The Macaronesia Islands
In March 2025 the group embarked on a journey to the Macaronesia Islands. Some of these islands are well known, whilst others do not feature in our usual travel plans.
The Macaronesia Islands consist of several groups of volcanic islands situated in the North Atlantic. The Spanish Islands of the Canaries are well known but were not covered in this talk. The Portuguese Madeira Islands (previously covered last year) and the Azores, are part of this region as are The Savage Islands. The independent Cape Verde islands are the final block in the Macaronesia Island Group.
Nobody had heard of the Savage Islands, probably because they are uninhabited, but they are maintained by the Portuguese Government and held as a specific Nature Reserve. Occasionally two wardens are sent to maintain a presence and carry out checks on the status of the bird life.
The Azores are an autonomous part of Portugal consisting of some 9 islands and 3 islets, with each island having its own unique character and an abundance of fauna and flora.
Did you know that the highest point in Portugal is Mount Pico at 2315m high on the island of Pico? If the height was measured from the bottom of the ocean this mountain would be taller than Everest.
The Azores are picturesque as well as having some of the traditional tourist amenities. We were treated to a video showing all the beautiful parts of the islands. Only one of our group had ever visited the islands as part of a cruise so their insight was welcome.
This image is Lake Fogo on Sao Miguel Island, in the Azores.
Image Source: Wikipedia, Licence
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Watch this YouTube video from Globe Gallopers
The Azores: Europe's Hidden Paradise!
We then travelled to Cape Verde which consists of some 10 islands spread into two groups of archipelagos, the Barlavento Islands and the Sotavento Islands. Here is a shop in Santa Maria, on the Island of Sal, Cape Verde.
Image Source: Wikipedia, Licence
Watch this YouTube video from Tui - Travel Guide about the island of Sal in Cape Verde
These islands are truly desert islands off the coast of Africa, some 6 hours flying time from the UK. Blessed with fine weather and sunshine they are being built up as touristic attractions as alternatives to the Caribbean or the Canaries. We watched two videos showing the attractive side of two of the islands. Two of the group had visited Boa Vista Island and recalled their experience of Cape Verde.