The Pineapple Port
Situated 800 miles off the coast of Portugal, the Azores are a group of nine Portuguese islands, with Ponta Delgada as its largest city and located on the island of Sao Miguel. Ponta Delgada is home to a number of eco-attractions like Furnas with its natural hot springs, the nature reserve of Lagoa do Fogo—where volcanic landscapes and beautiful beaches vie for attention—and the crater lakes of Sete Cidades National Park.
Explore the city center for shops, cafés, and the historical landmark Church of Sao Jose, go to the marina for big game fishing and speedboat racing, or explore the old Portuguese town of Riberia Grande. If you don’t make it to a pineapple plantation, be sure to try the “king of fruits” at a local market, as Ponta Delgada is renowned for its pineapple, as well as fresh seafood and local wines and liquers.