Ponta Delgada: Our First Taste of the Azores

After days of open ocean, seeing land again felt almost surreal.

Ponta Delgada, located on São Miguel Island in the Azores, became our first stop after crossing the Atlantic. We hadn’t planned an excursion. At the time, we were still in our “walk off the ship and see what happens” phase of cruising.

So that’s exactly what we did. We wandered. No itinerary. No destination. No tour guide holding a sign.

The town was clean, quiet, and surprisingly modern. Before arriving, I had assumed the Azores would feel more remote than mainland Portugal. Instead, many of the buildings and public spaces appeared newer and better maintained than some areas we had visited in Lisbon.

As we explored, we found ourselves drawn into a peaceful garden filled with winding paths, tropical plants, and locals going about their day. It wasn’t a destination we had researched beforehand, yet it became one of the most memorable parts of our visit.

Nothing about the day felt rushed. There were no crowds pushing through souvenir shops. No aggressive sales pitches. No frantic race to see ten attractions before returning to the ship.

At the time, we left feeling slightly underwhelmed because there wasn’t much happening within walking distance of the port. Looking back, I think we simply visited the Azores the wrong way.

The real treasures of São Miguel lie beyond town. Volcanic lakes, hot springs, dramatic coastlines, and lush green landscapes are what make the islands famous. We simply didn’t know that yet.

Cruising has taught us many lessons. One of them is that some destinations reward independent exploration while others reward a little planning.

If we return to the Azores someday, we’ll be heading straight for the island’s natural wonders.

But for a first visit, wandering aimlessly through a quiet Portuguese island town wasn’t a bad way to spend the day.Read more