Portugal Sea stacks at Mosteiros Beach, Azores Islands

Rising dramatically from the Atlantic just off the western coast of São Miguel, the Mosteiros sea stacks are one of the island’s most recognizable coastal formations. Known locally as the Ilhéus dos Mosteiros, these volcanic remnants are all that remains of rock formations gradually carved apart by centuries of relentless Atlantic waves.

Seen from the air, their scale becomes particularly impressive. Dark volcanic rock rises almost vertically from the ocean while waves explode around the base, creating a striking contrast between the deep blue Atlantic and white sea foam. On rough days like this, the landscape perfectly captures the wild character of São Miguel’s west coast.

A drone is one of the best ways to photograph the Mosteiros sea stacks, as it allows you to separate the individual formations against the open ocean and emphasize the patterns created by breaking waves.

For more dramatic images, photograph them when the Atlantic swell is stronger and use a relatively fast shutter speed to freeze the waves as they crash against the rocks. For a completely different atmosphere, Mosteiros is also an excellent sunset location: from the coast, the sun can set directly behind or close to the offshore stacks depending on the season.

I like to check the app windy for wind and wave directions before heading here to make sure you´ll get the wild ocean!

The sea stacks sit just offshore from Mosteiros on the western tip of São Miguel and can easily be combined with a drive around the Sete Cidades region. Several viewpoints and coastal spots around the village provide different perspectives, while Praia dos Mosteiros is one of the easiest places to photograph them from ground level.

The coastline here is fully exposed to the Atlantic, so conditions can become rough very quickly. If you are flying a drone, pay particular attention to strong and gusty winds, which can be considerably more intense offshore than they feel from the beach.

Here you´ll also find a few restaurant options.