In our opinion, Travel to the Azores, Flores is one of the most beautiful islands in the archipelago. Located on the North American tectonic plate, it is part, along with Corvo, of the western group. As on its group sister, there are no big towns on the island, which makes it one of the most pleasant islands to visit when you’re looking for a corner of resplendent nature and calm.
Flores is a little paradise on earth, preserved from tourism. What will you discover there?
1 – The formation and history of Flores
Above sea level for around 2.16 million years, the island of Flores (“of flowers”) was, along with Corvo, the last part of the Azores discovered by the Portuguese navigators in the 15th century, because it lies furthest west and is therefore, by its geographic position, the westernmost point of Europe.
First settled by the Flemish, then by the Portuguese, Flores experienced the age of pirates interested in the Spanish ships laden with precious provisions from the Americas, and was also an important whaling base until it ceased entirely in 1982.
The 20th century was marked by the mass migration of the island’s inhabitants to the United States in search of a better life, but also by the arrival of the French with the creation of a military base in 1960 (until 1994). This allowed the island to offset the “losses” due to emigration and to build a hospital. It was only after the departure of the French that the economy slowed, without however ever completely withering away. Today, it is reinventing itself through eco-responsible tourism.
The island is currently home to around 3,800 inhabitants and has experienced no eruption for more than 3,000 years.
2 – The treasures of Flores
Its 141 km² are an enchantment of varied and sublime nature. Indeed, it’s in this respect that it joined the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2009. Thanks to its very hilly central volcanic massif, and to its average temperature of 13 degrees in winter and 22 degrees in summer, Flores offers a breathtaking variety of landscapes.
Lakes, craters, cliffs, waterfalls, flowers, natural gardens, rivers, islets, natural pools, volcanic vents… Nothing is too beautiful or too spectacular for its visitors. Among the jewels that make it up are the Rocha dos Bordões (organ-pipe-shaped rock), the Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro or the Fajã Grande (a succession of waterfalls), or the 7 lakes with their resplendent colours. Birds are also kings here. Other surprises await you, such as visiting a coffee plantation in the heart of a lush valley! Because yes, São Jorge isn’t the only island where coffee grows 🙂
In terms of biodiversity, it’s a true success, as the island has many protected natural areas, whether on land or along the island’s edges at sea, and more than 50 endemic species of flora and 3 endemic species of fauna still survive there.
3 – Visiting Flores
Travel to the Azores advocates for healthy and sustainable tourism. Flores, like the other islands of the archipelago, deserves to be discovered with care and with absolute respect for the nature that makes it up. We know the island and have it discovered in the best possible way: in a local and eco-responsible manner.
If you’d like to include Flores in your Azores travel itinerary, don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can organise for you, based on your traveller profile (family, couple…), your budget and your time, a tailor-made programme, thanks to which you won’t have to worry about a single organisational step.
Because to the questions: how to visit it? When to visit it? How long to visit it? Which places to prioritise? What are its secrets and where to admire them?… Travel to the Azores has all the answers 🙂
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