10 of the Best Hotels in the Azores to Book in 2022

Most people head to the Azores, a remote 9-island archipelago in the center of the Atlantic, for its nature: very hot springs concealed in forests, lakes shaped in inactive volcano calderas, shorelines ideal for swimming and surfing, spectacular waterfalls cascading down verdant cliffs, and underground lava tubes ready to examine. But the islands’ selection of special and often high-class lodging are just as considerably a cause to e book a excursion to Portugal’s easternmost outpost.

Many thanks to its remoteness and initiatives by the Azorean governing administration to protect against overtourism, which set a cap on the amount of resort beds on the islands back again in 2015, there is a refreshing deficiency of big, humdrum worldwide chain accommodations right here. As an alternative, count on to find smaller resorts and resorts that attract style and design elements from their local surroundings, this sort of as incorporating nearby constructing components or showcasing the landscape with ground-to-ceiling home windows, and supply a welcoming and snug visitor practical experience.

As you might be expecting from a spot that was named the world’s first sustainable vacationer location by EarthCheck in 2019, most of these resorts are also committed to ecological and local community sustainability, with procedures like applying photo voltaic panels or menus with locally sourced ingredients typical amid them. These are 10 of the best lodges in the Azores.

São Miguel

1. Octant Ponta Delgada

For a a lot more central stay, look at a place at the up to date, 123-space Octant Ponta Delgada (formerly Azor Lodge), which overlooks the yacht marina in the heart of Ponta Delgada. Decor, like the studded, copper seats at the bar, delivers a nod to the city’s nautical history (it is extensive been a refueling position for transatlantic ships) while ground-to-ceiling windows frame picturesque sights of the ocean. Features include things like an onsite health and fitness center, a spa, pool, food market, and cafe, À Terra, which attributes nearby, Azorean specialties like limpets (a sort of aquatic snail) and grilled squid.

While there, don’t miss out on out on the rooftop degree, which capabilities a spacious indoor/outside bar and swimming pool with panoramic views of the sea and town. If you’re blessed, you may possibly spot a whale on the horizon.

2. Sensi Lodge & Spa

Sensi is a tranquil retreat in a restored farmhouse overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It is a 50 percent-hour generate from Ponta Delgada, São Miguel’s primary city, on the west facet of the island, but near Ponta da Ferraria seaside and various volcano hikes. Visitors have access to a spa, outside and indoor pools, complete bar, and restaurant that serves a breakfast of area specialties (cheese, fruit, breads, and a cooked entrée), as nicely as meal if you’re savoring the sights as well significantly to trouble venturing out. Although you just can’t go incorrect with any of the rooms, it’s worth the upgrade to a room with a personal pool—ideal for a postdinner soak and stargazing session.

3. Octant Furnas

Though on São Miguel, it’s worth staying at minimum a evening or two in Furnas, a small town on the east side of the island mentioned to have the most significant selection of normal thermal waters in Europe. If you do, reserve a keep at spa-centric Octant Furnas resort (by the exact same group driving Octant Ponta Delgada), which is in the vicinity of a number of public sizzling springs and has both equally an indoor and outdoor thermal pool onsite. 

Established on a environmentally friendly, tree-filled residence on the edge of city, the lodge blends seamlessly into its surroundings, though inside, modern-day decor mixes with dim partitions and hanging vegetation to mirror the outside’s lush, and at situations moody, atmosphere. A wood-fired oven is the focal level at the hotel’s cafe, À Terra—yet a different nod to the area’s fiery, volcanic nature—where crisp pizzas are served in an airy eating home that resembles a greenhouse.

4. Santa Barbara Vacation resort

Santa Barbara Vacation resort on São Miguel’s north coastline is an exemplar of laid-back luxurious, with its small-slung properties that blend into the landscape, beachfront spot, and farm-to-desk restaurant that makes use of deliver developed on the property’s organic farm. Established by avid surfer João Reis, it must come as no shock that the resort also occurs to be in the vicinity of one of São Miguel’s ideal surf places for novices. (Reserve rentals and lessons at Santa Barbara Surf University, suitable future doorway.)

