Azores

Rarely have I been as smitten with a destination as the Azores. A Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic, the Azores comprise nine islands, the largest of which are Pico and Sao Miguel. Exploring these islands by car and by foot is exhilarating.

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Sao Miguel

Sao Miguel feels enormous with spectacular views from its many hiking trails. It also includes the archipelago’s only real city, Ponta Delgada. Highlights include exploring the abandoned Hotel Monte Palace before setting off to hike the Sete Cidades trail, and visiting Chá Gorreana, the oldest tea plantation in Europe.

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Pico

Pico is smaller and feels absolutely pristine with few people and abundant wildlife. The massive volcano rising straight up through the clouds gives it an intensely dramatic look. At one point during our trip, we were literally lost driving through Pico’s highlands (no phone service) with thick fog creating a mystical ambiance. The Azores are known for dairy, so we expected to see cows on the mountainous roads—but late in the day, as we slowly pulled around a corner, we were startled to see a beautiful horse alone in the mist looking like a scene from The Neverending Story (a photo of the moment is included below). I could write all day about the magic that is Pico, but I’ll let the photos do the rest of the talking.