How to travel between the Azores Islands
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The nine Azores Islands have so much to offer between delicious food and wine, fantastic hiking, beautiful views, small volcanic beaches, geothermal hot springs, waterfalls, and so much more! With nine different archipelago islands to choose from, if you have the time, you may want to travel from island to island to learn the most about the destination. But, how is the best way to do it? Here are our recommendations for your trip to the Azores.
Inter-Island Flights
Flying from island to island is the easiest option with Sata Azores Airlines. The main airline of the islands, they have made travel easy to explore whichever island you choose. As you can see from their route map guide, flying from even the furthest islands is possible. Enjoy the golden sand beaches of Santa Maria Island one day, and then relax in the hot springs of Graciosa Island the next. Additionally, if you are traveling to or from Madeira or mainland Portugal, there are easy connections from many of the islands.
Flying from island to island is the quickest and easiest option. In the off-season, it may be the only option. It will always be the best way to save you time and help make your travel experience flow smoothly.
Inter-Island Ferry Connections
Taking a ferry from island to island is the most inexpensive way to explore the Azores. It often takes time and not all ferries run year-round. In the central Triangle Group of the Azores, which consists of Faial, Pico, and São Jorge Islands, you can hop on a ferry for a day trip. The ferry between Pico and Faial operates multiple times a day and is very easy, only about 35-minutes. Heading to São Jorge will take you about 2.5 hours and can sometimes be choppy depending on the weather. There is summer ferry service between São Miguel and Santa Maria that takes about 4-hours, depending on the weather. You can also travel frequently between the western group of islands, Flores and Corvo. While you are on the ferry, make sure to keep your eyes open for whales, dolphins and other marine life migrating through the islands!
While ferry travel is inexpensive, ferry travel takes significantly longer than a flight and is limited in its ability between islands depending on the season. Currently, there is one ferry company that goes throughout the islands of the Azores called Atlânticoline.
Our Recommendations
Flying from island to island is the easiest way to see multiple islands more efficiently. The ferry provides a more affordable option for those looking to travel between the closer islands, but is not recommended for shorter vacations. While the ferry can provide beautiful sites and marine life, it is slow-paced and limited to which islands are serviced.
Either way you decide to travel between the islands, each Azores island is packed with adventure and will not disappoint. Quest Travel Adventures are your Atlantic Island Specialists with over 10 years of experience in individual and small group travel to the Azores and other Atlantic Island groups. Some of our most popular trips include our 5 Day Taste of the Azores, 6 Day Azores Adventure Seeker and 8 Day Best of Azores. Don’t miss out or wait until these islands become crowded - book your trip to the Azores today!
