In this five‑day solo travel vlog, the narrator (Speaker A) explores São Miguel, the largest island of Portugal’s Azores, and evaluates whether the archipelago lives up to its growing reputation among digital nomads. The video interweaves vivid descriptions of the island’s volcanic landscapes—craters, lakes, waterfalls, geysers, hot springs, and the iconic Sete Cidades twin‑lake crater— with personal reflections on how the natural environment fostered a sense of connection and healing. Practical advice is offered: renting a car is essential, public transport is limited, meals cost €5‑7, beer €1, and attractions like a botanical garden and an abandoned hotel are highlighted. The narrator also emphasizes the unexpected depth of social interactions, introducing three fellow travelers—a Polish psychologist (Eva), a Hungarian IT professional (Bala), and a native Azorean musician (Anna)—who illustrate the island’s relaxed lifestyle, community‑oriented culture, and the transformative potential of short‑term immersion. The vlog concludes that the Azores’ appeal goes beyond scenery; it lies in affordable living, a welcoming community, and the ability to reset one’s mindset, making it a worthwhile destination for both leisure and remote work.
Chapters
Hey, how's the vibe? I just got back from a 5-day trip on São Miguel das Azores. Now, if you're wondering the, uh, what? Let me break it down. The Azores are a group of 9 volcanic islands off of Portugal, and they're turning into a hotspot for digital nomads looking for the next it place. Stick around because I'm going to tell you whether the Azores are worth all the hype or whether it's just a pretty postcard.
First up, nature.
For real, I can't even describe it. Volcanic craters, mountains, waterfalls. Seriously, like something out of an epic fantasy novel. So majestic all over the island, I couldn't even look at my phone. So it's been less than 24 hours here on this island of Azores, but I've already seen so many breathtaking views and vibes that I don't even know what the next vibe is going to be like. Just check out this beach and just check out how long that rock formation is. It's like really insane. Now the greenery is next level. They call this the Green Island, and man, it's legit. It's not just one type of green, it's like a Crayola box exploded. We're talking deep forest greens, light lime greens everywhere. I look, just wow. But it's not just what you see, it's what you feel. I'm not sure if it's the island's natural vibe or what, but I felt more connected. Like I was up with the sun journaling, planning my day. I was vibing, not just with myself, but with others and with nature as well.
What I found here is that the place allows you to open up. Not everybody will because not everybody can or wants to. So some people may come and enjoy this as a kind of a trip, like, "What a beautiful island." Yeah. You know, "Beautiful food, great people." But there is a kind of a doorway there that you can actually open and come in. And that's the doorway of not just being a visitor, but being a guest. You can actually be transformed by the place. And you have to allow that to happen. And I've seen that happen. In some cases, it's very like, boom, like somebody lands here, 3 days later they're fired from their job. You know, some people are like, they land here and, you know, 5 days later, boom, like one guy proposes to his girlfriend, right? I've seen that too.
Okay, quick tip. You definitely need a car. Trust me, there are too many hidden gems to rely on the scant public transport. And the cost of living? Solid local meal for about €5 to €7 and beer for €1. It's pretty affordable compared to other European hotspots. Highlights? Geysers, hot springs, and this botanical garden I paid to get into and didn't even regret for a second. But the crown jewel? Sete Cidades. Picture this: blue and green lakes inside a volcanic crater and the Atlantic Ocean just chilling on the other side. And get this, there was an abandoned hotel right next to it. Exploring that abandoned hotel had me feeling like a mix of Indiana Jones and a kid in a candy store. All right, so finally made it to the rooftop of the abandoned hotel, and this is the vibe. Still see the crater. I guess this might be the highest point in this neighborhood. And you can't forget the Atlantic Ocean over there.
Insane.
Wow, are you guys cooking ramen here? Sorry, are you guys cooking ramen here? Yeah, that's amazing. Wow, it's a basic— amazing. So cool. Yeah, I, I never, I never expected anyone to just like be so prepared, you know? Yeah, you guys are the best. Like the best. Are you guys a couple? Yes. Yeah, best couple, best couple awards, you know, in this region.
Poland, Warsaw, that's what I was used to, right? Like 10 minutes break during the lunch and you have to be rushing eating the sandwich somewhere on the street. Couldn't even sit because we had a lot of things to do during lunch break. And here people really enjoy life. Give them wine, music, and some friends and school.
Yeah.
And for me, this is the quality of life, you know. I learned After all this, you know, we have to achieve something, I don't know for what, you know, make money, you never have the money because then you live in the city, always spend it, you always have like bigger needs. People are really like laid back here, they know how to enjoy life, they know how to, I think, really cultivate the values that are important, like friendship and the little qualities of life, like drinking good wine, maybe not that good, but you can buy really good wine for like €2.50, sale from €10, right?
That's what they do.
Now here's a twist. You think the scenery would be the main event on the island, but no, it was actually the people. I went in thinking I'd be solo most of the time, but the connections I made were unexpected and really deep. Like Anna, a native musician from the Azores originally. Eva, a psychologist from Poland who's been living here for 13 years. And Bala, a Hungarian IT professional who got stranded during COVID and just decided to stay. It was these conversations and hangouts that really elevated my whole experience there. And this might sound weird, but I connected more with the people here in 5 days than I have in months in places like New York or London.
Because living in a flat or living in a place that you call home without so much interaction with your direct door neighbors is a type of isolation. Yeah, isolation where you enjoy your life like how I do here is a different type of isolation. It's between isolations, I, I believe. There are huge differences, and I truly prefer this one. Well, because here I'm actually forced to interact with people, and, you know, simplicity. I don't need that high level of let's go to the cinema every now and then kind of thing. We do have one. Yeah, I mean, well, so like, we have the shopping, we have do things, you end up seeing the same faces over and over again. And when you are enough brave or crazy, you start introducing yourself to them. And then you, like, weeks, months later, you just cross their lines in a grocery shopping. Yeah. And they remember you.
Yeah.
And this is amazing. First time when I encountered that, I was like, holy crap, I don't remember you. How on earth you running your business remembered me?
I've been all over this island of São Miguel Azores over the past few days, and I've seen a lot of like beaches, cliffs, and a lot of different vibes. And this by far is the view that really, really opens up my heart. And I was just having a chat with my friend Ana just a moment ago, and we're just talking about how the color green really opens up your heart because it happens to be the heart chakra color. And it's funny, but I think it really has some meaning, some truth to it because yeah, just being here and just staring at just the pastures, the rolling hills, the trees, mountains, like a strong Teletubbies vibe. All jokes aside, I think it really calms you down, really opens up your heart, and it opened up my heart. And I'm just speechless, just really grateful to be here. So in conclusion, is São Miguel Azores worth the hype? My opinion? Absolutely. 100%. It's more than picture-perfect scenery. It's a place where you can vibe with yourself, connect with nature, and find a community that you didn't even know you were looking for. Personally, it was an experience that really uplifted my soul, and it ended up being such a crazy therapeutic experience. That's it for now. If you're still wondering whether the Azores should be your next move, just take the leap. Give it a shot. Really immerse yourself in the green paradise. Soak it all up. Keep calm and vibe on, and see you in the next one. Peace.
