TRAVEL SPECIAL...... UNEARTH THE AZORES, A NEW ADVENTURE DESTINATION

UNEARTH THE AZORES, A NEW ADVENTURE DESTINATION





Plan a trip to this far-flung archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic

Millions of years ago, the earth's gurgling mantle gave rise to nine small islands in the middle of the North Atlantic. Today, the Azores -which are located 1,000 miles off the coast of Europe -is a quiet realm of quaint Iberian charm and dazzling vine-draped greens carved out by a dramatic history of volcanic events.

The Azores offer gorgeous nofilter landscapes yet they remain remarkably under the radar.However, The Azores is hoping to find the sweet spot that boosts infrastructure without damaging both the tangible and intangible treasures that make the archipelago so unique. Here's what to know now to get ahead of the pack in the world's next bucket list destination.

Getting around

The nine isles of the Azores are organised into three geographic clusters -east, central, and west -with the most populous island, São Miguel, belonging to the eastern group. You'll need a puddle jumper to leap between island groups, though public ferries will easily get you around each cluster.

What to do

In São Miguel, start at Sete Cidades and check out the two captivating lagoons as they swirl together in the pit of a captivating crater. A stop in the aptly named village of Furnas is another must. There you can bathe in the brackish waters of Terra Nostra Garden. Also, try cozido, an Azorean stew-like version of paella cooked in natural mudpots over volcanic heat. With a unique style of religious architecture sculpted from porous volcanic stone, the capital city's colonial downtown area is best enjoyed in the evening with a walk among the twisting backstreets, or tapas along the waterfront.

On the outlying island, climbing Pico's witch-hat summit remains the island's most iconic experience -a trek that takes around six hours to the top and back. Locals endorse Adega A Buraca, where you can play with 19th-century vintner's tools and taste-test their wares.

Where to stay

For Ponta Delgada urban life, try the Azor Hotel, which opened in June to fill the palpable void of sleek boutique stays. Azor's sister property, Furnas Boutique Hotel, is roughly a 45-minute drive away, in a lush jungle setting. For something resembling more of a traditional beach holiday, check into Santa Barbara Eco-Beach Resort, a collection of semi-detached suites along São Miguel's northern coast .

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