Katherine Stahl’s Field Notes from the Azores Islands
Courtesy of Katherine
Field Notes are firsthand travel recommendations for and/or by our ECT Clubhouse members. Get the lowdown on destinations across the globe from travelers and locals alike. This week, Katherine Stahl shares her notes from the Azores islands.
I have been to a lot of places, but not many have completely blown away my expectations…However, in my 57 years on this planet, one of the places that has most surpassed my wildest dreams was the Azores Islands.
My trip there was a bear to plan due to the islands' popularity, limited places to stay, and my extreme pickiness…The planning was complicated, but we pulled it off, and almost one year later, here I am to write about it.
Where to Go
There are multiple islands, with each one having its own spin, so you’ll need to research what most appeals to you. I recommend going to 2 or 3 islands and moving beyond the main island, São Miguel, after 2 or 3 days. We did a few days each in São Miguel, Faial, and Flores. I liked the smaller islands, but I enjoy anything smaller and away from tourists, like me!
My focus on trips is generally nature, nature, and more nature, plus charming places to stay. So, I’ll skip the food (and drink!), which I remember as endless fresh seafood and local Azorean cheese (what else could a person want?). What I do remember is hopping between a bunch of islands in July that were like rainforests in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean! We were constantly surrounded by water of every kind—ocean, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, pools—making the vegetation as lush as in the rainforest of Costa Rica (where I lived many years ago). With our bathing suits under our clothes, we would just strip down at any time and take a dip in a nearby body of water.
São Miguel Island
Our first stop was São Miguel, the biggest Azorean city. We stayed at Tradicampo—a series of country houses around the island. We barely wanted to leave ours, with its view of the ocean and adorable, cow-filled backyard, plus the loaf of bread hanging from our front door each morning. The owner of the Tradicampo houses met us upon arrival and could not have been lovelier, leaving us with all sorts of local goods to eat and endless advice to follow.
Make sure to visit Sete Cidades (yes, it looks like the Google images, only more magnificent), and the whale-watching was off the charts (with whales, dolphins, and fish flying all around us the entire time).
Parting Thoughts
If you love nature, then the Azores islands are the place for you. Each day, we woke up, took a long, gorgeous hike from the many to pick from, and then settled by a pool or natural pool, book in hand, for the afternoon. This was nirvana for me.
Most importantly, July is the time to go (yes, it is hot and humid) when most of the islands are wall-to-wall blue hydrangeas (also better in person than the photos you just Googled!). This means you will need to plan your trip at least a year ahead if you’re as picky as I am about where you stay, but boy, is it worth it!
Courtesy of Katherine
Courtesy of Katherine
Also included in Katherine’s notes:
More about the various breathtaking islands you can visit
Where to stay on Faial for your own private island tour
The must-see spot on Flores
Where “rural tourism” is at its best…
…And more
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