Azores, Europe’s largest protected marine sanctuary

Marooned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean some 1,500km west of Lisbon, this nine-island Portuguese archipelago is one of Europe’s most isolated destinations and is known for its steaming natural hot springs, jewel-coloured lakes and sparkling lava tubes. The Azores already boast some of the continent’s most dramatic black-sand beaches and best whale-watching opportunities, but the islands can now add another superlative to the list: Europe’s largest protected marine sanctuary.

In a groundbreaking piece of legislation approved in October 2024, the Azores’ newly designated Marine Protected Area will extend 287,000 sq km (an expanse larger than all of Great Britain) and safeguard deep-sea corals, sharks and the 28 species of whales and dolphins found here. Protecting the long-term health and biodiversity of these coral reefs will be a boon for travellers eager to participate in whale-watching and sustainable marine research expeditions in the years to come.