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Growing Up Azorean: An Insider’s Guide to Europe’s Best Kept Secret
Meet someone who knows the Azores not just as a destination, but as a home away from home.
Spending long summer days cliff-jumping and eating meals cooked by volcanic heat, Dylan grew up between Boston and the islands—living out the kind of childhood most travelers dream about. We asked him to share what makes the Azores so special, what first-timers shouldn’t miss, and why exploring it with a group might just be the best way to experience its magic.
How it all started
I was born in Boston to parents who are both from the Island of Pico in the Azores. Azorean immigration to Massachusetts actually dates back to the 1800’s, and there are still huge Azorean communities in Cambridge, Gloucester, New Bedford, and Fall River.
Since both of my parents were born in the Azores, I still have a ton of family back on the islands and learned Portuguese before I learned English. I’d go back to the Azores every summer as a kid, spending at least a month living with my grandma before heading back to Boston for school. I’ve been to all nine islands and even ended up living there for four months in 2020.
Summers in the Azores are magical. The grass is greener, the food is fresher, the ocean is cleaner, and the views are breathtaking, no matter which island you visit. Growing up, I’d go to the shore every single day to go swimming with my siblings and cousins, jumping off cliffs into the ocean, and catching lapas (limpets) off the rocks that my family would take home and grill with lots of butter and garlic.
In the summer, every weekend brings a new Holy Feast, each taking place in a different village across the island. Locals often spend their weekends traveling from village to village to join in the celebrations. During the day, everyone dresses in their Sunday best for church, but once night falls, the real party begins. Live music fills the streets, "tascas" dish out fresh Azorean food, and the bars pour drinks for a fraction of what you’d pay in America. The party goes on until 4–5 am every weekend. The day after a Feast, we’d always head back to the coast to relax and go for a refreshing swim to help cure the hangovers we'd have from the night before.
If we weren’t on the coast, we were up in the mountains tending to my grandma’s cows, going on hikes, and enjoying fresh air with views of the island’s villages and the ocean below.
What makes Azorean culture its own thing?
If you ask anyone from the Azores where they’re from, they’re going to answer Azorean before they answer Portuguese. As an autonomous region of Portugal with our own president, we carry a strong sense of identity. Azoreans are PROUD of their heritage, and everything from our food, our culture, even our accent are all uniquely ours and different from mainland Portugal—so much so that a lot of mainlanders can’t easily understand us when we talk.
Where mainlanders use olive oil, Azoreans will often use butter, a natural result of the islands’ thriving dairy industry. We love seafood just as much as Mainlanders do (and most Azoreans will tell you ours is better), but hearty pork and beef dishes also hold a special place on the islands. One of my favorite meals in the Azores is a traditional cozido (boiled dinner), and the most famous version is found on São Miguel, where they cook the meal underground using the heat of the island’s active volcano. Growing up, it was an all-day adventure: we'd drop off our cozido to simmer underground and then spend the day at nearby beaches and hot springs before returning to a meal that had been slow-cooked by nature itself.
Three hidden gems you won’t find in any guidebook
Caloura, Agua de Pau: A quiet little village with one of my favorite swimming spots and an oceanside bar with great food. It’s very local—you’ll see towels on the dock, sunbathers, and kids jumping straight into the ocean.
Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego: A viewpoint on the far east side of São Miguel with dramatic coastline views that make it obvious why the Azores are called the “Hawaii of Europe.” There are tons of hiking trails in the area, too.
Cascata da Ribeira dos Caldeiroes: My favorite waterfall on the island. Easy to get to, surrounded by picnic spots and hiking trails. You’ll often see groups canyoning up the falls.
Why visit the Azores with a group?
The Azores are unlike anywhere else—remote, stunning, culturally rich, and full of places only locals know about. The best way to experience it is through an Azorean perspective: a local guide who loves their home, knows the history, speaks the language, and can show you the real hidden gems. Plus, exploring somewhere this special is even better when you’re sharing it with new friends.
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