The Azores is sometimes endearingly referred to as Europe’s answer to Hawaii. And it’s not exactly wrong, as it’s a real paradise for those longing for nothing more than tranquillity and a chance to spend time in stunning nature. But… where are they? Which country do they belong to? How can I get there?
Where is the Azores located?
Azores is surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean, roughly a thousand miles from Lisbon, about 750 miles away from Madeira and about 2500 miles from the east coast of North America. The archipelago consists of nine main islands which stretch out for nearly 400 miles. The Azores is included in the Macaronesia region (ergo the Lucky Islands). These nine are divided into three groups: the western are Flores and Corvo. The central are Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira. Finally, the eastern are São Miguel and Santa Maria. The most popular islands are São Miguel and Terceira.
Is Azores a country?
The archipelago forms the Autonomous Region of the Azores, one of Portugal’s two autonomous regions, along with the archipelago of Madeira. The islands are said to have been known in ancient times, but it was not until the 15th century that they were colonised by the Portuguese. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the archipelago was a centre for trade between Europe, America and India, with galleons full of treasure passing through its ports.
It is interesting to note that the Azores were the last place in Europe where whaling was allowed. This procedure only ended in 1984.
So no, it’s not a country but rather a part of Portugal. Albeit quite a distant one.
Azores – how to get there?
There are two main ways to get to the Azores: either with a connecting flight from Lisbon or Porto or by charter flight. The flight from Lisbon takes two hours. Sadly, there’s no ferry service from mainland Portugal. The main international airport is Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel; the other port is Pole Lajes on Terceira (where you can also find a US air force base). To hop between the islands themselves, you can use a ferry or a plane. Cruises are more weather dependent, so planes are more reliable here and pricier as a result.
What is the climate like in the Azores?
The Azores has a predominantly cool, oceanic, subtropical climate. Air temperatures range from 15°C to 27°C, while the ocean water is quite warm, ranging from 17°C in winter to 25°C in summer. There is no frost in the Azores! Statistically, the driest month is July and the wettest is November. If you want to experience all 4 seasons, take a trip between October and April.
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