Santa Maria
SĂŁo Miguel
Terceira
Graciosa
SĂŁo Jorge
Pico
Faial
Flores
Corvo
Real Estate
About
Activities
Bird WatchingBird watching, a hobby in all islands # Whale WatchingWhale watchers paradise # A port of call for all yachtsmenIn Horta - Faial # Big Game FishingBest fishing in the Atlantic # HikingExcellent hiking and trekking # Whale WatchingCourtesy of Picos de Aventura # GolfGolf in S. Miguel and Terceira # The Azores Islands are perfectly suited for all types of outdoor activities with its lack of pollution both in land and at sea as well as wonderful sceneries and unique and diverse terrain. The link between adventure and activities in an environmentally friendly scenario is perfect for the adventurer and the fun seeker. Whale watching and swimming with dolphinsSome of the major towns offers whale watching and/or an opportunity to swim around dolphins. The most departure reliable ports/marinas are Ponta Delgada, Vila Franca do Campo, Horta, Lajes do Pico and Madalena. They take you out on small boats and often get you within ten yards of the whales. Swimming with Dolphins means to swim around these fun and audacious creatures, but contrary to the “mass-produced” captivity swimming with the dolphins around the popular places, in the Azores, one is not allowed to touch the dolphins due to environmental concerns. Coastal Adventure SailingSpend time sailing between the islands and exploring what each one has to offer. The boat moors in sheltered marinas or anchors in secluded. Horse RidingThere are several Equestrian centers in S. Miguel, Santa Maria and Terceira for those wanting a more formal school centered program. However you may book a horse riding tour via places such as Picos da Aventura, local farms such as Quinta das Raiadas. The horse riding tours are made along the beautiful countryside. Walking Tours / Trekking / MountaineeringSeveral organizations plan walking circuits or tours along some of the most wonderful trails on the planet. Local organizations such as the “Os Montanheiros” have spent countless hours mapping and cleaning trails all about the Azores. The Mountain of Pico and the Pico is a “must climb” for those wanting a moderate exercise and a unique stunning view of 4 other islands in a cloud-free day (Terceira, Faial, S. Jorge and Graciosa). YachtingThe marinas of Ponta Delgada and Horta are world famous for those crossing the Atlantic. Horta in particular has been used along centuries by the who’s who of yachting for a well-deserved rest and a gin-and-tonic at the local pubs. Yacht leasing and rental is available via your travel agent or at local activity centers. Sailing, Windsurfing and SurfingSailing, windsurfing and surfing are popular activities in the Azores. International surfing competitions occur yearly in S. Miguel, more specifically in the northern coast. CanoeingThis activity can be done in the main marinas as well as some of the lakes in S. Miguel and Flores such as Sete Cidades e Furnas. Deep Sea FishingSeveral captains operate well equipped fishing boats for deep sea fishing between the months of April and October. GolfThe Azores are a great place for golfing due to its pleasant weather. There 3 golf courses in the Azores. Two in S. Miguel and one in Terceira. They are fully certified and internationally recognized 18 hole courses. For more information check out Azores.com travel pages. SurfingSurfing in the Azores had been one of the best kept secrets in the surfing world until about a decade ago. Positioned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores have plenty of swell most of the time. Now with major international events being held for both men and women in the island of S. Miguel, the Azores are slowly becoming a surfing mecca for those want to surf without getting the crowds; just you and your surfing mates. The main spots are Ribeira Grande, a powerful beachbreak with consistent waves, and Rabo de Peixe, a left hander created by the harbor development. Be aware that you are surfing in more or less unchartered and sometimes dangerous waters. VolcanismThere are various signs of the volcanic origin of the islands, besides the volcanic cone and craters. Deserving special mention are sulphur grottoes, with an underground lake (Graciosa), the volcanic cones of Furnas valley (Sao Miguel), the remains of the Capelinhos volcano (Faial), the sulphur grottoes next the "caldeira de Guilherme Moniz" (Terceira), the basaltic columns of "Rocha dos Bordoes" (Flores) and the grottoes and caverns, some of them hundreds of meters long, on the islands of Sao Miguel, Santa Maria, Pico, Sao Jorge and Terceira. Other SportsOne may enjoy many other sports such as Hang-gliding, bicycle trips and tours, tennis, jeep safaris, moto-quad, bird watching and more. Events
Sata Rallye AzoresEvent included in the IRC Challenge. # Festivities of Our Lord of Miracles.The biggest religious festivals in the Azores. # SanjoaninasFeasts of St. John in Angra, Terceira Island. #
