Last month I was able to cross something off my bucket list again. On my bucket list are mainly destinations, and that was the case again this time: the Azores can be crossed off, an archipelago that belongs to Portugal and where I have really wanted to go for years. It is located in the middle of the ocean and is finally really easy to travel to this season. And you want that.

Transavia started direct flights from Amsterdam to Sao Miguel, the largest and most famous island of the Azores, at the end of April. And I was on the very first flight. Super fun: upon arrival, we all received a goodie bag with some local products and information about the islands.

If you love nature, you absolutely want to go here. You can make the most beautiful hikes, but there is also a lot possible by car. There are so many viewpoints on the island of Sao Miquel, like one where you look out over a gigantic lake from the top of a mountain. Handy to know: the weather can be quite unpredictable, so download the Spot Azores app to see where the weather is nice and where it isn't. This app has cameras at the highlights, so you can see what it's like there.

In addition to the beautiful nature, there are also various geothermal baths where you can swim (do it!) and this archipelago is known for… Whale watching. Wow, this was so cool. We did this on a smaller boat (check with the company what kind of boats they use, I can imagine that if you get seasick easily, you prefer a larger boat).

We spotted so many dolphins that I lost count and they swam right alongside our boat; really very special to see. In addition, we saw a turtle here and there that was hanging in the water (I think those are really the animals that have the least stress, they always look so relaxed) and yes: we spotted a sperm whale. So cool. The group that went on a whale tour a day earlier also spotted an orca – of course we were quite jealous of that.

Keep an eye on Amayzine, because I will share all the tips with you: where to sleep, what to do, what not to do… And check out Eliza Was Here for all options. That is the organization I was with – they really have the most beautiful accommodations on Sao Miguel.