Post by João

The word is out. The Azores are under pressure to ensure they remain a sustainable destination.  This Condé Nast Traveler article titled "How the Azores Will Hold Off Crowds and Stay a Natural Wonder" tackles the subject. But the title wouldn't be complete without the addendum "We Hope".

Well, so do we.

We are not waiting around for sustainability to become a reality here. As the article points out, the volume of summer crowds are already disconcerting to some, including us. The government has capped the number of hotel beds on the islands to 20,000 (we're already passed halfway) – hence the mad rush in hotel building. Yet, they come. And nobody will turn them away. Who's going to "say no" to economic growth; a cash cow of potential orange golden era proportions? Let the past be our counsel.

​MINUVIDA AZORES isn't primarily driven by the profit motive. We have a strong vision and are ever tweaking our mission to bring to the Azores the kind of person who wants to Discover and Feel the islands, not the "beach to cocktail" crowd the article mentions. While the crowds may be blessed with sunny weather and yes, a beach with beautiful sunsets and warm water when they descend on the islands courtesy of more direct flights from June to September, ultimately those are not the ideal visitors. They're part of a fad of sorts in the age of Instagram. We don't want the Azores to be a fad.

Assemble in a small circle. Gather amidst the moistness of Azorean moss, cryptomeria bark, tree ferns and everything there is.

Some furrowed brows follow the soft-voiced request. ​A canary chirps. In the stillness of the volcano, the faint scent of its vapors in the air.

We're on a hike and that faint sulfur smell reminds us of the reward, a meal cooked by the earth itself. So, let's get on with it. On to the meal! But the calming voice insists. Gather in a circle. Place your left hand on your heart; your right hand on your belly. Feel your breath. Slowly. Feel.

The green perhaps looks greener. Perhaps I can smell the cozido meal from here. I can hear birds I hadn't before. The moistness of the air and the smell of the land and its salt feels amazing and fresh.

One by one, the hikers relent. Stopping here, stopping the talking, turning inside for a few moments, makes them realize something they hadn't noticed before. They were now feeling. Feeling the Azores. Feeling the volcano. Simply feeling.

Similar experiences occur at the dinner table or by the campfire. They breathe and feel. For us it may be another day in the office; for these travelers it's now become part of their experience.

Each week MINUVIDA AZORES leads travelers on hikes, through meditation, yoga and even teaches them to enjoy the local flavors.  We are, hopefully, fulfilling our vision and helping guests Discover and Feel the Azores.

Staying at minuvida orchard lodge can be friendly travel advice, wholesome, local breakfasts, or simply a comfortable bed. But it can be much more. To find out more about our signature minuvida experience packages, start here

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MINUVIDA AZORES offers thoughtful accommodation and curated experiences to guests who choose to sign up for a five-night package.

Experiences include a guided hike focusing on the island's ecology, as well as chances for mindfulness and Azorean volcano stew picnics, a creative Azorean five course dinner and access to yoga classes. Experiences are led by the hosts Rimi and João and their team members.

The minuvida experience allows  participants to be travelers and not tourists and to truly Discover and Feel the Azores.

JOIN US ON A FORAGING HIKE! Our experience package includes a guided hike with your stay. You'll never go hungry on a trail with us;-) 

We love cactus pears. They are bright red, juicy, and ready to be enjoyed in teas, salads, liqueurs and more. But try your bare hand at these and you'll be picking hair-like thorns out of your fingers and mouth for days.

So we came prepared. We packed our blow-torch, tongs, and set off for a gorgeous north shore hike around Capelas, part of the Vigia de São Pedro trail. This easy and relatively flat trail offers sweeping views of the north coast of the island, along with some great Azorean endemic plants, like Pau Branco. Not to mention it's a great spot for picking our Azorean cactus pears. Check out the video for how to harvest and use them!

Our cozido hike allows you to really feel the volcano and connect with nature. We start an easy hike that can be tailored to individual ability and ends at the volcanic vent where we pull out the pot of local meats and veggies that have been slow cooking in their juices for almost 6 hours. We then enjoy an outdoor gourmet picnic meal while enjoying the flavors of the volcano!