Tiny Corvo is the most northerly island of the Azores.
Corvo is the smallest of all the islands in the Azores, with just one town, Vila do Corvo, and a population of around 450. Being the most westerly, Corvo was one of the last islands to be populated in 1580, although it had appeared on navigational charts under various names as early as 1351. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Corvo and neighbour Flores were vital navigation beacons for ships sailing the trade winds between mainland Portugal and her Brazilian colonies, but the islands quickly lost their significance when the industrial revolution and steam-driven ships transformed Atlantic navigation. The southern end of the island around Vila is fairly flat, whereas the sheer cliffs of the north, east and west coasts all give way to the vast volcanic crater which dominates the island.
Thankfully, life on modern-day Corvo is a more sedate affair. Together with Flores and Graciosa, the island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – acknowledging the careful preservation of her volcanic landscape in tandem with sustainable human development. It’s also a popular destination for the birdwatching community, when migrating American bird species seek refuge on the island in the Autumn.
The first settlements were established on Faial in the 1460s – the sheltered bay at Porto Pim was an obvious anchorage which eventually grew into the present-day harbour town of Horta. The etymology of the name Horta is often disputed – some say it’s a derivation of ‘Huerter’: the surname of Josse van Huerter, the Flemish first Captain of the island. Others point to the Latin Horta, as in ‘Horticulture’, and it was the cultivation of wheat and cereals which really establish the island’s economy.
For a small and unassuming island, Faial holds a surprisingly significant place in the history of the Atlantic: as a crucial resupply point for Portuguese ships trading in Brazilian gold in the 16th & 17th centuries, as a 19th century H.Q. for telegraph cables connecting Europe with the USA, as a safe-haven for seaplanes making the first trans-Atlantic crossings in the 1930s, and as a communications hub connecting the D-Day landing beaches to the USA during the battle of Normandy in 1944.
Modern-day Faial has a bustling, maritime feel and is one of Europe’s best whale and dolphin watching locations – it’s easy to add trips to a tailor-made holiday or you can 
Faial’s western peninsula at Capelinhos is one of the Azores’ most arresting volcanic landscapes. Beginning in September 1957 and ending in October 1958, two overlapping volcanic eruptions created more than 2km² of new land. The Capelinhos Interpretation Centre exhibits studies, images and film from the time of the eruption – you’ll also see the erosive impact of the wind and waves have on this soft, powdered-pumice landscape as it slowly returns to the sea.
Flores is arguably the most beautiful island of the Azores archipelago – a flourishing, verdant landscape of rolling hills and crater lakes, of magnificent waterfalls and monolithic seacliffs, and isolated whitewashed fishing villages dashed with Atlantic sea spray.
Flores (and her smaller neighbour 
Our favourite places to stay are in-or-around Faja Grande: a wonderfully easy-going and welcoming little hamlet which has the honour of being the most-westerly village in Europe. There’s a very off-grid feel Faja Grande: ideal for a respite from the trappings of 21st century life.
Graciosans will proudly inform you that their island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Rightly so – their UNESCO status acknowledges the fine balance Graciosa strikes between the preservation of her landscapes and sustainable human development.
For visitors to the island, this manifests itself as sparsely populated villages, traditional rural architecture, quiet roads and a gentle pace of life. This wasn’t always the case: at the height of Graciosa’s agricultural output, the population of the island peaked at almost 14,000 – hard to believe as you wander around this peaceful island.
That’s not to say Graciosa is dull – quite the opposite: it’s violent volcanic past is only too evident at Furna do Enxofre. A unique geological phenomenon, this enormous lava cave is an extraordinary sight: 200m in diameter with a 50m high, naturally vaulted ceiling made-up of volcanic prisms. It also has its own underground sulphurous lake, and it’s only accessible via a vertigo-inducing 80-year-old stone spiral staircase (we counted 183 steps). The Azores has more than its fair share of impressive geological phenomena, but Furna do Enxofre is one of the stand outs.
The Termas do Carapacho geothermal baths are hidden away at the southern-most tip of the island. Like their sister-pools on Sao Miguel, the springs at Termas average temperatures of around 35⁰C, and the hot waters are naturally-drawn from aquafers deep under the Furna do Enxofre caldera, with the impressive Ponta do Carapacho cliffs as a backdrop.
Pico was first settled around 1460 under the leadership of Flemish nobleman and émigré Josse van Huerter. The Hundred Years War was wreaking on his native Flanders, and Huerter encouraged many of his fellow countrymen to follow in his footsteps, creating settlements under the patronage of the Portuguese crown on the islands of Faial, Sao Jorge and Pico.
It was Flemish technological know-how which built the windmills you’ll see dotted around the island, and the distinctive Currais walled plots which characterise the island’s vineyards. The best examples are at Criacao Velha, where a once-barren lava field was gradually cultivated into the fascinating, geometric vineyards we see today – a process which began with the arrival of the first settlers in the 15th century. Although the first town was established at Lajes, Madalena quickly became the import & export hub for the island, thanks to its proximity to the vineyards – and to the ‘international’ harbour across the channel in Horta.
