Andy and Chelsea, originally from Newquay in Cornwall, have left the UK to start a new life on Pico Island, a remote volcanic island in the Azores archipelago, about 1,000 miles from Lisbon. The couple purchased an abandoned vineyard and are building an off-grid timber house, aiming for self-sufficiency.
In an interview, they highlighted three key benefits of their move. First, the island's 'slow' pace of life, with a population of just 14,000, allows them to escape the 'hustle culture' they felt in the UK. Second, despite its small size—drivable in under an hour—the island has complete infrastructure, including supermarkets, though a hospital is a 30-minute ferry away. Third, they appreciate the down-to-earth community, particularly the hard-working farmers.
The couple, who previously lived in a van while running personal training businesses, sold everything in 2025 to 'chase freedom'. They chose Pico Island for its warmer climate, coastal location, and the feasibility of buying land and building a house, which they found difficult in the UK due to cost and regulations.
They are learning Portuguese, as English is not widely spoken, and document their journey on the Off-Grid Atlantis YouTube channel.
