Should i go to the azores

The kids would probably like a parade and some festival action to mix in with our nature activities. I can book the Tereira Mar hotel for two nights June 26thth. Is it worth the travel time, extra airfare ferry looks really LONG and logistical stuff to hop over there? I would take out the furnace hotel stay… Thanks in advance! Sanjoaninas are a big party — one of the largest in Azores — and definitely fun, lively, and vibrant.

Check planes too. Hey Bruno — Just want to say thank you! Your information is definitely helps people to know the island better, make me REALLY wanna visit the islands someday. Good morning sir. I was wondering, are you experiencing a plague of drones? Do I need to bring a shotgun? Please tell me this is regulated…. Portuguese law allows drones in Azores up to m, except in areas confined to airports. There have been some drones flying around, but nothing overwhelming.

We are going to San Manuel in May. I would LOVE to do whale watching but am hesitant with the littles. Or would renting a private boat be an option? Hello Bruno, We wish to come in Azores in September. I am looking for a nice luxury place to stay. What do you suggest? I want to pamper my self! Hi Jojo, you deserve it! Check here my suggestions. Hey there! After weeks and weeks of eyeing it, my wife and I are coming over on Saturday for a four day first trip!!

I work for an airline so can be pretty spontaneous…so why not! Anyway, I have this feeling I am going to fall in love with Sao Miguel. Would you know the best place to go whale watching? Hi, I found you blog excellent, very informative, key issues, thanks! I visited Ponte Delgada back in in November for a short business trip. I would like to repeat it for a longer trip. What would you say about traveling to Azores in second half of March? Flowers blooming too. Hi Bruce, my husband and I are planning to visit Portugal in October.

If we were to only visit one Azore island which would you suggest? We would most likely be flying from Lisbon.

We love nature, hiking, cycling and good food. I know you mentioned that it is best to have your own transportation. What is driving like there? Narrow roads? Aggressive drivers? Neither of us enjoy driving. I added this section in the post today. Roads are generally in good shape, very curvy and sometimes narrow. Parking can be a problem in downtown Ponta Delgada. Spent time in Azores with the Air Force. Beautiful country. I asked about getting a bike while I was there but told the winds were so strong and frequent few people rode them.

Always wanted to return , maybe I still will, to enjoy islands and people more. Bruno thank you for your comprehensive guide to the azores.

We are a family of 5. We homeschool our 3 children and are excited to have made a decision to travel to the Azores in Feb. We are thinking of going for 3 months to allow ourselves proper time to explore. This country seems to be amazing and we are very much into sustainability, looking after the planet and respect to all living things. I look forward to hearing your insightful words. Thank you Emma. Homeschooling is almost non-existent in Portugal so most children will be at school during weekdays.

Thank you for all the helpful tips. I have friends that visit the Azores annually and their breathtaking pictures and stories have inspired me to put it as my next travel destination.

Are the islands bike friendly and are their places to rent good quality bikes? My boyfriend and I are traveling from Budapest and would love to road trip to Lisboa, but were wondering if there was a car ferry that could transport us and our car to the islands?

These tips are very helpful and insightful. Thank you for this amazing and interesting post to read and to reflect. Glad I have found your blog! Hey, thank you so much for all this information!

Thank you in advance. Hi Bruno, great website! So nice that you provide so much information about these beautiful islands. Very useful! I still have a small question though.

I was wondering whether it is necessary to plan ferry trips in advance? Me and my brother are planning to visit Pico from Sept 15 to 24 , and planning to visit Sao Jorge and Faial for 2 days each with the ferry from Pico with our rental car we arranged for the whole period.

If you believe the ferries are likely to be fully booked in that period we will book the ferry in advance but if you believe this is not the case, we may not plan it ahead in order to be a bit more flexible.

Any information would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance! Greetings from Holland. Best, Joris. Thanks for your kind words and good question! How are you? Greetings from NYC. I totally want to bring a drone and good camera gear. Do you have time to meet up? I wish to surprise my wife and take her to the Azores. Her family long ago is from there in San Miguel. We live in Madeira Beach Florida outside of the Tampa area. We wish to travel for 7 to 10 days and see all the wonderful sites throughout the islands.

We wish perhaps to have a preset in ternary and all travel, hotel, transportation and agenda pinned down, making it a assured success. Please help. You are the experts not us. Would late December of or Early to middle of January be a good time for our trip? I could surprise her at Christmas.

I thinking about going there in July It all sounds good. I assume the best way to get there is via Lisbon. Is it expensive? Hi Beth, please have a look at this page. I am going to be in Sao Miguel for 6 nights in August. I know it is not the best time of year for whale watching, but is it still likely to spot them? I am interested in going on a tour, but do not just want to see dolphins..

Is it better to see them in the morning or evening? I am probably taking a PADI diving certification whilst on the island, which will take 4 half days. Considering whale watching and ilheu de vilafranca do campo are half day activities.. DAY 1 of your blog? Dear Bruno, thanks for your valuable information.

I have many questions, but the main one is: is it possible to rent a car in Faial airport and take it to other islands from a preliminary search I made It seems not possible and alternatively, assuming to rent a different car on each island not so easy or convenient , is it possible to rent a car in different spots other than at the airport e. Many thanks, Giorgia. By default, you should drop the car in the island you rent it from. Where you rent a car depends on the island, some it will be just at the airport, others have different spots around.

