Champagne Living

Live the Good Life!

You are here: Home / escape / Winter in the Azores

escape Europe

Winter in the Azores

azores

A few months ago I had the opportunity to spend some time in New Bedford, MA. It’s a wonderful fishing community with strong ties to the Azores, and I was able to really immerse myself for a few days in the incredible Portuguese food and traditions. Now I need to go one step farther and head overseas to this group of islands with such a rich culture. While I was up in New Bedford I got the inside scoop from so many people who had lived there….what to see, do and eat of course, but they warmly gave me their friends and relatives numbers, so I could contact them once I arrived.

Getting there

From the East Coast it’s a quick five hour flight to the Azores (about the same as it is to Los Angeles).

  • SATA Airlines flies directly from Boston to the Azores. This year, SATA offers a $496 flight round-trip from Boston to the Azores departing December 30 and returning January 6.

The Holidays

On Christmas and around Epiphany on January 6, you’ll see groups of Christmas carolers marching through the streets. They go singing from door to door on all of the islands.  It is an old tradition known as singing to the kings (Cantar aos Reis).

The next month, on the evening of February 2 groups of singers again take to the streets in the Singing to the Stars (Cantar às Estrelas), to honor the Lady of the Star Patron Saint of the City of Ribeira Grande. This also marks the end of the holiday season on São Miguel. You’ll get to see the those revelers of Cantar ás Estrelas stop to knock on people’s doors and sing as they march through the streets.  Visit Vila Franca do Campo, Lagoa, Ponta Delgada and Relva to witness this incredible celebration.

Families gather for Christmas dinner of boiled codfish or stuffed turkey with Azorean wine, and if you look closely you’ll see the doors left open to present Christmas cribs that they’ve lovingly made for the baby Jesus. Even if you don’t have family in the Azores, you can celebrate with Azorean liqueurs. Maybe if you get lucky, you’ll be invited to an old Azorean tradition during the holiday season for cakes and homemade liqueur. Or you can go visit one of the distilleries around the islands.

If you should find yourself in Ponta Delgada at the beginning of December, attend one of the classical Christmas Concerts. The city illuminates on Dia das Montras, December 8, and all of the local stores display their Christmas decorations. Azoreans spend the evening watching the city come to life for the holidays.

New Year’s Eve 

Imagine a stage out overlooking the water with live music brass bands and fireworks. Head to Ponta Delgada, Faial, Terceira and some smaller towns and villages across the archipelago to enjoy this waterfront tradition. On New Year’s Day, Azoreans traditionally celebrate the first swim of the year and head to the beach.

Winter 

Escape both the snow and the sunburns in the Azores. The islands offer all-season activities that allow you to absorb rural pastures, beaches and mountains.

A few of these all-season activities include:

  • Tea plantations: Gorreana Tea is known as Europe’s oldest tea since 1883. Grown hundreds of miles away from industrial pollution and harvested fresh from April to September in Sao Miguel, Gorreana grows single estate organic green and black teas.
  • Pineapple plantations: Pineapple greenhouses are unique to the Azores. Sao Miguel has an estimated 6,000 greenhouses.
  • Hike Mount Pico: This volcano is the highest mountain of Portugal. (*Climbing restrictions apply such as the presence of guide, signed authorization form and time limit at the peak. There is also snow on the mountaintop during the winter.)
  • Thermal baths: In Terra Nostra Garden on Sao Miguel, take a dip in the warm thermal baths, heated naturally by the volcanic earth.
  • The Marina of Horta: Like a mosaic, painted squares of cement are dedicated to the boats and sailors that have visited Faial. Each square is the result of a painter who has visited, painting the names of the boat, a flag or an image.

About the Azores

The nine islands of the Azores are in the middle of the North Atlantic and belong to Portugal. They can be reached by direct flight from the US in four hours, or via Lisbon. These volcanic islands are renowned for their craters, beautiful lakes, stunning sea, thermal pools and mountain vistas, their impressive flora and fauna, and marine life. The island have played a hugely important part in European maritime history, due to their strategically significant position as the westernmost point of Europe.