This mother nature-loving resort aims for sustainability far too, applying techniques like rainwater collection, composting, and minimal-power lights options to reduce its footprint.

Terceira

5. Pousada Forte Angra do Heroísmo

Historical past buffs will like Pousada Forte Angra do Heroísmo, a 16th-century fort-turned-inn perched on a cliff just over Terceira’s primary city and UNESCO World Heritage internet site, Angra do Heroísmo. Historic features, these kinds of as the unique stone wall bordering the fort, blend with present day facilities built to make guests’ stays at ease, such as two outdoor pools, a Jacuzzi, and an on-web site cafe. The residence also capabilities scenic, undisturbed sights of the Atlantic Ocean—making it worth the splurge on a space with a balcony.

6. Pico da Vigia

It’s quick to miss out on Pico da Vigia, a reduced-rise residence designed to blend in with its environment, on Terceira’s west coast, approximately 20 minutes from Angra do Heroísmo. Every device in this collection of restored stone farmhouse villas characteristics cozy, midcentury interiors, full with fireplaces, vinyl report gamers, and a little kitchenette. They are set on a bucolic, doing work organic and natural farm overlooking the sea, so attendees have obtain to new make through their stay. There is no restaurant onsite, but nearby Baia W is an outstanding possibility for a refreshing seafood lunch or meal.

Pico

7. Aldeia da Fonte

The lesser-visited, south facet of Pico island is household to the serene, cliff-top Aldeia da Fonte ecohotel, where by the 40 rooms unfold in six volcanic stone homes tucked among the tropical foliage and overlooking the Atlantic. The hotel embraces its all-natural environment and offers lots of techniques for guests to delight in Pico’s biodiversity though being there, these kinds of as by climbing on just one of its coastal trails, paying a working day on its personal beach front, or whale and dolphin viewing from its lounge or roomy outside deck (which contains a swimming pool).

8. Lava Residences

Developed with family members in mind, Lava Houses is a cluster of vacation properties comprehensive of features on Pico’s north coast, with an onsite restaurant (breakfast provided), outside pool, and exceptionally valuable staff members. Although every single residence has its own one of a kind structure, flooring-to-ceiling windows and wraparound porches put the views of the ocean, Mount Pico, and close by São Jorge entrance and centre, when wood-burning stoves in the residing home cozily warmth the space throughout cooler months.

9. Pocinho Bay

For a a lot more central remain on Pico island, Pocinho Bay is an oceanside lodge surrounded by vineyards a brief push outside the house of the island’s key city, Madalena. Established on 32 acres of land overlooking neighboring Faial island, the hotel is made up of a number of stone cottages with an eclectic, bohemian-fulfills-rustic interior design and style, a tranquil back garden with a lot of hammocks for lounging, going for walks trails, and a personal pool. Although its effortless site will make checking out Pico’s key sights effortless, we would not blame you for lingering in the tranquil, shut-to-mother nature room (glass of wine in hand sunset on the horizon) for as lengthy as feasible.

Flores

10. Aldeia Da Cuada

Started in the late 1600s but abandoned by its residents in the 1960s when a lot of emigrated to the United States for superior potential clients, what was the moment the agrarian village of Aldeia da Cuada on Flores island has considering the fact that been lovingly restored and repurposed into a collection of family vacation homes. Retaining as substantially of the primary footprint and architecture as possible, every single of these 16 properties capabilities stone-and-wooden architecture typical of the region inside of and out. Decor products like crocheted blankets, Portuguese lace curtains, and unfussy wood furnishings give them a cozy, homey appeal. Every household is outfitted with a self-catering kitchen area, but there is also a cafe in the village that serves a seasonally changing menu of Azorean dishes.

If the historical past by itself isn’t plenty of to entice you, the location may. Morro Alto and Pico do Se Natural Forest Reserve, which is dwelling to Flores’s famed environmentally friendly cliffs lined with waterfalls, serves as a spectacular backdrop to an or else modest home.