Azores

The Azores archipelago consists of nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic, approximately 1,500 kilometres from the Portuguese coast and 3,900 kilometres from the American seaboard, positioned atop the junction of the Eurasian, American, and African tectonic plates. This unique location is responsible for the Azores' extraordinary landscape: blue-green volcanic calderas, black lava fields, thermal springs, cryptomeria forests, and an ocean of deep, unsettling cobalt blue. Azores beaches are unlike anything found on the Portuguese mainland: black volcanic sand on São Miguel and Faial, natural lava pools on São Miguel, Terceira, Faial, and Flores, and more conventional sandy beaches on Santa Maria, the warmest and sunniest island in the archipelago. Marine biodiversity is exceptional, with dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and world-class sport fishing. The Azores is the destination of choice for scuba divers, birdwatchers, extreme nature lovers, and travellers seeking authentic, off-the-beaten-track destinations far from mass tourism. The climate is mild year-round, but the best swimming season is July to September.