europe's hawaii
Azores - Idyllic Eden
We picked the Azores Islands as our next travel destination as we
enjoy good hotels with excellent food, great hiking areas and lots
of oppoertunities to explore another culture. The Azores are
famous for their year-round somewhat warm weather which is not too
hot as we usually escape the summer heat at home.
So for this week long journey, we have scheduled an itinerary for
three days, to have a little flexibility on the other days to see
what we feel like doing. Come along and see what's in store for
our vacation.
travel itinerary
Three Days on São Miguel
Along the West Coast
Our starting point is Ponta Delgada, so we will begin the tour
by heading north towards Capelas. From there, we will take the
smaller roads close to the coast. It is supposedly quite a
winding road, should this be too much at some point, we can
easily change to the main road
EN 1.
Where to stop
- Morro das Capelas
- Jardim Artur Amorim da Câmara
- Moinho do Pico Vermelho
- Miradouro da Cumeeira
What else?
We will finish the tour around the west coast in Miradouro do Escalvado and enjoy the sunset. From this viewpoint, one can enjoy a beautiful view of São Miguel's west coast.
Along the East Coast
First, we will drive to São Bras where we will leave the main road and again take the coastal route. We will be rewarded with a spectacular viewpoint at the very beginning: Santa Iria. to cross the island in the middle. Instead of choosing the main route EN 1, we will take the smaller roads, close to the coast.
Where to stop
- Tea Plantation Chá Porto Formoso
- Miradouro do Salto da Farinha
- Ribeira dos Caldeirões
- Ponta do Armel
What else?
We will finish the tour around the east coast in Ribeira Quente. After a long day with lots of driving, we will stroll around the town, look for a nice restaurant before heading back to Ponta Delgada.
Lagoa da Furnas
We will drive to the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Algeria, the starting point for this hike. It is an an easy hike around the lake and can be made more challenging, if you include the hike up Pico do Ferro which will reward you with a beautiful view. The additional hike is pretty steep and can be muddy after rain, so be careful.
Facts:
- Starting point: Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Algeria
- Option: Hiking up Pico do Ferro
- Length: 9.9 km / 13.3 km
- Duration: approx. 3 / 4.5 hours
What else?
Wouldn't it be relaxing to go for a swim after that hike? Go ahead and visit the Parque Terra Nostra. The park offers a charming, old pool which is constantly heated to relaxing 38 °C.