The Azores — a piece of heaven for nature lovers

Estimated reading time: 25 minutes

When I tell you that heaven must look like these islands, you’ll just have to take my word for it. I’m not even sure heaven actually exists, but the Azores definitely do. I’ve seen them with my own eyes! So you absolutely have to go there and enjoy a vacation that’s truly out of this world.

The Azores archipelago overview

As you may already know, the Azores are an autonomous region of the Republic of Portugal. So although they have their own political and administrative system, they are part of the Portuguese nation and the E.U. The archipelago is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 km from Lisbon.

There are nine volcanic islands in total, and they enjoy a mild climate year-round, never too hot and never too cold, which for me was a huge plus from the start. To give you a better idea, temperatures in the Azores rarely rise above 24°C and almost never drop below 8–9°C. Most of the time they hover around 15–16°C, and the difference between day and night is usually no more than one or two degrees. Perfect, right? And that’s just the beginning. I have a long list of reasons why this destination is absolutely magical.

São Miguel — the land of the happiest cows in the world (and zero snakes)

Beyond the pleasant temperatures, São Miguel, the island I’ll be focusing on throughout this article, looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale. As far as the eye can see, there are lush, bright-green pastures that seem permanently locked in spring, where what must be the happiest cows in the world graze peacefully. That’s not just my opinion—the Azoreans themselves say so.

Fun fact: there are actually fewer people here than there are cows.

But cows aren’t the only animals you’ll come across. You’ll also see horses, chickens wandering around mountaintops, rabbits popping up in the forest when you least expect them, and plenty of cats. Maybe not quite as many as in Turkey or Greece, but enough to make any cat lover happy.

And do you know what you won’t find here? Snakes. Yep! São Miguel earned its biggest gold star from me for that. There are no snakes, no venomous spiders, or any other creepy creatures that could ruin a vacation. The Azores are considered one of the safest destinations from this point of view. And not just that—crime rates are almost nonexistent as well. Another big plus.

Azoreean scenery + activities

Of course, São Miguel isn’t just about green fields and cows. The island has so much more to offer: waterfalls, lush forests, botanical gardens, tea and pineapple plantations, and natural thermal baths.

Here are a few activities and places you shouldn’t miss while visiting:

Gorreana Tea Plantation

This is the oldest organic tea plantation in Europe and still uses tea-processing equipment that is over 100 years old. You can take a small self-guided tour of the factory and admire these fascinating machines, or opt for a guided tour instead.

Visiting the plantation is free, and at the end you can taste both green and black tea produced right there. Naturally, all the varieties are available to purchase in the plantation shop. And there’s also a café inside the factory where you can enjoy coffee, tea, and pastries made on site. If you’re lucky, you might even make friends with the resident cats that roam the area.

While you’re there, I highly recommend taking the Caminho da Água da Gorreana or The Water Trail. Along the way, you’ll not only admire the vast tea plantation but also the old irrigation system that is still in use today. In the past, it even supplied electricity to the plantation.

If you stay on the trail, you’ll eventually reach a beautiful waterfall where it’s almost mandatory to take a few moments to rest and soak in the scenery. The trail is of moderate difficulty and takes about an hour in total—including photo stops.

The Pineapple Plantation

Another interesting fact about the Azores pinapples is that in their growth process, a smoking technique is used for flowering stimulation. This leads to a more uniform and high-quality harvest. Why? Because the smoke contains the flower-inducing plant hormone ethylene. Interesting stuff, I know!

We visited the Augusto Arruda Plantation, which has a history of over 100 years. Once again, entry is free! And that is another reason São Miguel deserves a gold star. Honestly, I’ve rarely visited a destination with so many attractions that are either free or extremely affordable.

Inside the greenhouses, you can see every stage of pineapple cultivation—and there are quite a few. A pineapple takes between 18 and 24 months to reach maturity. Yes, months. You have to wait up to two years for a pineapple to ripen.

The plantation also offers free samples of pineapple liqueur, and for a small cost you can take home not only the liqueur but many other pineapple-based products.

Porta do Diabo (The Devil’s Gate)

This was, without a doubt, my favorite attraction. This arch-like rock formation offers a cinematic view over the Atlantic Ocean. We spent about an hour here simply sitting on one of the massive rocks, watching the waves crash against the shore.

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Salto do Prego Waterfall

There are plenty of hiking trails to explore in the Azores, but one I will never forget is the one leading to Salto do Prego waterfall. In front of this beautiful waterfall, my partner got down on one knee and proposed! It was a magical and unexpected moment that made us both very happy and that will forever be in our memory.

