Fire Islands

In the Azores, every landscape was created by a volcano. Their eruptions have created a fertile land, where nature thrives and each island tells a new story.

Not too long ago, even seasoned travellers would have struggled to pick the Azores out on a map. For years, this isolated scattering of nine Portuguese islands remained a well-kept secret, a geological and horticultural oasis awash in the mid-Atlantic. Yet with Unesco recognition of its historical and biological attractions, and new fight paths putting it within easy reach of the UK, there’s never been a better time to visit.

And what a place you’ll find. Sat at the meeting point of three tectonic plates, the Azores have the kind of gasp-inducing scenery that can only be created by volcanic activity. Magma still flows below the surface and it plays a prominent part in Azorean life. For example, the delicious local stew, Cozido das Furnas, is slow-cooked beneath the ground by volcanic heat. e Azores are ideal for y-drive breaks. Roads are well maintained and quiet (though you may see the occasional cow) and it’s easy to drop o your car, hop on a ferry or plane and pick up a new one on the other side. Book with Regent Holidays and everything will be taken care of, from your flights and car to your choice of hand-picked hotels. Here’s an idea of what you can expect.