Azores without the crowds: volcanic lakes, thermal springs, and whales attract travellers seeking a calmer holiday

Azores: European islands for travellers who want nature without the crowds

For some time now, the Azores have been moving beyond the framework of a classic Atlantic destination and are increasingly being mentioned as a choice for travellers seeking a holiday focused on nature, movement, and a calmer pace of travel. This Portuguese archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic does not attract visitors with mass urban amenities or long rows of hotel zones, but with volcanic craters, green slopes, thermal springs, lakes, and a sea where whale and dolphin watching is part of real everyday life rather than just a tourist slogan. It is precisely this combination of landscapes and experiences that makes the Azores especially attractive to travellers who want an active, but not overblown, holiday, with more space, more silence, and less of a feeling that they are in a destination exhausted by crowds.

Although the archipelago consists of nine islands, for most first visits the central point remains São Miguel, the largest and most accessible island, where it is most clearly visible why interest in the Azores has been spreading among European travellers in recent years. There, in a relatively small area, almost all the motifs that make this part of Portugal stand out come together: volcanic lakes, fumaroles, thermal baths, coastal cliffs, hiking trails, and viewpoints from which the landscape opens up as if it were made for postcards. Those looking for accommodation in the Azores often find the widest choice of bases for exploration precisely on São Miguel, from Ponta Delgada to Furnas and smaller places along the coast.

Volcanic landscapes that set the rhythm of travel

The most famous image of the Azores is still Sete Cidades, a huge volcanic caldera in the west of São Miguel at the centre of which lie the famous blue and green lakes. This location is important not only because it is among the most photographed on the island, but because it summarises what makes the Azores different from typical southern European destinations. Instead of urban scenery and crowded promenades, geology, changing weather, clouds that quickly descend over the crater, and the impression that nature here is not observed from a safe distance but entered into its own space come to the fore. Official tourism and park websites especially highlight Sete Cidades as one of the key places for understanding the island’s volcanic origin, while the hiking routes and viewpoints around the caldera further intensify the feeling that the landscape here is not explored only by car, but also on foot.

A similar impression is left by Lagoa do Fogo, one of São Miguel’s most striking lakes, located in a protected area that is still experienced as one of the wildest parts of the island. Unlike many overhyped European lake locations, the emphasis here is on preserving the space rather than on aggressive tourism development. The views from the viewpoints towards the lake, the dark slopes, and the changeable sky reveal how strongly the sense of distance from the continent is present. It is precisely in such places that the Azores build their identity: they do not offer artificially arranged exoticism, but nature that is still dominant, sometimes unpredictable, and almost always photogenic. For travellers who want to stay longer near locations like these, accommodation close to the main natural attractions is also important, especially if they plan early departures towards viewpoints and hiking trails.

Furnas: a place where volcanic energy can be seen and felt

If there is an area that most clearly shows why the Azores are different from a classic island holiday, then it is Furnas. The Furnas valley on São Miguel is known for sulphurous springs, steam vents, boiling springs, and thermal water, and it is precisely there that volcanic activity moves beyond the level of scenery and becomes an experience. The smell of sulphur, the steam emerging from the ground, and the constant presence of geothermal energy are reminders that this is a living volcanic space, and not merely a beautiful landscape to be viewed from a bus. In Furnas, nature is not observed only with the eyes: it is felt in the air, on the skin, and in the rhythm of a place that has grown precisely from that particularity.

A large part of travellers’ interest is focused on the thermal baths and parks, among which Terra Nostra stands out in particular, with its well-known warm pool in a century-old garden, as well as other thermal bathing sites in the Furnas area. Such places attract visitors who are not looking exclusively for an active holiday, but also for a slower, wellness rhythm without giving up the impression that they are still deep in a natural setting. Yet Furnas is not interesting only because of bathing. There one can observe how geology shapes everyday life, from the landscape to gastronomy, and even to the way the local tourism offer has developed around thermal springs and volcanic soil. That is why Furnas is increasingly highlighted as a location for travellers who want to combine a stay in nature, gentle exploration, and relaxation, while accommodation offers in the Furnas area make sense precisely for those who want to experience the place both early in the morning and in the evening, outside the busiest hours.

Whale watching is not a side attraction, but an important part of the Azores’ identity

Among the experiences that distinguish the Azores from many other European islands, whale and dolphin watching holds a special place. The official tourism promotion of the archipelago and regional institutions have for years emphasised that the Azores are located in a marine area exceptionally rich in whales and other cetaceans, which is why sea excursions have become one of the most sought-after activities, especially on São Miguel, Faial, and Pico. What matters is that this experience in the Azores is not built only on the excitement of encountering large marine animals, but also on rules of conduct. Regional regulations and operator guidelines are clearly aimed at protecting animals and limiting disturbance, which is important at a time when many destinations under the pressure of popularity struggle to balance profit and environmental preservation.

For travellers, this means that whale watching in the Azores has a different tone from a classic commercial attraction. It is not just an excursion on which one “hunts” a scene for social media, but also an experience that is increasingly presented through education about the marine ecosystem, migrations, and local history. In the 20th century, the Azores had a strong connection with whaling, and today’s development of whale watching is often interpreted as a symbol of a change in the relationship with the sea. For many visitors, it is precisely this combination of wilderness, knowledge, and a more responsible approach that is one of the reasons why the archipelago appears more serious and more authentic than many overhyped destinations that offer only a quick and superficial experience of nature.

