Welcome to the Azores, the paradise islands in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. The nine islands of the Azores archipelago were birthed from volcanoes, emerging from the depths of the sea. Sometimes called the Hawaii of Europe – despite their mid-Atlantic location, the Azores are part of Portugal. There are plenty of reasons why everyone should visit the Azores at least once in a lifetime. But without a doubt the most important of them is nature.
On our first day we went to the capital of the island to buy food. What we bought the most was milk from Azores cows and then we headed towards one of the most famous places.
The amazing thing about this island is how green it is and how tropical it looks. Finally we arrived at the town of Furnas to enter the Terra Nostra Garden botanical garden. The entrance costs 10 euros and allows you to see the botanical garden and swim in the pool. The park has very nice plants and contains thousands of trees from around the world.
Terra Nostra Park is a paradise and it is full of amazing walking paths to explore. You definitely need more than an hour here.
Terra Nostra Garden is a world reference for plant lovers. The peace and tranquility that you find in the corners and lakes of this park are magical. Aside from its large Camellia Collection and other rare species, the park surrounding Terra Nostra Garden Hotel is known worldwide for its thermal pool, filled with volcanic water from the hot springs at a steady 40°C, rich in iron and other minerals highly beneficial for the skin and creating an amazing wellness treatment.
The water has a peculiar yellow-brown color because it's so rich in iron. Be aware that your swimwear and towels may well get the same color, so better not bring your newest or whitest.
Our next stop was Caldeira das Furnas, where boiling water flows from underground.
The town of Furnas is built on land with incredible volcanic activity: it has 22 springs of hot sulphurous water and a river of boiling water.
The Furnas typical dish is made in a pot inserted into holes underground, so that it cooks for six or eight hours. I recommend you spend a few minutes here after the terra nostra garden, since it is only 1 km away.
To end the day, we went to the north of the island, near our apartment to visit the famous Santa Barbara beach, with its black volcanic sand. Even with bad weather you could appreciate the beauty of this place.
Thanks to the wind my voice is not heard but basically I was saying that we are in Santa Barbara Beach. And one guy is surfing right now and I think that he is a bit crazy because the weather is very dangerous. The ocean is quite beautiful but the wind is super strong and now I understand why yesterday we had so many problems for landing. So the sand has a dark color and I believe this is because we are in a volcanic place.
One of the things that most characterises the Azores islands and this one in particular are the waterfalls. On our second day we went to discover one that was close to us.
The river that flowed from the waterfall had water so pure and crystal clear that it made you want to drink it. The waterfall is quite high and has a lot of strength, it is very beautiful to admire.
Although less impressive than the other waterfall I recommend (like Salto Do Prego) it is much easier to access. Additionally, Do Cabrito exhibits its own charm and is a great addition to your vacation in Sao Miguel. You can definitely have a few minutes of peace and quiet before starting an intense day on this island.
If you liked this video, I must tell you that you haven't seen anything yet. Subscribe for my next videos of the azores islands. I will show you unreal, magical places and incredible corners of nature. You can not miss the next videos of this wonderful adventure. So, I wait for you in my next video!
00:00 - Trailer
00:35 - First impressions
01:27 - Terra Nostra Park
03:03 - Mud Pool
04:07 - Caldeiras das Furnas
04:59 - Santa Barbara Beach
05:42 - Salto do Cabrito Waterfall
06:58 - Coming up...
