash onto rocks right here.
Incredible Animal Encounters
The Azores can also be an ideal place to expertise unimaginable animal encounters.
One of essentially the most unimaginable and iconic of those is the possibility to take a whale-watching tour. Futurismo Azures Adventures presents half-day journeys to see these majestic creatures from Ponta Delgada.
The journey prices 65 euros ($71) per individual.
This tour firm boasts a 99% tour sighting success charge and can give you one other journey for those who do not see a cetacean throughout your tour.
While there’s distinctive hen and plants on the islands, it’s what lies within the waters round them that’s most enjoyable to animal lovers.
Sperm whales, blue whales, fin whales, beaked whales, pilot whales, dolphins, loggerhead turtles and manta rays all name the waters across the Azores house.
So top-of-the-line issues you are able to do for those who’re visiting the islands is to get on a ship and go in search of them!
Because of this abudance of marine life, snorkeling and scuba diving are additionally in style within the Azores. CW Azores offer 2 hour snorkeling tours from Pico for 49 euros ($54) per individual.
Although dearer at 175 euros ($192) per individual, you can too take a full-day snorkeling tour to the Princess Alice web site.
This is called top-of-the-line dive websites on this planet and is situated 70km to the south of Pico island.
You can snorkel with an abundance of Manta and Mobulas rays right here, an distinctive expertise not like something you’ll discover elsewhere.
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