ian-coates

Ian Coates

Travel has always been a big part of my life and the mould was set on my first Cub Scout camp when I was 8 years old. Just 4 miles down the road, if felt like an epic journey into the unknown….and it was; with mid-night feasts, jungle treks and secret raids on islands fortresses! In my late teens, and before we all had the personal computer, I was organising trips around the UK and across Europe for groups of friends, using nothing more than a notepad and photocopier.

I grew up the great-grandson, grandson, and son of a butcher and life was pretty much mapped out before me. From the age of 14, I was working in my father’s butcher’s shop and there wasn’t much need for an education. But I always knew there was another world beyond this one and through books, magazines and Private Eye I found my escape. Throwing off the shackles of expectation I started to travel the world, initially for 6 months, then a year and then for 4 years.

The journey to Archipelago Choice has been full of challenges, danger, adventures, fun and stories to tell. I’m now married with two children and a company that at times feels like a third. Running your own business, for me, is one of life’s great pleasures. We have a fantastic team and a strong ethos to do the “right thing” by protecting the environment, creating inspiring jobs, looking after our clients and helping our friends and colleagues to prosper on their island Archipelagos.

Contact

Ian Coates
Destination Specialist
01768 721040
ian@archipelagochoice.com

My favourite part of Azores

If you’re planning your first visit to the Azores, we’ll often recommend Sao Miguel – an island of remarkable volcanic landscapes.

Being the largest island in the Azores, there’s so much to see and do on Sao Miguel – particularly for couples and families who love keeping active and enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding, diving, surfing, canyoning, coasteering, sailing, fishing, hiking, road cycling and mountain biking. The Azores are also Europe’s number one destination for whale and dolphin watching – whether you’re looking for a dedicated week focussing on sealife or if you’d simply like to add a day-trip to your stay, and our crews are the best in the Azores.

Sao Miguel is one of the more-obviously volcanic islands in the archipelago. To east is Furnas: one of the island’s oldest calderas. There are over thirty geysers and mineral-rich springs in and around Furnas village and on the shores of it’s crater lake. It’s this hot earth and a giddy-mix of aromas from the wild aloe, the ancient cedars and the bubbling aquifers that give Furnas a semi-tropical feel. Nowhere more so than at the 200-year-old Parque Terra Nostra: home to Sao Miguel’s famous geothermal swimming pool.

To the west is the island’s largest caldera Sete Cidades – a must-see destination for most visitors to the islands for it’s extraordinary beauty. For the more energetic, Sete Cidades has an excellent variety of walking trails and cycling routes, and it’s twin-crater-lakes are a breath-taking kayaking spot.

In town, the capital Ponta Delgada is a welcoming, friendly city where everything is accessible on foot, including many of the island’s best restaurants. It’s also the Azorean city that’s best-connected to the outside world, with twice-weekly direct flights from the UK, daily direct flights from Boston and Lisbon, and direct flights most days from Toronto.

My favourite activity in Azores

My favourite accommodation in Azores

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