TRAVEL
THE AZORES The Azores are best known for whale and dolphin watching but if you want to get the most out of your visit, pack your hiking boots! These enchanting nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic, an autonomous region of Portugal, have more than sixty marked hiking trails (including a lava trail to Mount Pico, one of the highest mountains in Portugal). Pristine cerulean, crater-shaped lakes are a clue to the Azores volcanic history. Forests of laurel and cedar, protected areas, and waters warmed by the Gulf Stream make this archipelago a treasure for those who seek the vibrancy and solace of nature.
“This is high on my bucket list – and not just because of the direct flight from Toronto.” Said Soloman, “The climate makes it appealing for active travelers all year round!” The Azores has a mild year-round climate that never gets very hot or cold. Summer weather is usually around 25 degrees Celsius, perfect for activities like surfing or deep-sea fishing. Sustainable tourism is a focus in the Azores — another great reason to choose this exotic archipelago as your next vacation destination.
Adventurous spirit? Cave systems, hot springs, and lava-covered patches of land await.
Try canyoning! Swim with river currents, become one with a waterfall during a downward rappel, and jump off a seventeen-foot-high rock into a crystal-clear pool (leave your fear of heights at home!). Take a diving excursion and set your sights on barracuda, loggerhead turtles, lobsters, underwater cliffs, and shipwrecks. Water not your thing? Take a bike ride around a volcanic crater! On Sao Miguel, charming towns abound. Stop by the Gorreana Tea Plantation, the oldest tea plantation in Europe. Follow it up with local cuisine – Cozido, a stew of meat and vegetables (including pig’s ear) slow- cooked underground via thermal heat. Recharge with a dip in the mystical orange thermal pool at Terra Nostra. Some of the rarest bird species in Europe, the Azores bullfinch and the Monteiro’s storm petrel, make birdwatching a delight. When the sun begins its gentle descent, snuggle your sweetheart at the most famous viewpoint of the Azores — Miradouro da Boca do Inferno, overlooking the various lakes and craters of Sete Cidades.
So many fabulous choices! If it’s adventure you seek, or solace in nature, you’ve got plenty of options! Slide or rappel into canyons, explore ravishing waterfalls, relax in a thermal pool, paddle around age-old shipwrecks, hike up a tall mountain, or ride with a herd of Icelandic horses. Follow up the fun with delicious local cuisine and perhaps the relaxing warmth of a pleasant fire. Life is to be lived. Take a chance and travel off the beaten path. Your soul will thank you.
top left: Hot thermal springs in Furnas Village, Sao Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal top right: Sete Cidates, Portugal bottom: Cave in the Azores
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www.pei-living.ca FALL 2022/WINTER 2023
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