I'm here in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
on an incredibly green volcanic island. This island group is called the Azores.
And you'll be surprised to know it's actually a part of Europe,
Portugal to be specific.
Today Juli and I will show you why this place is such an underrated gem.
In this video we're exploring Sao Miguel,
the largest and most populous island in the Azores.
With its volcanic hot springs, ocean wildlife and an abundance of outdoor activities,
Sao Miguel is the perfect destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers.
To fully discover the island, we recommend renting a car
which will take you to all the different unique places
and allow you to take in the stunning views of diverse landscapes
The narrow roads surrounded by rows of flowers are very typical of the Azores, so much so,
that the flower - Hydrangea - has become a symbol of the Azores,
despite the fact that it’s actually considered an invasive species.
Throughout the whole island you'll find a lot of viewpoints
called Miradouros, like this one here.
Don't miss seeing at least a few of them, because they're totally worth a visit.
We start our trip in Furnas, a small village and geothermal wonderland.
Here, you'll find an array of hot springs, mud pots, and steam vents, all fueled
by the powerful forces of underground volcanic activity.
The unique scent of sulphur can often be detected in the air.
If you've never smelled sulphur before, it smells a little bit like rotten egg,
but it's not too bad.
You can really feel the heat coming there and smell the sulfur!
The Azores are all about geothermal springs, and relaxing in a hot bath
is a unique and natural way to experience the island's volcanic origins.
Our favourite ones were spread out across the island.
Terra Nostra Hot Springs, the Caldeira Velha and the Ponta da Ferraria.
The Terra Nostra Hot Springs are a historic, popular tourist destination thanks
to the unique yellow water color, which comes from the iron content.
And the surrounding beautiful botanical garden, which features a wide variety of exotic plants
and flowers from all over the world.
I'm surrounded by greenery here,
this park has such a high variety of plant life, that it's nothing that you've ever seen before!
The Caldeira Velha has smaller pools surrounded by greenery.
Being a popular spot it is subjected to overcrowding
so tickets are required to enter the pools
Make sure to reserve them beforehand!
It's very relaxing in here, completely in the nature and the
water is quite hot also. It's around 35° C.
Completely free of charge is the Ponta da Ferraria,
located at the westernmost point of the island. It's a scenic natural pool where
thermal water and ocean water mix together!
São Miguel is not just a place to relax.
There are some beautiful hiking spots that give you some of the best views.
If you want an adventurous but small tour, try the hiking trail at the Lagoa do Fogo.
Park your car at the parking spot at the viewpoint,
and follow the trail down to the lake. People often refer to the Azores
as the Hawaii of Europe and you can see why that is!
Another very popular one is the hike to the waterfall Salto do Prego.
It's doable for beginners and if you don't mind cold water,
you can even go for a little dip once you reach the waterfall.
When hiking and swimming make you hungry it's the perfect time to move on to a very fruity
and delicious symbol of Azorean culture.
Azores is very famous for its pineapples.
I'm here at a pineapple farm inside a greenhouse, it's very hot and humid in here.
But you can see a lot of pineapples - small, little pineapples - growing here.
The Azorean Pineapple Plantation is located just a few minutes from
the center of Ponta Delgada.
Here you get see pineapples in various sizes
and stages as they are grown in traditional greenhouses.
On São Miguel alone there are over 230 pineapple producers and more than
1500 greenhouses for the fruit. And perhaps the best thing is,
that you get to try some delicacies made from the pineapple.
Azorean pineapples have been cultivated here since more than 150 years,
and they tend to be smaller but sweeter and less acidic than other varieties
and they have a very distinct aromatic flavour.
Many places around the world offer the chance to swim with dolphins
but they are usually in enclosed spaces.
If you're a fan of marine wildlife,
you'll be delighted to see that watching whales and dolphins has become one
of the best activities to do in the Azores.
Common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins are some of the permanent residents
of the Azorean waters so they can usually be seen all year round.
And you can not only watch them, but you can also swim with them in their natural habitat!
A marine biologist will be on the boat, providing instructions on how to swim and
snorkel with the dolphins,
so the whole experience is safe for both you and the animals.
Dolphins are generally friendly and social creatures so they may come really
close to you out of curiosity. We even spotted some babies!
One tip if you want to visit the Azores: though the climate here is mild
all year round, summer is perhaps the best time to come.
And, the islands are notorious for having very fickle weather.
One moment the sky may be clear, while the next could be cloudy.
One part of the island could be extremely foggy
while at the same time, another corner of the island could be completely sunny and clear.
Some websites provide live webcam footage of the spots on the islands
to give you a good idea of what the skies may look like at any given time.
Hope we gave you an overview of some of the many activities you can do on the Azores.
If you liked this video, do subscribe to the DW Travel channel for more such videos.
See you next time!