Being born and raised in mainland Portugal, I’ve all the time had a particular relationship with the Azores and Madeira. I’ve visited each archipelagos a number of occasions, and I simply can’t get sufficient of them.
I don’t know if it’s the pure magnificence, the feeling of sitting on an island in the midst of the ocean, or the sensation of being outdoors Portugal whereas being in Portugal… However I do know that, anytime I want an escapade, the Azores and Madeira are high of the listing.
All issues thought of, it’s no surprise the Azores and Madeira are rapidly changing into worldwide vacationer hotspots. They provide all the advantages of touring to Portugal (low value of dwelling, nice climate, welcoming native inhabitants, nice meals, and so on.) and high it off with perks like breathtaking scenic views, unique fauna and flora, and an abundance of outside actions.
They’re fascinating sufficient to suit the wants of all varieties of vacationers, however there are main variations between the 2. The Azores are finest fitted to adventurers in search of a peaceable, idyllic vacation spot.
Nonetheless, Madeira is principally appreciated for its subtropical local weather, dreamy seashores, and vibrant metropolis life.
Is Madeira a part of the Azores?
No, Madeira will not be a part of the Azores. Each areas are Portuguese archipelagos, however they sit roughly 600 miles (965 kilometers) away from each other.
Madeira is an archipelago comprised of two foremost islands (Madeira and Porto Santo) and small, uninhabited islets referred to as the Desertas. Sitting southwest of Lisbon, Madeira is nearer to Africa than to the European continent.
That will clarify why it has a subtropical local weather with gentle temperatures year-round. In December, for instance, Madeira’s often heat sufficient so that you can swim within the ocean (belief me, I’ve completed it).
Alternatively, the Azores are a volcanic archipelago manufactured from 9 islands and located in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean, 930 miles away from Lisbon.
The climate is unpredictable and characterised by frequent rain showers. Cities just about don’t exist outdoors of the primary island of São Miguel, and, regardless of having some beautiful seashores, the Azores are removed from being a resort-style vacation spot like Madeira.
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Azores VS Madeira: Which is finest?
Whereas I personally favor Madeira over the Azores, I consider it will be flawed to say one archipelago is best than the opposite. On the finish of the day, selecting between Madeira and the Azores is determined by what you’re in search of in your subsequent getaway.
Don’t fear, although: I’ll inform you the whole lot it’s essential to know to make an knowledgeable choice primarily based in your preferences to choose the vacation spot that fits you finest.
Which is hotter: the Azores or Madeira?
Madeira is hotter than the Azores, with annual common temperatures spanning between 61ºF and 72ºF. Most significantly, although, Madeira has a local weather that hardly modifications all year long, whereas the climate within the Azores is extremely unpredictable.
One of many issues I like essentially the most about Madeira is the way it’s by no means too sizzling or too chilly, irrespective of the time of the 12 months. With an Oceanic local weather, the Azores are fairly harsh within the winter months, particularly because of the frequent rainfall.
So, whereas the climate in Madeira is outstandingly predictable, the climate within the Azores can change drastically even inside a single day.
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Are the Azores or Madeira cheaper to go to?
Typically, the Azores are extra inexpensive than Madeira, however the price of visiting each areas will not be as completely different because it was 10 years in the past.
After I first went to the Azores, I used to be baffled to see how quiet it was in comparison with Madeira. Nonetheless, lately, the worldwide reputation of the Azores has elevated. It’s welcoming increasingly more vacationers, and the primary island of São Miguel has seen a sudden inflow of expats and distant staff in search of a peaceable life-style.
Nonetheless, spending one week within the Azores remains to be comparatively cheaper than spending one week in Madeira. Other than the airplane ticket (it’s often cheaper to journey to Madeira), just about the whole lot is extra inexpensive within the Azores. Providers like inns and eating places are extra domestically primarily based and conventional, serving to guests save.
