hkskyline's 2025 in the AZORES

hkskyline · #1 Posted **Jan 27, 2026, 10:50 AM**

Just 2 hours by plane from Lisbon, the Azores is a good summer getaway as mass tourism has yet to discover its greatness, which include plenty of mountain scenery, good hikes, and sea views. The dining scene is also pretty good with fresh seafood and even a locally-produced green tea to try.

I visited for 2 weeks during summer 2025 and it was only enough to cover a subset of islands - 4 in total. The weather was absolutely wonderful with only a small handful of rainy days, which made going from one island to another relatively straight forward using domestic flights and ferries with minimal delays. Despite its southerly location, it was surprisingly cool and refreshing.

Let's start with the first and biggest island, Sao Miguel, which stretches 62km long and 15km wide.

Lagoa do Fogo is geographically in the middle of the island and just northeast of Ponta Delgada. The area is a collapsed volcano formed about 15,000 years ago, making it the youngest and smallest caldera on the island, with the lake at 575m above sea level.

Ponta Delgada is the largest town and has the typical urban atmosphere. There is a nice harbor, grand churches, and narrow streets with lots of interesting shops.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

Murphy de la Sucre · #2 Posted **Jan 28, 2026, 12:54 AM**

like that township vibe from above in 4th pic

202_Cyclist · #3 Posted **Jan 28, 2026, 1:57 AM**

Nice photos. We went to the Azores in 2019 when our son was about seven months old. We visited Sao Miguel and Terceira. They were stunningly beautiful. I remember the contrasts of the islands. On Sao Miguel, there a pineapple farm and a tea plantation and on the other side of the island by the lakes, it feels like the Pacific Northwest rainforest.

mrnyc · #4 Posted **Jan 28, 2026, 7:05 PM**

people that i know that go yachting like to head out here, i guess its considered quite a boaters paradise destination.

ColDayMan · #5 Posted **Jan 30, 2026, 3:38 AM**

Added to my list. Thanks.

hkskyline · #6 Posted **Jan 30, 2026, 9:02 AM**

Located uphill on the western part of the island, Sete Cidades is a protected area around a volcano caldera stretching over 5km in diameter, which was formed some 36,000 years ago. There are a few viewpoints and hikes up here. I reached Vista do Rei, named after a royal visit in 1901.

The Monte Palace Hotel's ruins are a huge contrast to the beautiful views. The luxury hotel had 88 rooms over 5 floors but lasted only 18 months, closing in 1990 due to financial difficulties. At the time, the Azores were not a popular international tourist destination and the hotel sat at a remote location that was unattractive as visitors, who had to navigate poorly-maintained roads.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #7 Posted **Feb 2, 2026, 10:35 AM**

Vila Franca do Campo is a historic town that served as the island's first capital before Ponta Delgada. Today, it has a quiet town centre and lovely sea views with a long stretch of coast. Just offshore are remnants of a submerged volcano with a circular natural lake, attracting swimmers and divers.

With a car, it was a winding way along narrow roads up the hill to the Nossa Senhora da Paz Chapel. Built in the 16th century and rebuilt in 1764, the church is accessible by a long staircase from more recent times that represents 2/3 of the rosary.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #8 Posted **Feb 9, 2026, 9:05 AM**

I was a bit surprised the Azores has its own tea plantation. Founded in 1883, Gorreana is the oldest tea factory in Europe that is still operating. Thanks to a mild, frost-free, and rainy climate as well as volcanic soils, green and black tea can be produced here.

How tea reached the Azores is a matter of debate. One story says a Portuguese commander brought it from Brazil, while another said it came from 2 Chinese men who visited in 1878. Tea became a popular commodity here with 62 plantations at the boom's height, with this plantation still family-owned and producing 30-40 tons a year.

Do venture inside the building across the street to see their factory equipment. During the harvest, the shoots of the tea plant are gathered when it has 3 leaves, then they are sent to the factory to produce black or green tea.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #9 Posted **Feb 10, 2026, 9:58 AM**

Continuing east, I reached the Miradouro do Pico do Ferro, which sits at an altitude of 567m. After a short hike up from the parking lot on a paved path, the scenery opened up and in front of us was the Lagoa das Furnas. The lake sits at around 280m above sea level.

Heading back downhill, after paying a small charge to park, I walked out to the lake to look for the cooking holes powered by volcanic steam. This is where cozido is made, a traditional stew of meat and vegetables cooked underground for special events. Chefs first place the different cuts of meat and vegetables into a pot very early in the morning, then place it into a 1m-deep hole to cook at around 100C for 6-8 hours.

I then tried it out at the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel. After the initial huge plate, staff returned asking if I wanted more. It seems to be all you can eat!

Behind it is the Parque Terra Nostra to walk off that heavy meal. The botanical gardens display some 1800 species of plants and also has a large outdoor thermal pool where you can take a soak in its iron-rich waters.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #10 Posted **Feb 14, 2026, 8:04 AM**

For a free panoramic view of Ponta Delgada's city centre and coastline, head up the Bell Tower, which is part of Town Hall. Built in 1724, it is an easy climb of over 100 steps to an open platform at 30m high.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #11 Posted **Feb 18, 2026, 10:14 AM**

The Piscina Natural da Ponta da Ferraria is a natural bathing pool where the thermal spring mixes with salt water from the sea, creating a warm and comfortable environment for a soak. Depending on the tide level, the water temperature will fluctuate throughout the day.

