Santa Maria, the yellow island of the Azores Archipelago

Back to the Azores series lets fly over almost half of the North Atlantic ocean and read what Nuno has to say about another one of the islands of the Archipelago. Flaps on, landing gear down, it's time to land at Santa Maria :)

Also known as the yellow island Santa Maria is one of the smallest islands and belongs to the eastern group, being the most southern island of the two.


Santa Maria is synonym of beaches and dream landscapes. Cut by deep bays, it has the better beaches in the Azores archipelago and also a good climate with many hours of sun. For those who like sportive holidays the waves are good for surfers, sport sea fishing, windsurf and even scuba diving.

For those who like calm holidays, the suggestion goes to take refreshing and energizing walks through Santa Maria's countryside. Must sees are the island greenly hills and plains without vegetation, the rural sights and countryside life and of course the São Lourenço bay, with it's natural and beautiful big shell form.


Other settlements worthy of a visit are Vila do Porto, Santo Espírito, Anjos and São Pedro. This wonderful route with it's old churches, monasteries and fortresses will for sure be keept in memory for long time.


For those who appreciate food enjoy the fresh fish, the delicious mollusks (lapas and cracas), and the traditional desserts. Although Santa Maria is a small island it has several well kept and delicious secrets...

One final note to where to stay? Since it's very close, if you consider visiting São Miguel too, you can always opt to base your trip at Ponta Delgada. It's a bigger island with more to see and the city is beautiful. Available are several cool hotels in the center like the Azores Atlantico or, for those of you who like historical places, the Camoes Hotel. From Ponta Delgada it's then possible to travel to Santa Maria by plane or boat, for both options same comment - small but beautiful trips ;)

Faial - the Blue island of Azores

As promised let's once again join Nuno and fly across the Atlantic all the way to the island of Fail in Azores. The Archipelago is beautiful and who knows if the promotional campaign "visit Azores flights included" is reinstated...

Throughout last year's entire Winter slow season (from mid October 2010 to March 2011) cheap holidays were almost guaranteed since the flights from Portugal to the islands (for example to the airports of Horta or Ponta Delgada) were free for stays over five days :)

Faial is one of islands in the Azores central group. In English it can be pronounced "Fayal" and it’s known as the Blue Island due to the many hydrangeas fences that can be found on it's countryside. No doubt it’s one of the most charming islands of the nine.


Being the fifth largest island of the archipelago Faial is surrounded by Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira. The most visited place in Faial is a volcanic crater known by Caldeira with 2km wide and 400 meters depth (photo above). There are hillsides intercepted by secondary volcanic formations and the highest place of the island is called Cabeço Gordo, a volcano that's has been sleeping since 1672.


The biggest Faial attraction is it's capital, Horta, with it's old docks and a vast architectonic patrimony. From this dock, year after year, many boats start an adventure in a fishing competition where records are broken every time. As you may guess the sea across Faial island is rich in big fishes like blue and white marlins and tuna.

Horta is probably the most animated and cosmopolitan city in all Azores. Across it's white streets, gardens and squares there are many places to see and many flavors to taste. It’s a city who smiles at the tourists. From all over the world there are yacht and crew who stop to stay for a day or two and then for a few more.


Faial Island invites you to walk through bucolic landscapes like the Caldeira crater hidden by mossy fields or, during summer, to enjoy sunny weather in the beaches of Porto Pim or Almoxarife.

São Jorge Island, Azores, Portugal

Once again back to Portugal to continue with Nuno's Azores Islands Reviews. This time traveling to the middle of the Archipelago to the island of São Jorge (in English, Saint George Island).

You can find the São Jorge island in the central group of the Azores Archipelago's islands. With it's long shape that reminds the shell of an enormous sea monster, São Jorge is also known as the island of the "Fajãs" - enormous plain surfaces that enter through the sea (due to the fall of cliffs and correspondent land loss).


Between volcanic elevations, aligned one after the other, you will see an astonish green plateau, a paradise to those who like to walk through nature. Panoramic views over cattle fields separate with fences of wild orchid’s and heath are assured and also within the plateau's 45km the higher point of the island, with 1053m high Pico da Esperança is also considered the island geological center.


Besides the plateau views São Jorge also has to offer a Natural Forest Reservation with an inestimable botanic interest and endemic vegetation (from Pico do Areeiro to Pico das Caldeiras passing through Pico da Esperança and Pico do Carvão) and in the coastline the idyllic Fajãs and coastal settlements (see photo bellow).


Also from the coastline you may see a few of the other Azores islands like Pico, Faial and Graciosa. In sunny days you may also see Terceira, but only a shape.


All the green across the island's highlands and valleys along with the infinite combination of tones from it's sea and cliff landscapes makes of São Jorge a beautiful place. The quietness of the plateau fields where one can hear the fauna and listen the wild birds lends to the São Jorge's landscapes that old and almost primitive world atmosphere - absolutely unique.

In a few days, next in the tour, Faial island...

Terceira - the Violet Island in the Atlantic, Azores, Portugal

And back to Portugal to continue with Nuno's Azores Islands Tour. Without any more delays off we go to the island called Terceira, another one of the nine beautiful islands of this Atlantic Archipelago...