Daily tours will be always more expensive, I recommend making your own journey. Hi Bruno, fantastic information on your website. Wondering if there is an alternative for a direct service Horta-Madalena other than flying? Something that can be arranged locally, perhaps? Thanks a million. Love your work!! I suggest contacting Atlantico Line directly and ask away. The alternative would be to ask around locally, but you should be there for that…. Hi Bruno, our car hire man in Portugal suggested we visit The Azores his homeland and after a bit of research, we are hooked and plan on visiting next spring for about 3 weeks.

We enjoy walking and seeing the scenery, we are not interested in nightlife. May we ask your advice on these choices and is there anything else you would suggest please. Thank you in advance and also for this very helpful website.

I think that is a very reasonable and exciting itinerary. Maybe 3 weeks is too much for only 3 islands but if you plan to relax and chill, the more the better. Hello, we will travel to Azores in June for 9 days. We plan to stay only on Terceira flight Lisbon — Terceira — Lisbon.

Is too many days for Terceira? Should we visit some other island which one? All webs talking only about San Miguel and I have really problem to find information about some interesting places on Terceira. And one more question, Is possible to camping we would like to sleep in tent for a few nights? No one wants to visit the Azores with me so I will have to do it myself.

I do not want to drive. Well, Pico island is the highest of the Azores islands, if not the highest in the Atlantic Ocean?! On top of that, you will be fascinated by its jaw-dropping scenery….

Well, that was until the volcano on the island erupted and made half of it uninhabited … If you want to do some moonwalking, you should definitely put it on your list!

However, that does not make it less impressive than the rest. In fact, it is such a magical place, that you would like to spend the rest of your life there…away from all the CROWdS!

Known for its fine cheese produce, the island of Sao Jorge is perfect for every gastronome. In addition to that, you will get the chance to try as many water sports activities as you would like! Graciosa island is probably the least developed island and there are rarely any tourists. However, the island is known for being overtaken by hydrangeas that are giving the name of the island.

Plus, if you are into getting away from everything, you should definitely consider going to it! This island is one of the least visited islands of all of the Azores. However, the island is known for its nice beaches and serene atmosphere. Thus, if you are seeking peace and quiet — this is the place! In general, the Azores islands have a pretty favorable weather. However, the best time to go to Azores Islands is during the summer months from June until September.

However, that does not mean that Azores in May are a bad option. I myself have been to the Azores at the end of May and it was the best option ever! Additionally, October and November in the Azores are also good options, especially if you plan to avoid the crowds…. As I already mentioned, and a couple of people before me did, weather in the Azores is quite unpredictable.

Thus, you will need waterproof and windproof jacket to survive these beautiful islands. Additionally, you might want to get some walking shoes or such for hiking and trekking. Many visit the Azores islands for their insanely beautiful hiking trails. The Azores islands offer more than 80 well-known and maintained hiking trails. On top of that, you will get to experience some of the most breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean….

Thus, if you love walking, want to go on some hikes and do some Azores hiking… wonder no more and check the table below!

What to do in the Azores, you ask?! Well, there are lots of things you can do. Whether you opt for some hiking or trekking, or you go for some diving, it is up to you! A mong the best things to do in the Azores is whale watching! The best time to go an observe the marine mammals is between May and August when they are passing through the Azores islands.

More you can find below:. The islands have more than 80 hiking trails, which are well-maintained and offer views over some of the most scenic landscapes in Europe. The most famous hiking trails are the trail to Pico, the highest peak in the Atlantic Ocean and the hike to the Sete Cidades lakes , which offers utopian views over the island of Sao Miguel. Except for beautiful views, the hiking trails in the Azores are known to lead to the most beautiful lakes or gracefully mystical waterfalls….

They are mostly known for their healing benefits and high temperatures. Mostly they will be natural landmarks, but it is good to check out the cultural ones too. Angra do Heroismo in Terceira is for sure a city that is worth a visit for its rich history and cultural importance to the Azores. Back in the days, Angra do Heroismo has been of great importance for the islands.

Additionally, it is also good to check the cities of Ponta Delgada, Furnas, Horta and the rest of the biggest cities on the island where small museums can be found to tell the story of the islands. Spending your vacation in the Azores islands will not hurt your pocket at all!

In fact, the prices all over the Azores islands are quite reasonable and not as near to being expensive. Nevertheless, during high season you might see some increase in pricing of the accommodation. But it is not unreasonable — this is what happens once there is a deficit of places to stay. Plus, with a couple of travel tips you might save while spending…. Yes, you will need to rent a car to better explore the island! However, that does not mean necessarily that you have to spend a fortune on it.

It offers great eating and meandering — and I manage a great deal of both. He takes me to Sete Cidades , a spectacular caldera three miles across, complete with breeze-ruffled, human-free, jade-hued lake.

Geothermal energy powers much of the island, and provides numerous hot springs. At Furnas Lake, the kitchen trick is to slow-cook cozido in the underground hot springs. The time-worn mobile bar outside will sell you a tot of Azorean rice pudding liqueur. After a couple of days here I feel whole and fresh. The minute flight from Ponta Delgaa to Santa Maria reveals the island as a tablecloth-sized tumble of five farming parishes: there are twice as many cows as people in the Azores, a fact borne out on Santa Maria, which has 10, cows and 5, people.

There is also a folk festival, from July, and a blues festival, from July. On each of the islands there are specialist operators offering coasteering adventure swimming and climbing , canyoning leaping crazily down waterfalls, mostly and kayaking trips and jeep safaris. The family also runs a fine bottle shop next door, should you still be thirsty. By Hannah Walhout March 07, Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team.

If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Save Pin FB More. Credit: Azores Getaways. Beach in the Azores in Portugal. Terciera Island town. Credit: Courtesy of AzoresGetaways. Agra Marina hotel Terceira Azores Portugal.