Why the Azores Is Europe's Most Underrated Expedition Destination

If you showed most European travelers a map and asked them to point to the Azores, a significant number would hesitate. Some would reach for the Canary Islands. Some would gesture vaguely at the Mediterranean. The Azores are genuinely unknown to a large proportion of the travelers who would love them most, and that, paradoxically, is part of what makes them so extraordinary right now.

Nine Islands, Nine Different Worlds

The Azores archipelago comprises nine volcanic islands spread across 600 kilometers of mid-Atlantic Ocean. Each island has its own character, its own landscape, its own pace. São Miguel has crater lakes and geothermal hot springs. Pico has a perfect volcanic cone and the best whale-watching in Europe. Flores island has waterfalls tumbling from cliff tops into the sea. Corvo has a single caldera that you can walk into. No other archipelago in the Atlantic offers this range of ecological and geological variety in such a concentrated area.

Whales: The Azores' Open Secret

The Azores sit above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface and sustains an extraordinary marine food chain. Blue whales, the largest animals ever to have lived on Earth, are regular visitors. Sperm whales are year-round residents: the Azores have the highest Sperm whale density of any location in the North Atlantic. Fin whales, Sei whales, Common dolphins, and Bottlenose dolphins complete a cast of marine life that rivals anywhere in the world. An expedition vessel in these waters is not searching for animals, it is navigating around them.

See what to expect on our Azores expedition voyages.

The Mass Tourism Problem Has Not Arrived Yet

Post-pandemic, travel to Iceland, Patagonia, and other previously "hidden" destinations exploded. The Azores saw an increase but remained well below the tourist density of comparable Atlantic destinations. Infrastructure outside São Miguel and Terceira is still modest. There are no all-inclusive resorts on Flores or Corvo. The islands feel like Portugal did before Lisbon was discovered by everyone. This window will not stay open indefinitely.

Practicalities That Make It Easy

The Azores are an autonomous region of Portugal, EU territory, Euro currency, no visa for most visitors, direct flights from Lisbon, London, Boston, and Toronto. Healthcare infrastructure is solid. English is widely spoken. The climate is mild year-round. There is genuinely no logistical barrier to going.

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