Comments

  2. We are heading to Sao Miguel in a few days! We’re so excited and are hopping to do something special, traditionally Azorean, for christmas?
    Any suggestions?

  3. Most of what you state is astonishingly legitimate and it makes me ponder the reason why I hadn’t looked at this with this light before. Your piece truly did turn the light on for me as far as this subject goes. But at this time there is actually just one position I am not really too comfortable with so while I make an effort to reconcile that with the actual main theme of your position, let me observe just what all the rest of the readers have to say.Very well done.

  4. Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse your blog on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, excellent site!

  9. Hi there this is kinda of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  10. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

  13. This week we will soon usher in positive really Marvian debut the Martian color Air Jordan 7’s. As a high-quality black leather shoes, with the red tongue and purple lining, details combined green, silver, etc. decorate, do not know if you like it or not? Shoes specific release information is as follows: the first to enjoy a beautifully illustrated tour of shoes.
    http://www.realjordansales.com [url=http://www.realjordansales.com]http://www.realjordansales.com[/url]

  18. I have mastered some new elements from your web-site about desktops. Another thing I’ve always considered is that computer systems have become an item that each home must have for a lot of reasons. They provide convenient ways to organize households, pay bills, go shopping, study, hear music and in many cases watch tv programs. An innovative technique to complete many of these tasks has been a computer. These pc’s are mobile, small, robust and mobile.

  21. whoah this weblog is fantastic i really like studying your articles. Keep up the great work! You know, lots of individuals are hunting round for this information, you can help them greatly.

  22. I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the page layout of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?

  23. Excellent post. I used to be checking constantly this blog and I am inspired! Very helpful info particularly the remaining section 🙂 I take care of such information much. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

  24. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. kudos

  25. Thanks for revealing your ideas on this blog. As well, a fantasy regarding the banking institutions intentions whenever talking about property foreclosure is that the financial institution will not getreceive my installments. There is a specific amount of time that this bank will require payments occasionally. If you are also deep inside hole, they may commonly call that you pay the particular payment fully. However, that doesn’t mean that they will have any sort of installments at all. Should you and the bank can be capable to work one thing out, the particular foreclosure process may stop. However, in the event you continue to miss payments wih the new strategy, the home foreclosure process can just pick up exactly where it left off.

  26. One other thing I would like to talk about is that as an alternative to trying to accommodate all your online degree lessons on days and nights that you complete work (as most people are exhausted when they get back), try to have most of your sessions on the saturdays and sundays and only one or two courses on weekdays, even if it means taking some time off your saturdays. This pays off because on the saturdays and sundays, you will be far more rested in addition to concentrated with school work. Thanks alot : ) for the different recommendations I have realized from your weblog.

  27. I’ve learned many important things by means of your post. I’d personally also like to say that there may be situation that you will make application for a loan and do not need a cosigner such as a Federal Student Aid Loan. However, if you are getting that loan through a common bank then you need to be willing to have a cosigner ready to allow you to. The lenders will certainly base their own decision over a few components but the biggest will be your credit history. There are some lenders that will additionally look at your job history and make a decision based on that but in many cases it will hinge on your credit score.

  28. Greetings from Los angeles! I’m bored at work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the info you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, good blog!

  29. This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks!

  30. Admiring the commitment you put into your blog and detailed information you offer. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material. Excellent read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  31. Hi there, just turned into aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I?ll appreciate in the event you continue this in future. A lot of folks will probably be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!

  33. Hello there! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Thank you

  34. When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Appreciate it!

  35. Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your site in internet explorer, would check this? IE still is the market leader and a good portion of people will miss your magnificent writing due to this problem.