Traditional festivals:Azoreans are 90+% Roman Catholic and thus have a long tradition of religious based events. The Holy Ghost Festivals (Festas do Espirito Santo) are the most popular and frequent events in the Azores. The festivals are rooted in old history and ancient tradition and are typically held on all islands between the months of April and October. The festivals are sometimes referred to outside the Azores as “feast of soup” because besides the traditional parades there large feasts where soup and bread are handed out to those in attendance. Terceira island is best known for the decorative houses called “Imperios” (empires) where they keep the crown and the flag and are used as staging points for the feedings. SĂŁo MiguelThe town of Ponta Delgada, is home to the largest event held the islands, the Festival of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres (Christ Lord of Miracles). The Festa do Senhor Santo Cristo takes place on the fifth Sunday after Easter. The faithful composed of locals and emigrants from all over the world, take part on the Sunday procession which runs through the main arteries of Ponta Delgada, walking behind the image of the Christ on a three to four hour event, along the flower decorated streets and balconies where residents come out to pay their respects to those in the parade. This religious celebration attracts many Azorean emigrants which swell the local population to a considerable and festive size. TerceiraThe Sanjoaninas festivities in Angra do Heroismo are held in June honoring Saints Antonio, Pedro and John. This religious celebration also attracts many Azorean emigrants which swell the local population to a considerable and festive size. PicoThe festival of Nossa Senhora de Lourdes (Our Lady of Lourdes, patron of the whalers) also known as Semana dos Baleeiros (Whalers week) is held for a week in Lajes do Pico (not to be confused with Lajes of Terceira) beginning in the last Sunday of August. It is marked by social and cultural events connected to the tradition of whale hunting (no longer practiced in the Azores). The Festa das Vindimas (Wine Harvest Festival) takes place during the first week of September and is a century old custom ways by the people of Pico. CorvoThe locals celebrate their patron saint Nossa Senhora dos Milagres, (Our Lady of Miracles) on August 15 every year in addition to the festivals of the Divine Holy Spirit. Santa MariaThe Festival da Mare de Agosto (August Tide Festival) takes place every year beginning 15 August 15 in Praia Formosa. National and international musicians join the locals in a week of music, sun and fun. FaialThe Semana do Mar (Ocean Week) is dedicated almost exclusively to water sports an takes place in August in Horta City. Other Events:Carnaval is celebrated in the Azores where it is a regional holiday unlike mainland Portugal. Parades, shows and dancing are the heart of the Carnaval festivities, with lively music, colorful costumes and floats. In S. Miguel the traditional "Batalha das Limas" (Water fights) are held in Ponta Delgada. Here you’ll find people by foot, motorcycle or truck with all kinds of water devices and “Limas” (water in wax containers) fighting their hearts out throughout the streets of Ponta Delgada. If you don’t want to get wet don’t get caught outdoors. S. Miguel is home to the SATA Rally Azores (an IRC competition), the ASP World Tour of Surfing and the Azores Golf Open. Santa Clara of Ponta Delgada is a football (soccer) team playing in the National Liga de Honra (honor league, a notch below the main football league). Santa Clara has occasionally ascended to the main league. Other major events include Judo, Sailing, and Ocean sports. GastronomyAlcatraA typical dish of Terceira Island. # Cozido nas FurnasCooked in the boilers of Furnas,in SĂŁo Miguel. # Sopas do EspĂrito SantoIn Santa Maria, the tradition remains unchanged. # Biscoitos de OrelhaWares typical of Santa Maria. # The cuisine of the Azores is varied and is derived in almost all its entirety from the mainland Portugal recipes. While Portuguese food is relatively unknown outside Portugal, Azorean cuisine is not only unknown but almost non-existent. The “Cozido das Furnas” for example is only unique on the way it is cooked as cozido is a typical mainland Portugal dish. Terceira’s Alcatra is also a knock-off o similar dish encountered throughout Portugal’s mainland. Azores food is spicier than that of the mainland and it is heavier on the meat and potatoes and lighter on vegetables. Besides the recipes for meat dishes there are those for fish and tasty shell-fish, groose barnacles, and other specialties. The region has many traditional sweets.
The cheese from the Azores is mostly from cow’s milk while the cheeses from the mainland are mostly from goat and sheep’s milk. This allowed Azoreans to master the craft and specialty and produce some of the best cheeses in Europe.
With rare exceptions, Azorean table wine is mostly sub-standard. Pico is the closest to have a wine that can compete with the average European wines. However the best casts quickly sell out.
São Jorge’s cheese, the sweet and juicy pineapples from Sao Miguel and the aperitif wine from Pico that once reached the table of the Czars, are all compulsory stopping places in a gastronomic itinerary of the Azores.
HandicraftScrimshawWorks made ​​of bone and whale tooth. # CeramicsCommon in San Miguel, in the village of Lagoa. # Miolo de FigueiraWork from fig tree pith. # EmbroideryBeautiful pieces of artwork # The Azorean archipelago, with its rich history and many traditions, is known for its arts and handicrafts. Artisan have saved and developed their workmanship techniques through the centuries. Due to their isolated location Azorean craftsmen use primarily raw materials such as wood, fish scales, whale bone and teeth, basalt, hydrangea, piths, potter's earth and corn leaves. Particularly noteworthy are the colorful pottery of Lagoa (São Miguel), the embroideries and lace (Sao Miguel, Terceira, Pico and Faial), the counterpanes (Sao Jorge and Terceira), the delicate works in fig tree woods, fish scales and wheat straw (Faial) and the scrimshaws, works of art carved from the teeth and jaws of the sperm whale (Pico, Terceira, São Miguel and Faial). Local Products
PineappleOnly grown on the island of Sao Miguel. # CheeseFound in all the islands, the best known is the cheese of St. George. # WineHere you can find the famous Pico Verdelho wine. # Local products worth mentioning include pottery, embroidery and lace, wheat straw and scrimshaw products, S. Miguel Pinnaple, S. Jorge cheese and some of Pico's wine. |
You are here : Azores 
About & Video
About & Video
