The Azores: A Nature Lover's Paradise Closer Than You Think

May 25, 2026 - 20:50

The Azores, often called the "Hawaii of the Atlantic," offer a dramatic landscape of volcanic craters, steaming hot springs, and lush green pastures that stretch to the sea. This Portuguese archipelago sits less than 1,000 miles from mainland Portugal, and direct flights from Boston and New York take under six hours. I recently visited to see if the hype was real.

The nine islands feel like a world apart. On Sao Miguel, the largest island, I drove past hydrangea-lined roads to Sete Cidades, a twin lake formed inside a volcanic caldera. One side is blue, the other green, and the view from the rim is stunning. Further south, Furnas bubbles with geothermal activity. Locals cook cozido, a stew of meats and vegetables, by burying pots in the hot earth for hours. The smell of sulfur mixes with the scent of eucalyptus.

Hiking is a major draw. On Pico Island, I climbed Portugal's highest mountain, Mount Pico, which rises over 7,700 feet from the ocean. The black lava rock crunched under my boots, and at the summit, clouds parted to reveal neighboring islands floating on the horizon. Whale watching is another highlight. I saw sperm whales and dolphins within an hour of leaving port.

The pace of life here is slow. Villages are small, and people greet strangers on the street. Food is simple but fresh: grilled limpets, fresh cheese, and pineapple grown in greenhouses. Wine from Pico's lava-stone vineyards is dry and mineral-rich.

Is it the Hawaii of the Atlantic? Not exactly. There are no sandy beaches like Waikiki, and the weather is cooler and wetter. But for raw nature, solitude, and a sense of discovery, the Azores deliver something rare. It is a place where you can soak in a natural hot spring under a starry sky, with no crowds and no rush. That is its own kind of paradise.