What you certainly won’t think of, without a doubt, is Europe. But the Portuguese island of Sao Miguel in the Azores Islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean has a secret that you’ll be fascinated by and have to check out on your next trip here.

Despite the relatively cool weather and rainy, cloudy conditions that this Portuguese island usually experiences, Sao Miguel has turned into a place where pineapples are cultivated, grown, and sold. They are known for their sweet taste and good quality, often being served at royal Portuguese dinners and special occasions in the 20th century.

This tradition continues to this day and can be experienced by travelers to Sao Miguel. Ananás Arruda, Plantação de Ananás dos Açores, and Ananás de Santo António are a few of the places where you’ll be able to see the unique growing method involving greenhouses and careful monitoring that is still used to this day.

These plantations offer up free, guided tours of their facilities and are a great place to buy pineapples, as well as pineapple products such as soda and ice cream.

Be sure to make time to visit one of these unique and fascinating pineapple plantations if you’re planning a trip to the Azores and Sao Miguel!

The post The Azores’ Most Surprising Secret appeared first on Traveler Master.

Animal lovers will also be at home in the Azores, as it is home of arguably the best whale watching on the planet.

The main island of Sao Miguel is the whale watching starting point if you visit the Azores. From here, boats leave from two main places: the capital city of Ponta Delgada and the smaller village of Vila Franca.

Either is a fine option for whale watching, as these magnificent creatures can be found in plentiful numbers around the island in all places, especially from the months of April to October.

Half-day trips are the usual choice for those who are going whale watching in the Azores, with morning and afternoon trips having an equally good chance of seeing these magnificent animals.

Sperm whales are the main species which can be found around the Azores, as these giant beasts enjoy feeding on the plentiful amount of squid and other seafood which can be found in the waters around the Azores.

Rarely, migrating whales like blue whales, fin whales, and humpback whales can be spotted as they migrate to other places.

In short, any animal lover would be crazy not to go on a whale watching tour while visiting the Azores. Be sure to sign up for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see one of the world’s most majestic creatures.

The post The Azores is the World’s Whale-watching Capital appeared first on Traveler Master.

Located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the “Green Island” offers visitors a bounty of beautiful natural sights to see and unforgettable places to visit.

Here are the best things to do on a trip to the island of São Miguel.

Visit a Hot Spring

The sulfuric volcanic waters of the island make the options to visit a hot spring numerous. One of the best hot springs to visit is Caldeira Velha, which is located inside of a rainforest.

Walk the Trail to Lagoa do Fogo

Lagoa do Fogo is a lake located inside of a massive volcanic crater. It’s easy to walk from the road down to the lake’s beach as part of an exhilarating 90 minute round trip hike that you’ll never forget.

Hike to Salto do Prego

São Miguel is full of beautiful waterfalls, but my favorite has to be Salto do Prego. Located on a 4-kilometer loop trail is this stunning cascade that falls into a small swimming hole that you can take a dip in.

Look Out at the Lagoa das Sete Cidades

One must-do thing in the Azores is to find a viewpoint from which to admire the Lagoa das Sete Cidades. These two lakes have different colors and can best be marveled at from a spot like the Vista do Rei viewpoint.

The post São Miguel Island: Highlights of the Azores’ Gem appeared first on Traveler Master.

It is known for its beautiful, green volcanic landscape, but did you know that it has an abandoned village full of cats that anyone can hike to?

On the Southeast corner of the island, you will find Sanguinho. The village is a steep but short 2 kilometer hike from the nearest town. Not only does it have beautiful views of the green island and the deep blues of the Atlantic Ocean, it’s also full of friendly cats.

No people currently live in Sanguinho, whose last resident left the town in the second half of the 20th century, but their cats stayed behind. Friendly visitors and workers that have been restoring the village feed these felines, which makes them perfectly content to stay.

Several former houses made of volcanic rock are these cats’ homes, where they can be sheltered from the rain and from potential predators.

No one knows exactly how many cats live in Sanguinho, but what is for certain is that this is a village whose only inhabitants are these furry cats.

Can you think of anything better than a beautiful view from an abandoned village with a family of friendly cats curled up next to you? I sure can’t!

If you visit São Miguel and the Azores, be sure to find this group of feline friends in Sanguinho. 

The post In Portugal, You Can Hike to an Abandoned Village Full of Cats appeared first on Traveler Master.

