Natürlich durfte bei unserem Inselhopping auf den Azoren auch die Insel Pico nicht fehlen. Allein schon wegen dem gleichnamigen Vulkan Pico, dem höchsten Berg Portugals. Aber auch sonst hat Pico für Naturfreunde jede Menge zu bieten: die Hochebene mit den Kraterseen, raue Küstenlandschaft und Weinberge mit malerischen Häuschen.

Everyone who knows me is aware that my secret getaway spot is a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. And even though I'd really love to keep it to myself, it's not really fare, as this place is one of the most unique and beautiful I've ever seen.

SOME 900 MILES FROM MAINLAND, VOLCANIC TERROIR AND HYPER-LOCAL INGREDIENTS MAKE FOR A DISTINCT CULINARY HERITAGE

Schon die Anreise mit dem Flugzeug von Lissabon zur Azoreninsel Faial ist spektakulär! Beim Anflug sehen wir den Vulkan von Pico steil aus dem Meer ragen.

Some say this volcanic island chain on the North Atlantic could be the next millennial hotspot. UNESCO recognized three islands — Graciosa, Flores and Corvo — as biospheres, and there are 13 Ramsar (important wetlands) sites and even more Blue Flag beaches. 

According to Flight Centre UK, the warm waters around The Azores, an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean 900 miles to the west of Portugal, are home to 11 species of dolphin. 

The Azores Archipelago, set of nine islands, is part of Portugal between Europe and America, are exotic, volcanic, lush, safe, quaint, and drenched in European charm. It is just a four hour direct flight from Boston and Providence on Azores Airlines.

PONTA DELGADA, SÃO MIGUEL, Portugal — I heard the comparisons, and I can’t say that I agree with them.

“The Azores are the next Iceland,” someone told me. “The Azores are the Hawaii of the Atlantic,” I read in Forbes.

When I told people that I was going to the Azores, the response was overwhelmingly something along the lines of the following: “Ooooh, the Azores… Where’s that?”