Vogue | Off the Coast of Portugal, The Azores Are a Wellspring For Prized Beauty Ingredients

A verdant haven flourishing with botanicals and natural hot springs for outdoors adventurers, nature enthusiasts, and wellness-seekers alike—and one that’s still relatively under-the-radar—is a rare find these days. That’s the beauty and the allure of the Azores, an archipelago of nine volcanic islands situated off the western coast of Portugal.

To fully grasp the untouched, majestic beauty of these islands requires a visit, especially as the Azores aren’t a destination you often see splashed all over Instagram. Until recently, travel from the U.S. hasn’t always been so streamlined, with layovers typically required in Lisbon or other nearby European hubs. But from now through late September, United Airlines is offering direct flights from Newark to Ponte Delgada on the Azores’ largest island of San Miguel, bringing travel time down to less than six hours.

Between the 26 active volcanoes and the abundance of thermal springs lavishing the fern-covered Azorean landscape, these nine islands compose a unique biosystem where the fertile, mineral-rich soil and wealth of water sources give way to a spectacular array of backdrops: untouched rainforests, black volcanic beaches, peatlands, tea plantations, and vineyards. A drive along the coast of San Miguel, for example, offers vistas shifting from mountainous foothills, to beaches, to terraced vineyards in a matter of minutes. And since the nearest source of industrial pollution is located more than 850 miles away on Portugal’s mainland, the air is crisp, clear, and fragrant.

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