AS BOTH Ryanair and SATA International now fly direct (in under five hours) to the Azores from London, holidaymakers have the opportunity to explore the relatively little-known Portuguese archipelago for the first time this summer.
The nine islands in the group offer a world of green volcanoes and wildlife hidden in the middle of the Atlantic.
Here are some of the things to do on #TheAzores:
Swim with wild dolphins –The #Azores is the only destination in Europe where wildlife lovers can swim alongside numerous species of dolphin in their wild, natural habitat. Species include the bottlenose, spotted, and striped dolphins. No pens involved; just jump off the boat into the ocean. Swimming with dolphins excursions with local operator Futurismo (www.futurismo.pt) on Sao Miguel Island.
Stand up paddle board in a volcano crater –Few can claim to have glided across the waters of a lake in a volcano crater. Rent a paddle board or take to the water with an instructor for a stand-up paddle boarding lesson at the lakes of Sete Cidades on Sao Miguel Island. Azores Adventure Islands (www.azoresadventureislands.com).
Eat dishes cooked in the crater of a volcano – Discover the art of cooking in a volcano in Furnas, Sao Miguel Island; a subtropical valley and historic village inside a sleeping volcano crater. It is here that villagers prepare the traditional dish, Cozido das Furnas, before burying pots of the stew in the ground. The earth here is so hot that it cooks the dish in a morning.
Look a whale in the eye – There is nothing quite like looking a whale in the eye, and there are few better places to do that than in the Azores. Rib boats go out to the oceans surrounding Sao Miguel, Pico, Faial, and Terceira islands in the spring, summer, and autumn in search of the 25 resident and migratory species.
Blue Whales can be seen in the Azores most commonly in the spring. Whale watching trips with Pico dos Adventurous (www.picosdeaventura.com).
Dive with sharks and pelagic sea life –Experience the adrenaline-rush of plunging into the Atlantic Ocean in search of pelagic sea life and Blue Sharks. Wary at first, these curious predators tend to approach and inspect each diver as they gain trust. After this, they will often swim slowly among a group. Dive from sites such as Condor Seamount (accessible from Pico and Faial), where average sightings typically range from five to 15 sharks per trip.
Walk through ancient magma chambers –There are ancient magma chambers on Pico. With hard hats and torches, travellers can take tours through the volcanic formations.
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