Azores, Portugal

Why go

The Azores are nine islands a long way out in the Atlantic, and Sao Miguel is where most people start. It is absurdly green, hydrangeas growing wild along the roads, and the whole island is volcanic, which means crater lakes, hot springs and steam coming out of the ground. Sete Cidades is the famous one, a huge crater holding two lakes, one blue and one green, with a story about a shepherd and a princess to explain it. At Furnas they cook stew in the ground using volcanic heat and dig it out at lunchtime. Swim in the iron-red hot spring at Poca da Dona Beija, and go out on a boat, these waters have some of the best whale watching anywhere.

Good to know

• Fly into Ponta Delgada (PDL), direct from Lisbon and some US cities
• Five nights on Sao Miguel, more if you island hop
• Hire a car, the good places are spread across the island
• Whales pass through April to June, weather is best June to September

Best June to September.