Part of the Azores archipelago the island called Terceira is also known as the “Violet Island”. Terceira was the third (Terceira in Portuguese) island to be found and coincidently it's also the third major island of the archipelago (after São Miguel and Pico). It has an elliptical shape and it's part of the central group of islands, surrounded by São Miguel (to the West) and São Jorge (to the East).


Hangra do Heroísmo is the oldest city in this island, and has the UNESCO heritage of world patrimony. That happened due to the conservation of the old day’s architecture: chapels, palaces, museums and even the powerful walls from the fortress that defended the city from corsair’s attacks.

When visiting this island, start by the old streets from Praia da Vitória and then take a look at the Gothic Church of São Sebastião. Throughout all island you'll be able to see the sunny houses in villages like São Carlos, Fontinha, São Brás and Lajes.


Besides the architecture and the monuments there´s also green lands worthy of a visit, places where you can go for a walk, highlands from where you can see flowered camps, ocean, and blue sky. One special view is the Caldeira of Guilherme Moniz, a volcanic crater 15 kilometers wide, now used to produce dairy products and cattle - a spot very green and beautiful.


The ocean surrounding the island is very rich in fish, a paradise to fishermen; Scuba diving and windsurf are just some of the aquatic sports practiced in this island. To make off for the lack of beaches there are across all coast swimming pools between the rocks where one can take refreshing baths.

As to the best period to visit Terceira Island is goes from May to September. During this period you will see a festival of color and secular traditions. The festivities of Espírito Santo and also the Sanjoaninas take place in almost every villages.


And good festivities always means good food. When you go into Terceira Island do taste the traditional food, exotic flavors like the rump steak (alcatra) and morcela and octopus receipts are mandatory! Oh, and you can’t go without taste he Biscuit wine, revived at the museum ;)

In a few days the tour continues to the São Jorge Island :)

Pico - an island with a great mountain - Azores, Portugal

Continuing our on-line travel with Nuno, this time we'll get to visit the island of Pico, another one of the nine volcanic islands of the Azores Archipelago. Without more delay, words to Nuno :)

The Pico Island, belonging to the Azores archipelago is considered the 2nd largest island of the archipelago. It's not one of the most developed islands when compared to São Miguel, Terceira and Faial. It's one of those islands where time kept the big fields and gardens scenarios unchanged. Big developments are almost nonexistent on this island.


And when we speak about Pico Island, obviously we would have to talk about the ex-libris of the island: Pico Mountain. The Pico mountain is considered the largest in Portugal and is surrounded by a protected natural reserve. This area concentrates all who like to climb to observe nature (very varied expectations of animals around) and of course, those who like and probably need to do some exercise.


After such a climb it how about a drink... Do you like wine? If yes, then you must try the regional wine of Pico, by far the best wine produced from the grapes of the vineyards of this island of the Azores archipelago.


There are some places to visit, like the Wine Museum (mentioned earlier, a regional product with high levels of demand on the island), the Whaling Museum and the Museum of Industry Regional Whalers.


All of this is solely a part of what Pico has to offer for those who enjoy a simple trip by air or ship to the island. Without doubt Pico is one of the islands with more nature and more natural in the whole archipelago.

Once again thanks Nuno for your participation. Nuno is a blogger who writes on a variety of different sites - you can check his portfolio at Unonweb.

São Miguel - An island where nature lives - Azores, Portugal

Well, if last week ended superbly with a fabulous on-line trip to Mexico with Kathleen let me tell you that this week start is no different. Thanks to Nuno we'll be able to learn a bit more about the beautiful Portuguese Island of São Miguel in the Azores archipelago, for sure a destination to consider in a future holiday planing :)

The island of São Miguel is known for being the largest island of Azores and the most populated and visited in the archipelago. Still there are some hidden secrets that I recommend to visit in this island.


If you take a flight or a cruise to the island, you will begin by visiting the largest city in the archipelago: Ponta Delgada. This city has some attractions such as the "Portas do Mar" (where the cruises stop and is considered as the marina of Ponta Delgada) and the Church "Matriz". Also when passing in this city, tasting the local cuisine is essential.

By leaving the city, you will see that the rest of the island is very natural in terms of landscape and that the green tones are very intense on the roads of the island. The old roads (now is being made a new one called SCUT) have many years and are used by regional producers since they are extremely close to the fields.


Other spaces that are essential for a visit in this island are: Islet of Vila Franca do Campo, the Pools of Lagoa (several pools with entry fee), The Boilers of Furnas, The Lagoon of Furnas, The Lagoon of Fire (photo bellow), The Natural Pool in the Nordeste, the Lagoon of Sete Cidades (photo above) and some of the viewing points around the regional roads.


If you enjoy abundant natural scenery (which are recognized by National Geographic), the island of Sao Miguel is one of the best choices to spend a nice holiday guaranteed. Those who visit this magnificent island have a desire to re-visit again.

And yes, I can validate Nuno's last paragraph, absolutely correct! Been there with my folks when I was little and the wish to re-visit is here :) Who knows, maybe someday it will be me taking my kids there...