Welcome to Azores Islands Archipelago

The Azores Islands lies in the Atlantic Ocean on the same latitude as both Lisbon and Washington. The archipelago is composed of nine islands, running in a chain over 360 nautical miles. The Santa Maria Island is 875 nautical miles from Europe and Flores Island is 2,250 nautical miles from America. Its geographical position gives Azores a strategic and meteorological importance. Atmospheric depressions influencing Europe weather form near this beautiful archipelago.

There are nine islands in the Azores archipelago, plus the rocky shoals and sandbanks that make up the Ilheus das Formigas (The Ants) lying 34 miles from São Miguel Island and just over 20 miles from the island of Santa Maria. A short chain of dark rocks no more than 11 metres in height, they mark the north-western edge of a bank nearly 6 miles long and 3 miles wide. A narrow shoal with breaking patches extends almost half a mile south from the rocks themselves.

Washed by the ever-changing Atlantic Ocean, there’s freshness here, a sense of innocence and peace which enchants the traveller attracted by the unspoilt charm of these enchanting islands, and prompts escapist dreams when he return to 'civilization'.

During the summer the climate is governed to a great extent by the activity and strength of the Azores high. Equally, in years when the high never forms or remains weak, changeable weather of the British summer variety is the rule. Summer temperatures are very pleasant, hot but seldom excessively hot, averaging 19°C in June rising to 23°C in August, though daily temperatures can occasionally reach 30°C for weeks at a time. Rainfall varies from island to island, much more falling in high areas than on the lower islands or at sea, but showers have a habit of appearing without warning when least appreciated.

This is a gentle paradise of green fields bordered with hydrangeas, hillsides covered in azaleas, forested slopes rising above a colourful patchwork of fields, blue lagoons nestling in high volcanic craters. Volcanic soil become very rich and fertile after a period of weathering, particularly in warm, moist climates, allowing the Azores vegetation which combines the best of European temperate and African tropical. Some areas of the original thick forest still survive, mostly as protected national parks.

Discovered in the 15th century, the Azores are still considered to be remote even in this day of jet travel. But for over five hundred years they have provided a useful stepping-stone for sailors crossing the Atlantic, and now in the 21st century their strategic position is highly prized by military men in both Europe and America.

The Azorean economy has changed little over the last 500 years. There is almost no industry, and agriculture is still the mainstay. Stock-raising of cattle, sheep and pigs is important on all the islands, with butter and cheese exported in quantity. Fishing, particularly of tuna for canning or freezing, is a fairly recent industry; though fishing for food must always have taken place. Big game fishing is an even more recent innovation, but several world records for tuna, swordfish, ocean bonito and shark are held from Horta and Ponta Delgada. However the whaling industry, once the islands' second money-earner, is now a part of history and facilities to process the carcasses no longer exist. Some of the old whaleboats have been restored and are used regularly for sailing and racing during Semana do Mar. One of the motor boats that used to tow the engineless ones out to the whales has been restored and is used in a procession during Sea Week and at other times for coastal cruises. However, several harbours have two or three quietly rotting beside the slipway.

But so far only relatively few travellers have visited the Azores other than those who pause for breathe here during an Atlantic crossing. Tourism as a source of employment and income is still very new. Most of the restaurants appear to cater largely for local people, with prices to match, other than in Terceira where personnel from the American air base provide a reliable source of custom.

There is, however plenty to do, from exploring the cobbled streets of old colonial towns to climbing Mount Pico, the highest mountain in the archipelago as well as mainland Portugal, and of course exploiting that vast warm ocean, sailing, diving and fishing in its clean blue-green waters. Nine more beautiful islands would be hard to find anywhere else in the Earth.

The Azores - Nine Atlantic Islands just waiting for you!

If you are interested in traveling to some of the most amazing islands in the world, check out these two websites that may be of interest to you. Sicily Holidays is an amazing guide to the island of Sicily and a website about the most beautiful chain of atolls in the world - Maldives Holidays.