Alternatively, meals and lodging in Madeira can get costly, particularly as they make investments increasingly more in five-star eating places and dreamy (however expensive) beachside resorts. Conventional native companies are nonetheless abound, but it surely’s secure to say that, for each vacationer lure within the Azores, Madeira has a great 10 of them…
Getting round in Madeira and the Azores
The easiest way to get round in each Madeira and the Azores is by reserving a rental automobile. Public transportation is extra well-developed in Madeira than within the Azores, but it surely’s nonetheless missing when in comparison with mainland Portugal.
Bus routes in each archipelagos join cities and villages, however from my expertise, the journeys are usually unnecessarily lengthy, particularly for vacationers in a rush.
In the primary islands of Madeira and São Miguel (Azores), ride-sharing apps like Uber and Bolt are the very best out there different to renting a automobile. Nonetheless, I can not stress sufficient how important it’s to get your personal wheels to discover each areas.
I’m not a giant fan of driving myself, however I all the time hire a automobile once I go to Madeira or the Azores. With out one, I’d in all probability waste half of my day simply making an attempt to go from one place to the opposite.
The variety of islands within the Azores (9) can be significantly increased than the variety of islands in Madeira (two), forcing vacationers to spend some further money and time on inter-island journeys by flight or ferry.
Cultural variations within the Azores and Madeira
One of many issues I like essentially the most concerning the Azores and Madeira is that they really feel acquainted and unique on the similar time. They’re acquainted as a result of, as a Portuguese citizen, they remind me of residence.
They boast the identical sort of providers, delicacies, conventions, and other people you’ll discover in mainland Portugal. However they’re additionally unique resulting from their fauna and flora, climate patterns, and small cultural variations distinctive to each areas.
Let me offer you a greater concept of what I’m speaking about by masking and evaluating essentially the most fascinating cultural features of each areas:
Prime sights
At first look, the highest sights and issues to do in Madeira and the Azores appear fairly comparable. Contemplate, for instance, this two-day guided tour in São Miguel and this Madeira West Tour. Each are centered round pure sights, outside hikes, and visits to scenic viewpoints.
Nonetheless, an Azores itinerary and a Madeira itinerary are intrinsically opposed, even when they give the impression of being the identical. The topography of the archipelagos is completely different.
The Azores islands are finest recognized for his or her volcanic sights, together with the must-visit Lagoa das Sete Cidades, a shocking twin lake sitting within the crater of a dormant volcano.
Madeira is distinguished for mountain climbing areas corresponding to Cabo Girão Skywalk and the distant Pico Ruivo (the tallest peak on the primary island).
For vacationers who would quite sit in an attractive esplanada (that’s the title we Portuguese give to outside cafés and eating places) than break their backs mountain climbing within the mountains, Madeira is the superior choice.
Not like the Azores, Madeira has a extremely developed vacationer infrastructure with choices that transcend pure sights. My favorites embody:
- The Funchal-Monte cable automobile (a Madeira clichè that by no means will get outdated).
- The quirky conventional homes within the village of Santana.
- The Porto Moniz Aquarium, a museum with 90 native species of fish sitting proper subsequent to the pure swimming swimming pools of Porto Moniz.
Finest outside actions
As we’ve seen, followers of outside actions won’t ever run out of issues to do in Madeira or the Azores. Nonetheless, the character of the outside actions present in every archipelago is actually distinct.
Within the Azores, the popular outside actions contain both delving into the ocean to do stuff like whale watching or exploring the depths of the primary islands’ forests. For instance, you’ll be able to go water-canyoning within the Ribeira dos Caldeirões, a lush pure web site excellent for sports activities fanatics and waterfall lovers.
Whilst you can go canyoning in Madeira, different outside actions take a barely completely different form. Explorations into the ocean are additionally frequent, however primarily for diving, and choices for hikers have a tendency to incorporate sundown excursions within the mountains quite than pit stops at volcanic websites.
Jeep excursions exist each in Madeira and the Azores. Nonetheless, the Madeira jeep excursions are usually extra full. They cowl beautiful areas such because the Seixal black sand seashore and the Fanal. This just about uninhabited plateau appears to be like like one thing you’ll spot in a fantasy film. Convey a heat jacket, although, as a result of it’s one of many windiest locations I’ve visited in my life!