It's a steep walk down and I didn't want to risk taking the car down and not being able to get it back up the steep road.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

Triple_Sim · #12 Posted **Feb 19, 2026, 9:09 PM**

Really nice! It's not on most tourists' list for an European tour but it probably should

Thanks for sharing.

hkskyline · #13 Posted **Feb 22, 2026, 11:03 AM**

Back in Ponta Delgada, the Igreja Matriz de Sao Sebastiao is the city's main parish church, dating from the early 16th century.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #14 Posted **Feb 25, 2026, 8:47 AM**

After a few days on Sao Miguel, I flew to Faial to explore Horta's historic centre. Named after the island's first governor Josse van Huerter from the 15th century, Horta has long served as a major trading post and port. When Mark Twain visited in 1867, he remarked "no village could look prettier or more attractive."

Santissimo Salvador Church was built in the 17th century and became Horta's main church in 1825.

Jardim da Praca da Republica sits on a former convent and named after the Portuguese republic's establishment in 1910. What we see today is a re-design from the 1930s with a red and white bandstand, small lake, and rocks.

Heading uphill, I soon reached the Clock Tower, which was built in the early 16th century as part of the city's main church. It remained after the church was demolished in 1825.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #15 Posted **Feb 27, 2026, 9:37 AM**

As the English settlements in the New World grew, Horta became a busy port as it was the only safe anchorage harbour in the Azores. Ships arrived in abundant numbers to resupply and refuel.

The marina is decorated with paintings by crews from visiting boats, a tradition that is believed to bring protection on its return. Over 1200 vessels call here every year on their transatlantic journeys.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #16 Posted **Mar 6, 2026, 10:22 AM**

Located on the western edge of the island, Capelinhos volcano erupted in 1957-8, creating 2.5 sq km of new land as the lava entered the sea and solidified. This created the barren landscape of black sand we see today, a huge contrast to the green fields that I've seen so far on the trip. The eruption was so significant that it led to a wave of Azoreans leaving the islands. The US passed the Azorean Refugee Act in 1958 and a huge wave of immigration to the US and Canada took place.

The underground interpretation centre details the event vividly, located away from view so not to disturb the landscape.

The lighthouse survived the eruption and as part of your ticket, you can climb up for a better view of the area and appreciate nature's power.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #17 Posted **Mar 13, 2026, 4:42 PM**

Just a short walk from the marina is Porto Pim, a protected bay that was home to a whale processing factory that produced oil for export. Whaling was a huge industry in the Azores long ago, with sperm whales caught in area waters to be processed with advanced imported machinery in this factory.

The English name for sperm whale was given when the first people that opened the whale's head saw oil inside and thought it was the creature's sperm.

The factory was powered by steam and operated for 30 years until 1974, producing 44,000 barrels of oil in total. The oil was good fuel for lamps and industrial applications, such as machinery lubricant, paint drier, and leather tanning. Until the 1940s, oil was the only product from the Azores' whaling industry. This factory made it possilble to use the meat, bones, and blood as well.

Using wood from the neighbouring island of Pico, the 2 boilers produced steam to power the factory's machinery, including cookers for blubber and bones, meat dryer, and more.

4 cookers were used to extract oil from the blubber, a process that takes about 8 hours. The melted oil goes into a storage tank underneath.

The meat is transported by wheelbarrow into the grinder, then to the cooker, drier, and finally the mill. These products are rich in proteins, so are good fertilizers.

While whales are not hunted in this part of the Atlantic today, tourists go whale-watching instead with high probability of catching a glimpse. Their shops are all along the marina with various tours available.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #18 Posted **Mar 17, 2026, 7:03 PM**

Time to head to the 3rd island on my trip.

Pico has some unique vineyards with black basalt used to wall around their vines to protect them from the wind and sea water. These corrals stretch almost 1000 hectares on the west coast of the island, and you can walk through a lot of these on designated paths. Wine production on Pico peaked in the 19th century but has since declined due to plant disease and desertification.

This type of farming has origins going back to the 15th century, and was designated UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #19 Posted **Mar 22, 2026, 10:22 AM**

A rental car is a must to explore Pico, especially if you plan to hike the volcano because the visitor's centre where the hike starts is almost half way up already and you'll need your own wheels to get there.

Let's start with Lajido de Santa Luzia on the north coast just a short drive out of Madalena. Eruptions have created black rocks that have been used as construction materials for field enclosures and houses.

Continuing east, there are plenty of sea views and I stopped at a few for photography breaks before crossing the island. That's Sao Jorge on the other side, my next island.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm

hkskyline · #20 Posted **Mar 29, 2026, 5:15 PM**

Crossing from Pico's north to southern coast, I passed by Lagoa do Capitao, a small lake at 790m above sea level that is supposed to offer a beautiful reflection of the volcano. Unfortunately, the clouds have rolled in and you can't see the mountain top anymore. Weather conditions are unpredictable up there. Even though it could be sunny by the coast, it could be cloudy at the top.

It's a short crossing behind the volcano to the island's southern coast, where the coastal road weaves through small towns and there are plenty of sea views. I had a lunch break in Silveira.

The easternmost point on the south coast I'll reach today is Miradouro do Arrife just before Ribeiras, then it's a long drive back to Madalena.

It's an easy drive with little traffic past several small towns with lookout points to stop for a quick look.

More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/azores.htm