About halfway between the United States and Portugal sit some of the most beautiful islands in the world. The Azores archipelago, made up of 9 unique islands is set 800 miles west of the mainland with a year-round mild climate that makes it a very popular holiday destination for American travelers. And the newly founded I-Collection Azores, by Osiris Travel promises to deliver the best travel experience curated by local operators.

The Atlantic Collection is expanding with I-Collection Azores, the agency’s first local representative that offers affordable and authentic trips to the Azores archipelago, including a number of outdoor activities like hiking, whale watching and bicycle tours, inter-island boat and flight connections and off the beaten path accommodation in villas or guesthouses.

Due to their location in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and volcanic composition, the Azores have dramatic landscapes and a distinct flora of more than 1,200 species of plants, flowers and trees. This is the perfect location to break away from the city, enjoy nature and try the unique  local dishes cooked underground with geothermal heat.

Home to the highest mountain in Portugal, 7,700 feet tall Mount Pico, the Azores are also famous for tea and pineapple plantations and tasty cured cheese made from cow milk. Each of the 9 islands is its own little world but they all share a welcoming population that is always happy to help.

The Local Rep of the new Atlantic Collection, Joao Barbosa, says that “having in-depth knowledge of the Azores from a local perspective adds value to the Azores tourism market, which has been registering an accelerated growth.”

2019 saw the opening of new hotels and restaurants, including the 5-star Hotel Verde Mar & Spa, the complex Lava Homesand the guesthouse Volcanic Charming House, as well as a new haute cuisine restaurant Liquen, inspired by the archipelago’s natural beauty. Azores tourism kept growing, with several projects underway in 2020, including Turim Infante Hotel, set to open this year.