Away from the vineyards, the island’s most visually striking natural monument is the Montanha do Pico: an immense 2351m stratovolcano and a popular challenge for hikers from across Europe. Pico’s an island of fascinating volcanic landscapes: the volcanic coastline at Arcos do Cachorro, the lava flows form the 18th century eruption at Misterio da Silveira, and the twin cave systems at Frei Matias and Gruta das Torres. Formed just 1500 years ago, the total length of the Torres cave system is still not 100% confirmed but it’s thought to be in the region of 5km.
Pico is also the spiritual home of Azorean whale watching. When whale hunting ended in the late eighties, French naturalist Serge Viallelle saw a new future for island’s whale spotters. Combining their skills and experience with his own passion for marine conservation, he demonstrated that whale tourism, rather than whale hunting, was the sustainable way forwards. Sadly, Serge is no longer with us, but his Espaco Talassa crew in Lajes are helping to support cetacean studies and conservation in the North Atlantic.
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in Azorean culture without the hustle and bustle of Sao Miguel, be sure to include a stay on Terceira. The island is home to Angra’s the Azores’ oldest city, Angra do Heroísmo, whose cobbled streets, historic architecture and friendly population give the city a seductive charm.
As a protected UNESCO world heritage site, Angra’s stately 17th and 18th century architecture bears witness to Portugal’s golden age, when the city blossomed economically, culturally and architecturally, and a long list of exiled members of the Portuguese nobility called Terceira their home.
Inland, the island’s rugged interior provides a glimpse of how the Azorean landscape would have appeared to the first settlers arriving in the 15th century. Just over 20% of the island is classified as a protected Natural Park, to preserve and protect the last remaining laurisilva and juniper forests.
It’s also a very volcanic landscape of criss-crossing lava flows and spectacular cave systems – most famously at Algar do Carvao: a unique 3000-year-old volcanic chimney and one of Portugal’s most-fascinating Natural Monuments.
Santa Maria is the most southerly of the nine islands of the Azores – it’s also the sunniest, with some of the best beaches in the archipelago, making it a favourite holiday destination for many Azoreans. Geologically, it’s the oldest island with a very different landscape to the younger volcanic islands like Pico or Faial. The volcanoes that first formed Santa Maria have had time to erode into pleasant rolling hills, secluded coves and dramatic sea cliffs.
The island was the first to be inhabited, when pioneering Portuguese settlers arrived in 1439 on the site of the current village of Anjos. Christopher Columbus famously came ashore at Anjos in 1493 on his return voyage from the Americas, to attend mass at the village’s small chapel.
Santa Maria is also famous for its handicrafts with most Azorean families owning a blanket, patchwork quilt or linen tablecloth which was woven on a traditional loom at the co-operative in Santo Espirito. Wines and sweet liqueurs are also produced on the island: Licor de Amor and Vinho Abafadinho are popular across the Azores.
If you’re a keen hiker, 
Faja dos Cubres and Faja da Caldeira Santo Cristo are two of the truly off-grid locations in the Azores. Santo Cristo was all but abandoned following the devastating earthquake in 1980 – at last count, eight hardy souls are still full-time residents. The tarmac road to Faja dos Cubres is a relatively recent addition from 1993 – prior to its construction, access was via a steep zig-zagging trail or by boat, and it was quite common for the fajas’ residents to be cut off from the rest of the island in the wintertime.
The western town of Velas is the island capital. Its naturally sheltered harbour was a popular target for French privateers throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, prompting the construction of the heavily-armed forts, They were all but destroyed by a tsunami in 1899 but their remains are still visible if you know where to look. The centre of town is dominated by the 17th century Igreja Matriz de Velas church. A likeness of Saint George sits centre on the church’s main alter – outside, you’ll see a fountain with a modern-day sunken sculpture of the dragon he slayed.
Sao Jorge is an excellent choice for a split-stay 
Being the largest island in the Azores, there’s the most to see and do on Sao Miguel – particularly for couples and active families who enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding, diving, surfing, canyoning, coasteering, sailing, hiking and biking.
The Azores are also Europe’s number one destination for whale and dolphin watching – whether you’re looking for 
Sao Miguel is one of the more-obviously volcanic islands in the archipelago, particularly in the east at Furnas. Furnas is one of the island’s oldest calderas, roughly 100,000 years, with over thirty geysers and mineral-rich springs dotted in and around the caldera. The naturally-hot earth, bubbling aquifers and wild aloe vera creates a giddy-mix of aromas – nowhere more so than at the 200-year-old Parque Terra Nostra: the semi-tropical home of Sao Miguel’s most-famous hot springs and geothermal swimming pools.
Sete Cidades is to the west – a must-see destination for most visitors to the islands, The ‘Seven Cities’ volcano forms the western extreme of Sao Miguel and its extraordinary natural beauty is best viewed from Vista do Rei: the Kings Viewpoint, which was named in honour of Don Carlos and Dona Amelia, the last queen of Portugal. The village of Sete Cidades sits in the base of the crater, on the shores of the twin lakes of Lagoa Verde (the green lake) and Lagoa Azul (the blue). According to legend, the lakes were formed by the tears of a blue-eyed princess who was parted from her green-eyed shepherd lover by her father, the king.
The capital Ponta Delgada sits in between. It’s a friendly, welcoming city where everything is accessible on foot, including many of 
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