Azores: Lagoons, Fajãs, and Thermal Nights

Sete Cidades: The Balcony Road

Drive the rim road slowly—each turnout is a new geometry of blue and green. Walk short segments between belvederes.

• Vista do Rei: the classic split‑color view, best under moving cloud.
• Boca do Inferno Trail: quick ridge for photo‑stops; watch the wind.
• Lakeside Lane: descend to the causeway for reeds and reflections.

Furnas: Thermal Gardens by Night

At dusk, currents of orange steam drift over fern trees. Eat cozido cooked in volcanic soil; soak after dinner.

• Parque Terra Nostra: iron‑rich pool under tall fat palms; bring a dark swimsuit.
• Fumaroles: marigold‑colored vents; eggs cooked in the steam taste faintly of minerals.

Gorreana Tea Estate: Mist & Rows

Europe’s oldest tea fields roll into the fog. Walk the rows, warm cup in hand; the museum corner smells like wood and leaves.

Pico: Whale Lookouts & Basalt Vineyards

Climb to a vigia (whale lookout) above dry‑stone vineyards. Take a slow coastal drive; basalt walls grid the earth like an old plan.

• Lajido: UNESCO vineyard landscape; sample volcanic whites.
• Whale Station: small museums tell of lookouts and fast boats.

Faial: Capelinhos Cone & Horta Marina

Walk the ash around Capelinhos—1957’s eruption still fresh in lines. In Horta, browse painted quay walls from round‑the‑world sailors.

São Jorge: Fajãs at the Waterline

Descend to sea‑level platforms where houses sit between cliff and surf. Cheese shops, limpets, and slow road hairpins.

Practical & Bases

• When to Go: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct for views and whales; winter brings moody fogs.
• Getting Around: rent a car; inter‑island ferries and short flights; weather changes quickly.
• Bases: São Miguel (Furnas or Ponta Delgada) + a second island (Pico or Faial).
• Etiquette: trails can be slick; stay off farm walls; slow on village roads.