It’s not yet too late to make your summer vacation plans. If you still don’t know where to go to fully enjoy the summer and want to get out of France, Europe offers splendid alternatives. And the temperatures are ideal during the periods from June to October, because it rains very little and the sun is often at its zenith. As a bonus, the old continent is particularly rich in small havens of peace. So we stopped on a little-known Portuguese archipelago with nine breathtaking islands, all just 4 hours from the French capital.
The Azores: the archipelago of 9 islands to be as close as possible to nature
To spend magnificent moments surrounded by nature and in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, there is nothing like the Azores. This archipelago born from magma has breathtaking small islands on which giant ferns, redwoods, pines, banana trees and guava trees share the environment. In addition to its lush vegetation, the coasts of these islands are particularly appreciated by the whales which you can contemplate up close thanks to the guides and their know-how in finding these large marine mammals. Visiting the Azores allows you to enjoy the serenity that reigns in this little piece of Europe.
A guided tour to the borders of Portugal
For nature and hiking lovers, many trails take you up to Ponta do Pico, at an altitude of 2,351 meters. On the heights of this volcano whose last eruption dates back to 1720, you can admire the islands of Faial, Terceira, São Jorge and Graciosa.
In addition to this stop in the middle of volcanic land, a short break on the Caldeira Velha offers a moment of relaxation in a green setting in which a waterfall nestles. What’s more, the waters are lukewarm and the landscape is worthy of an Instagram post. However, there is no shortage of waterfalls in the Azores and the most famous are the Poço do Bacalhau waterfall on the island of Flores, the Aveiro waterfall on the island of Santa Maria as well as the Salto do waterfall. Cabrito, but also that of Furnas or that of Caldeira Velha on the island of São Miguel.
In addition to these jewels offered by nature, this archipelago can also boast of being one of the largest cetacean sanctuaries in the world. Many agencies offer excursions to admire more than 25 different species.
The Azores: some marine and land activities to make the most of nature
It is almost impossible to enjoy a stay in the middle of the ocean without doing some aquatic activity. To enjoy it, the islands of São Miguel, São Jorge and Flores offer excellent routes for canyoning. This activity offers the pleasure of exploring rivers, gorges and waterfalls in breathtaking settings.
However, if exploring the waters doesn’t appeal to you, you can then opt for tours offered on dry land. Notice to wine lovers, there are many vineyards on the Azores islands, such as that of the island of Pico whose vines are classified as UNESCO World Heritage because they are so out of the ordinary. After a hike in the middle of this breathtaking landscape, you will end your journey with a local winegrower for a tasting.
However, this site is also a real boon for tea lovers. Indeed, tea has been cultivated for more than 200 years in the Azores where the climate is favorable to its cultivation. The island of São Miguel invites you to stroll among its tea plantations, to visit its two factories as well as its small museum. To end the experience, the site offers a small cup of tea as a tasting.
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