The Azores are not only São Miguel: nine islands also mean more possible rhythms of travel

Although most first trips remain tied to São Miguel, the image of the Azores is significantly broader. Pico is important because of the highest mountain in Portugal, Mount Pico, a volcano 2,351 metres high, but also because of the unique vineyard landscape protected by UNESCO. There, volcanic heritage is read not only in the relief but also in the way dry-stone walls have shaped an agricultural landscape exposed to wind and salt. Terceira offers a different layer of experience, with Angra do Heroísmo, a historic town inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which shows that the Azores are not only a destination of nature, but also of places important to Atlantic maritime history. Faial, São Jorge, Flores, Graciosa, Santa Maria, and Corvo further broaden the picture of the archipelago towards hiking, cliffs, smaller communities, biosphere reserves, and a sense of remoteness that has today become part of the attraction for many travellers.

It is precisely this dispersion that makes the Azores especially interesting to people who do not want the same type of holiday as on most Mediterranean islands. Here there is no single dominant coast that absorbs all traffic and all visitors. Instead, the trip can be built around islands and interests: someone will give priority to geothermal springs and lakes, someone to hiking, someone to the sea, and someone to a combination of natural and cultural heritage. Such an arrangement reduces the feeling of overcrowding and opens space for a slower pace, which is an important motive for a growing number of travellers from Europe. Those planning a multi-day tour often look in advance for accommodation for visitors who want to tour several parts of the archipelago, especially when the trip includes combining islands.

Sustainability is no longer just a marketing word

For years, the Azores have been strongly presented in tourism promotion as a sustainable destination, but in this case such a message has not remained only at the level of general formulations. Regional authorities and official platforms highlight the international certification of a sustainable destination, and the entire archipelago is often cited as an example of an attempt to keep tourism development in balance with the preservation of natural systems. This does not mean that it is a space without challenges. On the contrary, increasingly popular destinations inevitably face the pressures of growth, transport accessibility, and investor interest. But the important difference is that in the Azores, landscape protection, the regulation of certain activities, and the status of numerous protected areas are already built into the public narrative and institutional framework.

This can be seen on several levels: from the management of natural parks and the network of hiking trails to the rules for whale watching and the status of biosphere reserves on certain islands. For the traveller, this is not an abstract policy, but something that directly shapes the travel experience. Less aggressive interventions in space, better-preserved viewpoints, more controlled access to sensitive sites, and a stronger presence of interpretation centres mean that the natural capital of the archipelago is being preserved as the foundation of future tourism rather than being spent in a few seasons. At a time when more and more people are growing tired of destinations in which local life disappears under the burden of apartmentisation and crowds, it is precisely this approach that gives the Azores added value.

Who will gain the most from travelling to the Azores

The Azores are not a destination for everyone, and that is precisely part of their strength. Travellers who expect all-day nightlife, rows of large resorts, or the classic “beach plus sun lounger” model will probably find other addresses more easily. The Azores are more suited to those who want to get up early for a view of a lake in a crater, get into a car for a new viewpoint, walk a marked trail, stop because of fog descending over green slopes, or end the day in warm mineral water. This is a holiday for people to whom nature is not decoration, but the reason for travelling.

That is precisely why the archipelago is increasingly entering the circle of journeys that are not sold with noise but with atmosphere. São Miguel can offer enough content for a first encounter with the Azores, but the true potential of the destination is seen only when it is understood that this is a space in which the sea, geology, climate, and human settlements constantly overlap. The Azores do not offer a perfectly polished postcard, but the experience of a place that still has its own character. In European tourism, where many locations are becoming interchangeable, that may be their greatest asset.

Sources:

• Visit Azores – official tourism portal of the archipelago with an overview of nature experiences, islands, and the sustainable positioning of the destination (link)
• Visit Azores – official overview of whale and dolphin watching activities, with information on the importance of the marine ecosystem around the Azores (link)
• Visit Azores – official description of the Furnas valley and geothermal activity on São Miguel (link)
• Azores Trails – official network of hiking trails in the Azores, including routes and locations on São Miguel (link)
• Parques Naturais dos Açores – official data on the protected area of Lagoa do Fogo on São Miguel (link)
• Parques Naturais dos Açores – official data on the natural protection of the islet of Vila Franca do Campo (link)
• Parque Terra Nostra – official information on the thermal pool and garden in Furnas (link)
• Portal do Governo dos Açores – regional information on the tourism offer and activities in nature (link)
• Portal do Governo dos Açores – official presentation of whale watching regulation in the autonomous region (link)
• Açores Sustainable Tourism – official overview of sustainable destination certification and regional sustainability policy (link)
• UNESCO – Azores UNESCO Global Geopark, an overview of the geological value of the archipelago (link)
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre – the historic centre of Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira island (link)
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre – the vineyard landscape on Pico island, protected as World Heritage (link)
• Parques Naturais dos Açores – official data on Mount Pico as the highest point in Portugal (link)