Portuguese Island Hopping
- jaime de sousa
- Nov 4, 2015
- 3 min read
The Portuguese Islands of the Azores and Madeira are some of the best kept secrets of Europe. They have all of the cultural perks of the mainland, rich in food and wine, but with adventure and nature much more easily accessible. They're islands where you can spend your stay in many possible ways. Relaxing at the spa, canyoning down waterfalls, hiking scenic trails, romantic dinners overlooking quaint villages, and soaking in thermal pools, just to name a few.
Over the past years both sets of islands have seen an influx of tourism.
Madeira, also known as the "Pearl of the Atlantic," and birthplace of famous soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo, has for the last few decades seen such an increase in tourism that it has been able to really take pride and beautifully develop it's main city, Funchal. The city has the perfect blend of tradition, romance and modern appeal as it gazes overs the vast Atlantic with the only land in sight being a cluster of deserted islands and the one other populated, although sparsely populated, island, Porto Santo.
Strolling through Funchal is a great way to get acquainted with the island culture. Whether you're walking along the Marina, or toward the old city, it's possible to spend a few days or just a few hours exploring. Plenty of day trips are offered from the main city, including adventure tours, sight-seeing adventures and island tours, to name a few. Discovering the rest of the island is a large part of the magic of Madeira. A popular day trip for sun bathers, hikers and water sports enthusiasts is to Porto Santo, one of the islands of Madeira. The Lobo Marinho, is one of the best ways to visit this island with 2.5 km of sandy beaches, something you won't naturally find on the main island. There are also many (mostly rocky) beaches on the main island, and plenty of opportunities to get your fill of nature adventuring. Canyoning is sure to be an up and coming activity for visitors of the island. This one small island has canyons of all levels to suit your canyoning soul. It's a great way to experience and see the island in a new way. Tour companies like, Harmony in Nature, are leading the way in this form of eco-adventure. Harmony in Nature excels in the way they conduct business, offering one of the most intimate and professional canyoning tours provided on the island. Small groups, safety and a good time are sure to be had with them.
You'll be sure to fall in love here. Just don't forget to stop and enjoy the view every once in a while.
The Azores are another set of Portuguese islands sitting in the middle of the Atlantic. Here is another place where "enjoying the view" is very important. So important that most all viewing points on the island have cooking pits and picnic tables that are popular with locals and increasingly popular with tourists.
Ponta Delgada, the main city of the main island of the Azores, seems to be a larger, more grungy cousin of Funchal. A closer look at the city is recommended. If you manage to mingle with a local who is privy to the emerging art and artisan scene, or stay at the sleek new hostel of Ricardo Resendes, The Nook Hostel, a new Ponta Delgada comes alive. The city is figuring out it's new identity and it seems to be moving in a good direction.
The grand appeal to the island, known as Sao Miguel, is the amount of natural beauty and nature attractions it has. This tiny speck, barely visible on most maps, packs quite a punch. Hot springs, hydrangea lined dirt roads, and hiking trails sure to challenge those with fears of heights, are some of the things you'll find here. Not to mention the amazing spots to appreciate the boldness of land, sky and water.
Although these islands are often frequented by European vacationers and visitors with familial or cultural ties, recent efforts to promote the island - (particularly the Azores and particularly through the deal focused website, Groupon) - are proving to be growingly effective. The blend of culture, relaxation and adventure really make these islands suitable for any type of vacationer.
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