Have you traveled to the Azores? Chances are you haven’t—or, so says an article in the Huffington Post, which points to this Atlantic archipelago as one of the best-kept secrets in travel. 

“Some people can say they’re familiar with the Azores, a group of nine islands some 800 miles off the coast of Portugal. But by and large, these rugged, salt-sprayed islands are what USA Today calls ‘some of the best kept secrets in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean,’” writes Gabriela Landazuri Saltos. 

What awaits travelers when they arrive? 

“Picture emerald beaches, dazzling blue lakes, verdant pastures, volcanic caverns, bubbling mud pots, sprawling sunrises and waterfalls cascading deep into ravines (which you can rappel into, by the way),” Saltos says. 

In 2009, the islands were designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and those who travel to the Azores will not be disappointed. There is plenty to do. 

“In Azores, you might spend your days hopping from island to island: Free diving, waterfall rappelling, volcano hikes and whale watching are everyday happenings here,” notes Saltos. 

READ MORE: Are the Azores the Next Booming Adventure Destination? 

The islands are also a short flight from the East Coast of the U.S. 

“Though they’re less than a five-hour flight from the East Coast, the Azores remain disproportionately unpopular compared to other island destinations, due to limited direct flights and perhaps travelers’ preferences for buzzier vacation spots,” Saltos points out. 

But the Azores do have their own airline, SATA, which offers direct flights. 

For more on why you should be hopping a plane to the Azores right now, read on here.