Discovered during the first half of 15th century by Portuguese navigators, the archipelago of Azores is 1,460 Km from the European coast and is divided into three groups of islands: The eastern group of Sao Miguel and Santa Maria, the central group of Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge and Pico e Faial, and the western group Corvo and Flores. All the archipelago enjoys year round mild temperatures between 14-22º C. There are international airports in Santa Maria, Ponta Delgada and Angra and flights to all the islands by the regional airline Sata.
Dominated by a green landscape, blue lakes, volcanic cones and craters, and colourful flowers, this landscape makes these islands special. Santa Maria offers excellent water sports facilities. Here you can also see superb manor-houses and Nossa Senhora dos Anjos chapel where Columbus´s crew prayed. Sao Miguel is the largest island of the archipelago. Located in this island is Ponta Delgada the capital, where its 18th century portals and a great number of monuments built between 16th-18th centuries make a visit a must.The historic centre of Angra Do Heroismo, capital of Terceira island has been classified in the UNESCO´s International Heritage list. the 2,351 m high volcanic cone. The Corvo Island is the smallest of all and a peaceful sanctuary. In Caldeirao, an enormous volcanic crater, you can see two lakes with nine small islands, just like the archipelago.