Postcard: Azores 2022
This September, our Wild Earth Explorers adventured through the magical lush green islands of the Azores archipelago, situated in the middle of the Atlantic. We enjoyed scenic hikes and bike rides throughout the volcanic landscapes and forests filled with flowering hydrangeas and dipped our bodies in crystal-clear rock pools skirting rugged coastlines. We strolled and savoured delicious local cuisine on our way through historically quaint towns while engaging with the friendly locals who call this unique place home.
After saturating our senses on land and gorging ourselves on the mouth-watering local cheeses, it was time to board our private catamaran to slice through the ocean and soak in the shimmering sea. Magical memories were made as we mingled with the majestic marine life. Pods of Spotted dolphins escorted us out into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Adrenaline rose higher than the tallest peak in Portugal as we intimately swam with six sleek Blue sharks while hovering in the blue merely 300 meters above the Azores Bank, a deeply submerged seamount below. Mobula rays danced around us as the sun set behind distant Mount Pico, which stood sturdy and statuesque in the background our entire time on the water. The Mobula rays became a regular sighting at the end of our dives as we drifted in the blue following our deep exploration of Princess Alice Bank, another remote seamount 85 kilometres from the closest island. From the lofty heights onboard our vessel or the lookouts ashore, we became well acquainted with the sight of huge pods of dolphins and hunting Sei whales, who thoroughly enjoyed keeping us company as the whimsical waves consistently caressed our catamaran.
Following our ocean time, our next adventure was to climb the mighty Mount Pico volcano. Situated on Pico Island, standing at an elevation of 2351 meters, it required us to ascend tricky and steep terrain for over three hours. We climbed above the clouds, descending into craters and dropping down onto all fours to summit the final peak and behold the panoramic view of the islands surrounding us. If all our breaths weren't taken away from the tough climb, they were fully stolen by this glorious sight! Challenging yet entirely worth it, we celebrated our vertical victories over camaraderie, good local wine and authentic cuisine.
For the grand finale of our trip, we ventured out onto the water for a final chance to experience the sea's bounty. With a day of glorious weather, we watched as Sperm whales rested on the surface before displaying their fluke on a deep dive for squid. The water boiled with hundreds of Spotted and Bottle Nose dolphins, often disrupting the blanket of Shearwaters floating on the glistening surface. We were treated to the rare sight of Risso dolphins and a large pod of Pygmy Killer whales.
Three weeks together whisked by as we engaged with the natural beauty of the land and sea. Thank you, Azores, for sending us home with our souls filled with adventure and our minds flooded with a myriad of marvellous memories!
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Our Azores trip was packed with epic exploration of both land and sea. We cannot wait to return. We would love to hear from you if this Azores expedition piques your interest!