The Azores are a mid-Atlantic archipelago with Sete Cidades' twin-blue crater lake, Furnas' geothermal cooking pits steaming the cozido stew underground, and 24 species of cetaceans visible off the islands.
Highlights
Sete Cidades crater lake
Furnas hot springs & geysers
Whale watching (24 species)
Pico volcano hike
Faial's Caldeira crater
When to Visit
Apr-Jun
Whale watching at peak with blue whales passing March-June, hortensia (hydrangea) blooming across São Miguel by June, and Caldeira do Faial accessible.
Jul-Aug
Festival of the Holy Spirit across the islands brings traditional dancing and bezoar bread, and the swimming season finally pleasant in volcanic-warmed pools.
Sep-Oct
Resident sperm whale and dolphin populations year-round, and the Pico volcano hiking summit window remains good through October before winter weather closes the route.
Nov-Mar
Mid-Atlantic winter weather windy and damp, but Furnas hot springs at their most appealing, and the cozido cooked underground a year-round draw.
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