What you certainly won’t think of, without a doubt, is Europe. But the Portuguese island of Sao Miguel in the Azores Islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean has a secret that you’ll be fascinated by and have to check out on your next trip here.

Despite the relatively cool weather and rainy, cloudy conditions that this Portuguese island usually experiences, Sao Miguel has turned into a place where pineapples are cultivated, grown, and sold. They are known for their sweet taste and good quality, often being served at royal Portuguese dinners and special occasions in the 20th century.

This tradition continues to this day and can be experienced by travelers to Sao Miguel. Ananás Arruda, Plantação de Ananás dos Açores, and Ananás de Santo António are a few of the places where you’ll be able to see the unique growing method involving greenhouses and careful monitoring that is still used to this day.

These plantations offer up free, guided tours of their facilities and are a great place to buy pineapples, as well as pineapple products such as soda and ice cream.

Be sure to make time to visit one of these unique and fascinating pineapple plantations if you’re planning a trip to the Azores and Sao Miguel!

The post The Azores’ Most Surprising Secret appeared first on Traveler Master.

Animal lovers will also be at home in the Azores, as it is home of arguably the best whale watching on the planet.

The main island of Sao Miguel is the whale watching starting point if you visit the Azores. From here, boats leave from two main places: the capital city of Ponta Delgada and the smaller village of Vila Franca.

Either is a fine option for whale watching, as these magnificent creatures can be found in plentiful numbers around the island in all places, especially from the months of April to October.

Half-day trips are the usual choice for those who are going whale watching in the Azores, with morning and afternoon trips having an equally good chance of seeing these magnificent animals.

Sperm whales are the main species which can be found around the Azores, as these giant beasts enjoy feeding on the plentiful amount of squid and other seafood which can be found in the waters around the Azores.

Rarely, migrating whales like blue whales, fin whales, and humpback whales can be spotted as they migrate to other places.

In short, any animal lover would be crazy not to go on a whale watching tour while visiting the Azores. Be sure to sign up for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see one of the world’s most majestic creatures.

The post The Azores is the World’s Whale-watching Capital appeared first on Traveler Master.

Located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the “Green Island” offers visitors a bounty of beautiful natural sights to see and unforgettable places to visit.

Here are the best things to do on a trip to the island of São Miguel.

Visit a Hot Spring

The sulfuric volcanic waters of the island make the options to visit a hot spring numerous. One of the best hot springs to visit is Caldeira Velha, which is located inside of a rainforest.

Walk the Trail to Lagoa do Fogo

Lagoa do Fogo is a lake located inside of a massive volcanic crater. It’s easy to walk from the road down to the lake’s beach as part of an exhilarating 90 minute round trip hike that you’ll never forget.

Hike to Salto do Prego

São Miguel is full of beautiful waterfalls, but my favorite has to be Salto do Prego. Located on a 4-kilometer loop trail is this stunning cascade that falls into a small swimming hole that you can take a dip in.

Look Out at the Lagoa das Sete Cidades

One must-do thing in the Azores is to find a viewpoint from which to admire the Lagoa das Sete Cidades. These two lakes have different colors and can best be marveled at from a spot like the Vista do Rei viewpoint.

The post São Miguel Island: Highlights of the Azores’ Gem appeared first on Traveler Master.

It is known for its beautiful, green volcanic landscape, but did you know that it has an abandoned village full of cats that anyone can hike to?

On the Southeast corner of the island, you will find Sanguinho. The village is a steep but short 2 kilometer hike from the nearest town. Not only does it have beautiful views of the green island and the deep blues of the Atlantic Ocean, it’s also full of friendly cats.

No people currently live in Sanguinho, whose last resident left the town in the second half of the 20th century, but their cats stayed behind. Friendly visitors and workers that have been restoring the village feed these felines, which makes them perfectly content to stay.

Several former houses made of volcanic rock are these cats’ homes, where they can be sheltered from the rain and from potential predators.

No one knows exactly how many cats live in Sanguinho, but what is for certain is that this is a village whose only inhabitants are these furry cats.

Can you think of anything better than a beautiful view from an abandoned village with a family of friendly cats curled up next to you? I sure can’t!

If you visit São Miguel and the Azores, be sure to find this group of feline friends in Sanguinho. 

The post In Portugal, You Can Hike to an Abandoned Village Full of Cats appeared first on Traveler Master.