Nine Islands, One Ocean: Discovering the Wild Azores by Small Ship

Some places resist easy description, and the Azores is one of them. Scattered across the mid-Atlantic some 800 miles west of mainland Portugal, these nine volcanic islands exist in a world of their own — green, unhurried and gloriously remote. Calderas plunge hundreds of metres into the earth, waterfalls tumble over black basalt cliffs, and windmills turn slowly against skies that seem wider here than anywhere else.

This nine-night voyage aboard the MS Hebridean Sky takes in all nine islands of the archipelago, from the lush, lake-filled interior of São Miguel to the flower-draped ravines of Flores and the whale-watching waters in between. It is the kind of journey that rewards the genuinely curious — those who want to understand a place, not merely photograph it.

For travellers who have exhausted the Mediterranean and are looking for somewhere that still feels genuinely undiscovered, the Azores offers a compelling answer.

What makes this voyage distinctive

Few itineraries can claim to cover an entire archipelago in a single journey, yet this voyage visits every one of the nine Azorean islands — some in depth, others by circumnavigation from the water. The result is an unusually complete picture of a place that many people struggle to locate on a map. There are no private islands or manufactured experiences here; the appeal lies in the authenticity of what you find.

Walking opportunities are woven into the itinerary throughout, with trails threading through mountain landscapes when weather permits. The pace is unhurried, with free time built in at key stops so that independent exploration is genuinely possible.

Volcanic scenery on a dramatic scale

The geological story of the Azores is written across every island. On São Miguel, the so-called Green Island, the Sete Cidades volcano frames twin crater lakes in a landscape of almost surreal beauty, while the Furnas Valley to the east is a vast, steaming bowl of hot springs and luxuriant garden planting. The contrast between the two could hardly be greater.

On Graciosa, visitors descend a winding staircase into the Furna do Enxofre — the Cave of Sulphur — a geologically unique volcanic cavern containing an underground lake. Faial, meanwhile, offers the extraordinary sight of Ponta dos Capelinhos, where a volcanic eruption as recently as 1957–58 created an entirely new landmass, reshaping the island's western tip. The Volcano Interpretation Centre puts the event into vivid context.

History written in stone

The islands carry their history lightly but wear it proudly. Santa Maria, the most southerly of the group, was the first to be settled by Portuguese colonists in 1439 and later became the first landfall made by Christopher Columbus on his return from the Americas in 1493. The tiny chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos in the village of Anjos, where Columbus attended mass, remains standing today.

On Terceira, the UNESCO World Heritage town of Angra do Heroísmo is a model of Portuguese colonial architecture — cobbled streets, a grand Baroque church, a Franciscan convent and public gardens that speak of a prosperous Atlantic trading past. Sao Jorge adds another layer, with a walking tour of the old harbour town of Velas and a stop at the tower of a church buried beneath lava during an eruption in 1808, now quietly reclaimed by fruit trees and vegetation.

Island culture and local life

The Azorean way of life is one of the quiet pleasures of this voyage. On Pico, the landscape of black lava walls that enclose small vineyards has been recognised by UNESCO as a cultural landscape — a record of the ingenuity of early settlers who coaxed wine from volcanic soil. A vineyard visit and tasting brings this heritage to life in the most pleasurable way possible.

In Horta on Faial, the famous Café Peter has been a waypoint for transatlantic sailors for generations, and a stop here carries a real sense of the island's place in the wider story of ocean travel. The Scrimshaw Museum, dedicated to the elaborate art form practised by whalers, offers a different but equally absorbing window onto Azorean identity.

Wildlife and wild landscapes

The waters around the Azores are among the richest whale-watching grounds in the world, and the possibility of encounters with passing cetaceans adds an unpredictable thrill to days at sea. On Flores — widely considered the most beautiful island in the archipelago — the scenery shifts from vertical basalt columns at Rocha dos Bordões to deep canyons filled with flowering plants and waterfalls that catch the Atlantic light. The tiny island of Corvo, the smallest in the group, is explored by circumnavigation from the ship itself: a reminder that being at sea is as much a part of this journey as going ashore.

Why the ship suits this voyage

The MS Hebridean Sky is built precisely for journeys like this. One of Noble Caledonia's two flagship vessels, she was constructed in Italy alongside her sister ship the MS Island Sky, and the two share a reputation as among the finest small ships currently in service. Her compact size allows access to smaller harbours and anchorages that larger vessels cannot reach, and the intimate scale means that the onboard experience feels more like a private charter than a conventional cruise. The Noble Caledonia team travelling with the group brings specialist knowledge that adds genuine depth to each island visit.

Who would enjoy this voyage?

This is a journey for travellers who are drawn to wild landscapes, layered history and the satisfaction of understanding a place properly. Keen walkers will find plenty to enjoy, and those with an interest in geology, natural history or Portuguese culture will be richly rewarded. It suits independent-minded people who appreciate expert guidance but also value time to explore on their own terms.

If the Azores has been on your list for years — or if you have simply never thought to look this far into the Atlantic — this voyage makes a compelling case for going sooner rather than later. Discover more about the journey on the CruiseQuest voyage page.