Native delicacies
Deciding between Madeira and the Azores will get even tougher when the topic is meals… Total, Portugal has a wealthy gastronomy custom. Nonetheless, Madeira and the Azores set the bar tremendous excessive by providing a plethora of fish, meat, and seafood dishes you gained’t discover elsewhere within the nation. The Azores even have a wealthy historical past of dairy merchandise.
To decide on between meals, my suggestion is that you simply study the primary dishes in every location and go for the one which makes you salivate essentially the most. These are my high suggestions:
The perfect meals in Madeira:
- Espetada: A beef dish served in a particular metallic construction and out there round the primary island. To attempt the easiest espetada within the archipelago, I recommend passing by both Abrigo dos Pastores (Camacha) or Muralhas (Caniçal), two inexpensive, high-quality conventional eating places serving espetada.
- Lapas: Lapas are simply grilled limpets, however individuals in Madeira prepare dinner them so properly that I find yourself including lapas to each single meal once I go to the primary island! This irresistible dish is often served recent out of the ocean with a mouth-watering butter and lemon sauce and bolo do caco (Madeira’s conventional bread) on the facet.
- Milho frito: I may’ve included the standard peixe-espada com banana (swordfish served with a banana) right here, however I’ve a comfortable spot for milho frito. It means “fried cornmeal,” and that’s exactly what it’s: bits of mashed corn divided into small cubes and fried in olive oil. I do know it doesn’t sound like a lot, however wait till you attempt it!
The perfect meals within the Azores:
- Cozido das Furnas: The Azores are a volcanic archipelago, so it is sensible that essentially the most well-known conventional dish within the area is of a volcanic nature. Extra than simply meals, the Cozido das Furnas is a good expertise! It’s a large stew with varied varieties of meats and greens cooked for hours within the volcanic soils of Furnas. Curious guests may even watch the stew pans go inside a gap within the floor earlier than consuming.
- Alcatra: For those who don’t have the time to look at a stew prepare dinner in geothermal springs for hours, a great different is to cross by the Terceira island and check out their conventional stew. The Alcatra is a heavy however easy dish often made with marinated beef, onions, wine, and spices.
- São Jorge cheese: Not like Madeira, the Azores have a wealthy custom of dairy merchandise. Considered one of Portugal’s most well-known cheese firms even ran a preferred advert within the Azores. They claimed that, for each particular person within the Azores, two cows exist.
All issues thought of, you’re in for the gastronomical time of your life, no matter which archipelago you determine to go to! For those who get pleasure from ingesting, there are additionally good choices in each areas.
Madeira is known for the poncha (a powerful alcoholic drink made with sugarcane spirits, sugar, and varied pure fruit juices), whereas the Azores are finest recognized for the ginja (a cherry liqueur that’s additionally in style in Lisbon and different cities in mainland Portugal).
Native inhabitants
Attending to know the native inhabitants is likely one of the issues I like most once I journey. So, what are you able to count on from the individuals who reside in Madeira and the Azores?
In my expertise, they’re similar to of us within the mainland, however with a couple of distinctive traits. For one, natives of each areas have a tendency to talk with a peculiar Portuguese accent that’s simply recognizable (at the least for those who’re Portuguese).
Individuals within the Azores are usually less complicated than in Madeira, because the archipelago remains to be residence to many old-school farmers and cattle breeders. For a actually genuine expertise within the Azores, all it’s important to do is go to the standard Bairro de Peixe and attempt to mingle with the locals—bizarre as it may be, I can solely describe it as touring again in time to Eighties Portugal!
Does Madeira or the Azores have the very best seashores?
Portuguese individuals can not complain about not having cool seashores, and Madeira and the Azores certainly match the norm. Each boast beautiful seashores with breathtaking ocean views and watersports choices. But, I consider Madeira and the Azores are fitted to two distinct varieties of beachgoers.
For those who’re in search of resort-style, easy-access seashores with fashionable facilities like eating places, retailers, and public bogs, Madeira is the place to go. There are various pure seashores within the archipelago, however they are often arduous to navigate, particularly for older individuals or households with younger kids.
