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The recent tourism boom in the Azores; a Portuguese archipelago in the mid-Atlantic has seen the once-thriving agriculture sector fall into decline, as more service-based jobs takeover this small island archipelago. Historically a new topic of discussion in the Azores, is the...

The Macaronesia islands are a collection of four archipelagos in the North Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of Europe and Africa. Each archipelago is made up of several Atlantic oceanic islands formed by seamounts on the ocean floor with summits above the ocean’s surface. The...

One of the best-kept secrets still to exist in the Azores is the magnificent crater lakes on Flores island, at the Northern-tip of the archipelago. Here on this little island paradise exists some of the most beautiful flora and pastoral scenes in all of the Azores. It is here...

With its maritime contacts in the 17th century, Portugal introduced this native plant from China and Japan to the region of the Azores, where today there are over 600 varieties of camellias. The camellias in the Azores have been here for hundreds of years, with many people...

Festivals on the island of Sao Miguel are seldom a solemn event and are filled with good food, great music, and lots of live entertainment. The month of February on the island is no exception. Generally, the main festivals end in October and do not begin again until the spring....

In 1594, Portugal’s 1,200-ton ship “Las Cinque Chagas” sailed for Lisbon, Portugal, from Goa, India, with a cargo of 3,500,000 Portuguese cruzados with 22 treasure chests filled with diamonds, rubies, and pearls. This was a cargo estimated to be worth well over $1...

Most people only recently began hearing about the Azores Islands, and that is because of the recent tourism boom that has struck the region. The Azores, which comprise of nine islands, is located in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean; 1500km off the coast of Portugal. These breathtaking...

What can be more beautiful than a peaceful sea breeze, pastoral green mountains, and an island covered with baby blue hydrangeas? The small island of Faial, known as the ‘blue island,’ overlooks Pico’s beautiful mountainous island, which is the highest point in...

The island of Sao Miguel also known as the “green island” is a nature lover paradise. The countless outdoor activities offered on land, air, and sea are perfect for you and your family to experience. The nine Azores islands are not just for the seasoned traveler...

One of the unique things about the Azores islands is that they are the only region in the entire Euro-zone to grow tea commercially and have been doing so since the 19th century. The island of Sao Miguel is extraordinary and unique for its ability to be able to produce tea, which...

The RedBull Cliff Diving World Series is an annual event that takes place at some of the top cliff diving locations around the globe. In Europe, the event has gained popularity over the last few years especially in Spain and Portugal. The only region in Portugal to host this...

The Festival of Senhor Santo Cristo, also known in English as the Feast of the Holy Christ, is the largest celebration in the Azores islands. A religious celebration that takes place on the 5th Sunday after Easter on the island of Sao Miguel, with the large procession taking...

In 1750 the initial trials of tea occurred on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, off the coast of Portugal. They were producing very little tea (10 kg of Black and 8 kg of Green Tea). In 1801, the Azores Governor-General sent to mainland Portugal two tea plant cases, noting...

The nine islands of the Azores are all very unique and are filled with endless views of paradise. The islands are divided into three groups and vary in size and population significantly on all the islands. The largest and most populated island in the archipelago is Sao Miguel....

The festival of St. Peter’s knights or otherwise known as “Cavalhadas de Sao Pedro,” is one of the oldest festivals in the Azores and originates in the county of Ribeira Grande in the town of Ribeira Seca. Medieval tournaments inspired them with the region, most...

The Sata Rallye Açores, known originally as the “Volta à Ilha de São Miguel,” is an international rally racing event based on the Portuguese island of São Miguel Island in the Azores. The Rally now takes the name of Azores Airlines Sata Rally, with Azores...

The Azores are known for their countless celebrations and “Festas” that happen at various times throughout the year on each of the 9 Portuguese islands. On the island of Sao Miguel, which has always been recognized as the Azores’ agricultural capital, in the...