The trail starts in the village of Faial da Terra, located about 1.5 hours by car from Ponta Delgada. The drive itself is absolutely worth it—scenic the entire way, with breathtaking views over the ocean and the lush surrounding landscape.

When we went, the trail was a bit muddy, which made it slightly more challenging, but overall it’s still a fairly manageable hike. We completed the round trip to the waterfall and back in just a couple of hours.

The trail is about 4.5 km long with an elevation gain of around 200 meters, making it ideal even for casual hikers.

One of the highlights of the hike was the unexpected wildlife encounters along the way. We came across chickens and even a few bunnies, which made the whole experience feel even more charming and memorable.

And once you reach the waterfall, it’s the perfect spot to pause, catch your breath, and simply enjoy the peaceful beauty of nature….or propose to your partner 😉

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Lagoa das Sete Cidades

Considered one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, the twin lakes of Lagoa das Sete Cidades are truly one of the most spectacular natural sights in the Azores. The blue and green lakes lie nestled inside a massive volcanic crater, creating a landscape that almost feels unreal.

Unfortunately, it was raining on the day we visited, so we didn’t get the chance to explore the area as much as we would have liked. But if you’re luckier than we were, make sure to stop at the Vista do Rei viewpoint. It is supposed to offer one of the most breathtaking panoramic views over the lakes!

Parque Terra Nostra

This botanical garden feels like a real-life Garden of Eden. Spread over more than 12 hectares, it showcases nature in all its diversity and beauty, with around 1,800 plant species, a thermal pool, and two thermal jacuzzis.

You can wander freely through the park’s eight main collections, all carefully maintained by the staff, or enjoy a soothing thermal bath that will make you forget every ache and pain. All of this is included in the entrance fee of €17. If you choose to stay at the hotel within the botanical garden, you’ll even get unlimited access to the park.

Speaking of thermal baths, it’s worth knowing that the Azores are home to the largest number of natural thermal baths in Europe. Rich in minerals and heated by geothermal activity, these waters maintain temperatures between 30 and 40°C and are recommended for joint pain, circulation issues, and skin conditions.

I had the chance to experience one of these baths at one of the many locations offering this activity, and I have to admit I felt as if I’d just stepped out of the fountain of youth.

Most thermal baths you can visit cost between €10 and €15 for a 90-minute session, plus an extra €1–2 if you need to rent a locker or a towel. It’s good to know that you should bring a dark swimsuit and towel, because the high iron content in the water can leave stains.

I didn’t have my phone with me there, but this is the place where we went to: Poça da Dona Beija

Azoreean cuisine

And now we arrive at my favorite subject: what and where do we eat?

Azorean cuisine, heavily influenced by Portuguese traditions, focuses on seafood, fish, fresh vegetables, and fruit. Essentially, it is a healthy and balanced Mediterranean-style diet, but above all, incredibly delicious. Another gold star for the culinary experience, especially when it comes to the quality-to-price ratio. Most of the meals we had here were not only amazing but also very reasonably priced.

A Terra Restaurant

We loved this place so much—both the food and the atmosphere—that we came back a second time. My favorite dish was a vegetarian option: eggplant in a corn crust, followed by rice pudding with pineapple for dessert. The restaurant follows a farm-to-table philosophy, using locally sourced ingredients and even growing some produce in its own organic garden.

Louvre Michaelense

We discovered this café completely by accident while looking for a place to have lunch, and it turned out to be the best choice we could have made. Everything we ordered was wonderful, especially the meat pie.

Accommodation

Another essential topic—and once again deserving of a gold star—because prices here are extremely reasonable compared to many other destinations. For two nights on São Miguel Island, you can expect to pay anywhere between €100 and €200, depending on the type of accommodation and location.

We stayed at this beautiful villa with a breathtaking view over the ocean where we even caught a couple of rainbows. It felt truly magical being there.

Transportation

The easiest and most convenient way to explore the island is definitely by renting a car—and it’s surprisingly affordable. For five days, we paid €30 for the rental, plus about €60 for fuel. However, if renting a car isn’t an option, you can rely on public transportation in urban areas and join guided tours to reach some of the more remote attractions.

If none of these reasons have convinced you to visit the Azores yet, honestly, I’m not sure what else could.

I mean, let’s recap: no snakes, very few mosquitos, great food, friendly people, one of the most affordable destinations you will ever find for what you get in return, cows and kitties everywhere, beautiful nature, thermal baths. It’s a no brainer, really.

For me, it remains the perfect destination and not just for a vacation. I’d move to the Azores tomorrow if I had the chance. Actually, whilst there, me and my partner were already making plans for retirement in Sao Miguel.😊