Swim in a waterfall, snorkel or dive with a group such as Azores Sub where Captain David and Dive Leader George help first-timers dive beneath the crystal-clear waters in what feels like an indoor aquarium. Then tour the cliffs of the Ilheu da Vila Franca do Campo Princess Ring where the Red Bull Cliff Diving Championships occur. Surfing, or just watching surfers, is possible along the black sand beaches of Priai do Monte Verde, although this area isn’t quite ready for tourists as the beaches aren’t properly cared for.
Dining in the small villages is a highlight each night with succulent seafood, vegetables that explode flavors in your mouth reminding you of what a potato, carrot, beet, or tomato is supposed to taste like. Traditional food such as steaks grilled on a hot stone that you cook at your table is a delicious experience, but there are two standout meals that will forever make my mouth water: the salad, grilled tuna and suckling pig at Saca Rolhaus Taberna and the cake-like bread and octopus at Restaurante Ponta do Garajau in Riberia Quente. The ambiance at both restaurants along with the freshness and flavors of these uniquely prepared delights will bring me back again.