Azores

The nine islands of the Azores represent Europe's most western-most point, and are located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Each of the islands has its own specific landscape and character but all of them are relatively undeveloped and quietly beautiful.

The renowned North-American magazine Budget Travel elected the Azores as one of the best 2012 destinations.
Being a nature destination par excellence, the Azores have dazzling landscapes, including caves, craters and volcanic cones.
Budget Travel also stresses the wealthy heritage of the Azores. The city of Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island, is a good example, since it has been classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
However all the Azorean islands have churches, monuments and buildings worth visiting. And there is also another important heritage in the Azores: its cuisine, especially fresh fish and cheese, fruit, and wine.
These seem to be good reasons to choose the Azores as the best destination for 2012.

The National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations named the Azores islands as the world’s second most appealing islands destination in its 4th annual Destination Scorecard survey. A panel of 522 experts concluded the Azores were “Authentic, unspoiled, and likely to remain so.”

Sao Miguel, the largest island, is renowned for its flowers and green landscapes. São Miguel, with its crater lakes, geysers, and seaside villages is the main island in the Azores and where SATA's flights from Toronto arrive. With easy access to the airport and major roads, Ponta Delgada is the capital and your base to make day trips along the rugged coastline. Venture to mountain crater lakes, steaming thermals, tea and pineapple plantations.

At the centre of the Azores, five islands lie very close together:

Terceira is steeped in history. Terceira’s lively and historic main city, Angra do Heroísmo, has been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and has ample cultural offerings. The north coast offer black lava cliffs and a wine museum. Faial is famed for its marina. It has become somewhat of a tradition for sailors from all over the world to put graffiti on the marina to commemorate their arrival. Opposite Faial is Pico, a mountain island rising straight out of the sea. Its slopes are covered with black lava fields and vineyards. It has a strong whaling tradition and the museum captures the dangers of early whale fishing. Wide green pastures dominate the island of Sao Jorge, while at the base of its steep escarpments, silver of land called "fajas" nestle by the sea. The smallest of this central group of five islands is Graciosa, which has a lake carved in dormant volcanic rock, while its vineyards are dotted with windmills.

The island of Flores is the eighth in the overall group, and resembles a garden surrounded by the sea. Its charming scenery is made up of scenic lakes carved into the volcanic rock. The miniature ninth island of Corvo has a volcanic crater, or "caldeira", which takes up much of the island.

For information on diving - contact Azores Sub Dive Centre on Sao Miguel island