  37. I have observed that charges for on-line degree professionals tend to be an excellent value. For instance a full 4-year college Degree in Communication from The University of Phoenix Online consists of 60 credits from $515/credit or $30,900. Also American Intercontinental University Online offers a Bachelors of Business Administration with a full study course requirement of 180 units and a tuition fee of $30,560. Online learning has made getting your diploma much simpler because you may earn your degree through the comfort of your dwelling place and when you finish from office. Thanks for all the tips I have really learned through your blog.

  39. Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually recognise what you’re speaking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also talk over with my site =). We will have a hyperlink change contract between us!

  40. Hey there! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!

  44. I have been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.

  45. Thank you for the good writeup. It in truth was a enjoyment account it. Glance complicated to far delivered agreeable from you! By the way, how could we keep in touch?

  49. Glucofort Blood Sugar Support is an all-natural dietary formula that works to support healthy blood sugar levels. It also supports glucose metabolism. According to the manufacturer, this supplement can help users keep their blood sugar levels healthy and within a normal range with herbs, vitamins, plant extracts, and other natural ingredients. https://glucofortbuynow.us/

  51. Illuderma is a serum designed to deeply nourish, clear, and hydrate the skin. The goal of this solution began with dark spots, which were previously thought to be a natural symptom of ageing. The creators of Illuderma were certain that blue modern radiation is the source of dark spots after conducting extensive research. https://illudermabuynow.us/

  54. Prostadine is a dietary supplement meticulously formulated to support prostate health, enhance bladder function, and promote overall urinary system well-being. Crafted from a blend of entirely natural ingredients, Prostadine draws upon a recent groundbreaking discovery by Harvard scientists. This discovery identified toxic minerals present in hard water as a key contributor to prostate issues. https://prostadinebuynow.us/

  56. 💫 Wow, blog ini seperti perjalanan kosmik melayang ke galaksi dari kegembiraan! 🌌 Konten yang menarik di sini adalah perjalanan rollercoaster yang mendebarkan bagi pikiran, memicu kagum setiap saat. 🎢 Baik itu gayahidup, blog ini adalah harta karun wawasan yang mendebarkan! 🌟 Terjun ke dalam pengalaman menegangkan ini dari pengetahuan dan biarkan pemikiran Anda berkelana! ✨ Jangan hanya menikmati, alami sensasi ini! #MelampauiBiasa Pikiran Anda akan bersyukur untuk perjalanan mendebarkan ini melalui ranah keajaiban yang menakjubkan! 🌍

  57. Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it expand over time.

  58. Greetings! I’ve been reading your site for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Humble Tx! Just wanted to say keep up the excellent work!

  68. A vanity cabinet of oak, with its coarse, pronounced grain, introduces more texture and pattern than smooth-grained maple; faux-finished or antiqued cabinets have the same physical texture as those painted a solid color but offer more pattern.

  81. Your writing is so refreshing and authentic It’s like having a conversation with a good friend Thank you for opening up and sharing your heart with us

  84. Discover the power of MinSwap, the leading decentralized exchange platform offering seamless trading and low fees. Maximize your assets and join the next generation of decentralized finance

  85. Discover CowSwap, the trusted decentralized exchange platform for seamless crypto trades in 2025. With low fees, high security, and fast transactions, CowSwap is a go-to solution for DeFi users worldwide

  86. Discover the future of decentralized finance with Woofi Finance, a cutting-edge platform for seamless crypto staking and yield farming. Maximize your returns with low fees and high rewards. Join the revolution in DeFi today!

  87. Discover CowSwap, the trusted decentralized exchange platform for seamless crypto trades in 2025. With low fees, high security, and fast transactions, CowSwap is a go-to solution for DeFi users worldwide

  110. I couldn’t stop scrolling and reading, your content is truly one-of-a-kind. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into creating such amazing content.

  116. Hello, Neat post. There is a problem with your web
    site in internet explorer, might test this? IE nonetheless is the market chief and a big element
    of people will pass over your fantastic writing due to this problem.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Verified by MonsterInsights