European country offers Caribbean-style island hopping for a fraction of the price

A trip to the Caribbean sounds tempting, especially as the weather cools down and the days darken. But there is a European alternative just two hours from the UK that can offer everything there is to love about island hopping, at a fraction of the price and effort.

The Azores are an archipelago in Portugal which is sometimes dubbed the Hawaii of Europe - for good reason. It's composed of nine major islands - São Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo - each offering something slightly different.

From the thermal pools of São Miguel to the perfect cone of Pico Mountain, the Azores are ripe for exploration. As they’re volcanic, the landscape is dramatic and awe-inspiring, and influences life on the islands.

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When visiting São Miguel, you can take a dip in the gorgeous thermal pools where the same heat cooks the traditional cozido dos Açores (Azorean stew) in the Furnas area. This traditional dish sees chefs place vegetables and meat in the earth for up to seven hours, where it emerges steaming hot

The Azores are also one of the whale watching capitals of the world, with many different species calling the surrounding ocean their home.

While peak season stretches from April through October, you can up your chances of seeing larger migratory species such as blue whales between the end of April and the beginning of May as they migrate.

To get there, you’ll want to fly to São Miguel, the largest of the nine islands and from there you can either hop on a plane to the others or even catch a ferry between them and marvel at the ocean views.

However, as the islands are in the Atlantic Ocean it’s worth noting weather conditions can cause delays - especially if you plan on visiting in the shoulder season or the winter months so just remember to be flexible on your travel arrangements.