At synthetic seashores like Calheta or Barreirinha, nonetheless, beachgoers can sunbathe and swim within the ocean as comfortably and safely as in the event that they had been in a swimming pool.
Azores’ seashores, alternatively, are finest fitted to adventurous vacationers who get pleasure from exploring distant areas. For those who’re a type of individuals who like being on the seashore by themselves, you’ll fall in love with seashores like Formosa and Santa Bárbara.
Which Portuguese island is finest for a honeymoon: Madeira or the Azores?
Madeira and the Azores are each great suggestions for a honeymoon. So, selecting one in all them is determined by what you and your important different get pleasure from doing on trip.
Are you trying to loosen up, discover the town, and check out some five-star inns and eating places? Then, Madeira is the best way to go. Are you extra into nature and feeling such as you and your beloved are on their lonesome on this planet? Then, you’ll be able to’t go flawed with the Azores.
Finest time to go to the Azores and Madeira
These are the very best months to go to every vacation spot:
Finest time to go to the Azores:
- Might: In Might, the temperatures within the Azores are usually gentle, and the whale watching season is already open, however there are fewer vacationers than busier summer time months (June to August).
- October: Regardless of having fewer guests throughout October, the Azores are nonetheless comparatively heat, which is the right time of the 12 months for mountain climbing and different outside actions.
Finest time to go to Madeira:
- March: March might be my favourite month to go to Madeira as a result of it’s already full-blown summer time however with out the huge inflow of vacationers of the early spring and summer time.
- December: Despite the fact that Madeira will get extremely busy in December, there’s no denying that the primary island is likely one of the finest Christmas/New 12 months’s Eve locations in Europe. Funchal takes Christmas very significantly, with decorations and particular actions all over the place, and the world-famous NYE fireworks within the capital are to die for!
Is there a ferry between the Azores and Madeira?
So far as I do know, there’s no ferry service connecting Madeira and the Azores. Contemplating that each archipelagos are separated by a 600-mile stretch of water, flying by airplane is the one believable methodology of transportation.
Are you able to do the Azores and Madeira in a single journey?
You are able to do the Azores and Madeira in a single journey, however I like to recommend sticking to one of many two except you intend a two-week (minimal) trip.
Madeira’s foremost island is sufficiently big to maintain you busy for every week, whereas the Azores have a complete of 9 islands (that’s multiple per day for those who’re solely visiting for every week).
Nonetheless, you probably have 15 or extra trip days, there’s no motive to not keep in Madeira for one week and go to the Azores within the subsequent.
Azores VS Madeira FAQ
The Azores are just like Hawaii as a result of they’re additionally a set of volcanic islands. Nonetheless, they’re nothing like Hawaii when you take into account the native local weather. The Azores is an Oceanic area with loads of rain, cloudy days, and unpredictable climate, whereas Hawaii is a tropical space that tends to remain heat year-round.
By no means… Mainland Portugal is already thought of to be an inexpensive vacation spot for many vacationers, and the Azores are inclined to have an excellent decrease value of dwelling (at the least in comparison with cities like Lisbon and Porto). It’s some of the inexpensive vacationer locations in Europe.
Magnificence is within the eye of the beholder, however you’ll by no means go flawed visiting islands corresponding to beach-friendly Porto Santo (Madeira) and luxurious, volcanic São Miguel (the Azores).
Individuals in mainland Portugal can spot individuals from the Azores and Madeira primarily based on their peculiar accents (there’s one for every archipelago), however these are slowly disappearing over time. Non-Portuguese individuals ought to subsequently be unable to differentiate between islanders and mainland inhabitants.
Conclusion
Madeira and the Azores are each great, however they’re finest fitted to two various kinds of vacationers.
You must go to Madeira for those who get pleasure from predictable, heat climate, like attending to know new cities, get pleasure from luxurious inns and eating places, and like well-maintained seashores with a traditional beachgoing expertise.
Go to the Azores for those who’re in search of a peaceable and out-of-this-world getaway, exploring distant areas, wish to mingle with the native inhabitants, and like empty seashores to overcrowded ones.
Oh, and in case you’re unable to decide, right here’s my suggestion: E-book a two-week trip and check out each archipelagos!
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