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Portugal is one of the best summer hotspots this year, and it looks like Portugal is here the radar of every American traveler lately, with its beautiful ancient cities and the vast Atlantic coast interspersed with historic fishing villages and sandy beaches.
From lively Porto to hilly Lisbon and further south to the Algarve, arrivals have increased, but above all this secondary Portuguese destination, which despite not being part of mainland Europe, sees a significant increase in the number of American visitors.
The Azores, a collective of nine islands full of turquoise lagoons and epic hikes that used to be Portugal’s best-kept secret, are gearing up for record tourism this season, and this is why:
What’s so special about the Azores?
The Azores are both an autonomous region of Portugal and an archipelago in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, 3,500 kilometers from the Portuguese mainland; Despite their remoteness, the islands are part of Portugal and geopolitically belong to Europe.
There are nine in totaleach with their own distinctive features, geological features and culture, and it is quite easy to travel around the archipelago thanks to the cheap daily flights between some of the largest islands and the ferry routes that connect island groups.
Home to more than 60% of the archipelago’s 240,000-strong population, as well as the Azores’ capital, Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel is the busiest island for tourism and concentrates the majority of foreign arrivals:
One of the cheapest sunny islands in Europe is located 5 hours from Newark
Known for its ruggedness, waterfall-strewn forests and serene beaches, it’s where most Americans visiting the Azores will land, as there are 5:30 nonstop flights from Newark, making it the shortest transatlantic route is the one that leaves from the west coast.
The Azores are too one of the cheapest sunny outings in Europe, in line with the rest of Portugal: excluding transatlantic flights, accommodation, food, transportation within the Azores (inter-island flights) and tourist attractions all included will cost you an average of $1,038 weekly.
Eating out is extremely cheap, especially in rural settings, where family-run guesthouses with attached restaurants have lunch menus that include a salad, main course and soft drink for $15, and Portuguese pastries purchased from local restaurants. pastelarias are all under $2.
This is your chance to eat something sprinkled with volcanic salt, sprayed with lime bacalhau fish, and as many of those addictive custard tarts you can get, without break the bank, as is the delicious Michelin-worthy food in the Azores no privilege for the rich.
As for the Newark-Ponta Delgada flights, they start from as cheap as $532 This season, but if you are already in Portugal, a 2h15 flight from Lisbon, the country’s capital, to the main hub of the Azores can cost a negligible $28.
However, accessibility and affordability are not the only reasons why Americans are flocking to this lesser-known Atlantic paradise, so much so that they have already slightly surpassed German tourists, previously the Azores’ main market:
Choose your island
São Miguel is indeed beautiful, but there’s a reason it’s called the Hawaii of Europe, from geyser-studded volcanic islands, criss-crossed by majestic peaks, to crystal clear lagoons and lush green forests, there’s a whole world waiting to be explored.
Depending on your travel preferences, and whether you’re here for the culture or a nature escape, you’ll likely be drawn to two or three specific islands, and luckily for you, they’re usually a 30-50 minute flight from each other.
Once you’ve seen everything São Miguel has to offer, you can choose from:
Korvo
The smallest and most remote island of the Azores, with fewer than 400 regular inhabitants, Corvo is a UNESCO World Heritage Biosphere Reserve popular for its many natural saltwater pools, shielded from the wild Atlantic Ocean by volcanic formations. meter crater.
Faial
Faial, the westernmost point of the Azores, and therefore of Europe, is characterized by its well-defined hiking trails, dormant volcanoes, yacht-lined marina and the charming, baroque main town of Horta, where the majority of the island’s 15,000 residents live.
Flores
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the aptly named Flores, is covered with thousands of colorful hydrangeas lining the sides of narrow roads leading from one coastal village to another, and up to seven deep blue or emerald green lakes that result from volcanic lakes. activity: the original Eden is here.
Graciosa
The third UNESCO site on this list, Graciosa, or the ‘Gracious’, is the wellness destination of the Azores, highly sought after for its thermal baths and imposing Caldeira da Graciosaa crater that was formed thousands of years ago.
Pico
If you’re a keen hiker, you’ll love Pico: it’s home to the highest mountain in all of Portugal, rising 2,000 meters above sea level, as well as some of the country’s best-reputed wineries. with grapes ripening on black volcanic soil.
Santa Maria
Santa Maria is the warmest island of the Azores and enjoys spring-like temperatures all year round. It’s easily distinguished from the rest thanks to its sun-drenched golden sands, blue-green colored sea and dry, desert-like hinterland (it’s also only 50 meters away). miles from São Miguel).
Sao Jorge
Not far from both Faial and Pico is São Jorge, an unusual alternative to the most popular island circuit that is the proud owner of a rare European coffee plantation, nature-made swimming pools and quaint villages amid green landscapes.
Terceira
Terceira, the last island on the list, is best known for its UNESCO-listed capital Angra do Heroísmo, a historic whitewashed harbor founded as early as 1534, with a maze-like cobbled old town, although its scenic viewpoints and sulfur baths are equally so. major attractions for island hoppers.
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