The Azores, Portugal

By Ashley Rudolph

A visit to The Azores feels like venturing into a fantasy world. You're immediately greeted by sweeping mountains, mythical lakes, lush greens, and random pockets of steam rising from the ground. I didn't even know The Azores existed until early 2016! If you're unfamiliar with them, The Azores are a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal. They're conveniently located from the East Coast and are only a 4.5 hour flight from Boston! I'm not much of an adventure traveller, but if that's your thing - you'll love The Azores. Even so, I had a great time in the few days I spent there exploring Furnas (in Sao Miguel), relaxing, eating, wine-ing, and lounging in the thermal pool. Here's what I loved about my 3 days in The Azores!

What to do

I stayed in Furnas in Sao Miguel but there are at least a handful of other islands (and towns) to visit in the Azores. I love that the Azores haven't yet been spoiled by tourism; don't expect long lines or crowds for popular attractions or restaurants. It's the perfect destination for peak relaxation. Here are my top 6 things to do in Sao Miguel!

Go hiking in Furnas. We spent about 3 hours exploring the town and its natural hot springs. What I loved is that you can choose your own adventure and carve out your own path - from easy to more challenging hikes. Tip: The springs are beautiful but the strong sulfur smell takes a little getting used to.
Relax in a thermal spring. If you're in Furnas - there are public ones (Dona Beija is popular) but the thermal pools (indoor and outdoor) at Furnas Boutique Hotel were awesome (and you don't have to worry about the iron staining your clothes!). The outdoor pool has a beautiful view of the surrounding area and the indoor one felt like a private retreat. I ended up carving out time daily to jump into both pools and since they're heated it didn't even matter that the weather was on the cooler side (mid 60s to low 70s).
Go Whale Watching. I was *super excited* to go whale watching on this trip, The Azores is known for whale watching, but unfortunately - our boat was canceled due to rainy weather! Either way, the team at Futurismo was super knowledgable and accommodating and if I visit again, I'd give it another shot - on a sunny day of course :)
See Caldeira das Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo. The "Twin Lakes" and the "Fire Lake" are two must sees in The Azores. We booked our whale watching and Lagoa do Fogo tour on the only day of our trip where it rained nonstop, so the Fire Lake was completely covered in thick fog. When the sun came out, we stopped in Ribiera Grande and visited a few shops (where we tasted special Azorean liqueurs) and ended at Caldeira Velha (a beautiful waterfall with warm pools surrounded by what looked like a jungle).
Try Cozido das Furnas. Cozido is a meat and vegetable stew cooked underground by the volcanic steam of the hot springs. I didn't know what to expect but it was insanely delicious. I also loved dining at the Terra Nostra Garden hotel; the floor to ceiling windows makes it truly feel like you're dining right in their private botanic gardens/tropical forest.
Stay at a boutique hotel. We stayed at Furnas Boutique Hotel and I loved the serenity, their spa, restaurant, and indoor and outdoor thermal pools. The other popular boutique hotel in Furnas is Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, with a botanical garden on site.