Where On Earth Are The Azores?
What is the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear about the Azores? An exotic paradise, maybe? Well, it does sound quite exotic, doesn’t it? But how many of you really know that the Azores are Portugal’s Best Kept Secret? This article is going to tell you everything you need to know about traveling in the Azores, with attention to the entry requirements due to the pandemic.
But first things first! Let’s find out where on earth are the Azores! The archipelago of the Azores is part of Europe, being an Autonomous Region of Portugal. It is consisted of 9 volcanic islands and is located amidst the Atlantic Ocean. To get a better idea of their geographical position, bear in mind that their closest point to Europe is Lisbon at 1.408 km away, while their closest point to America is New York at 3.910 km away.
The islands are divided into three different groups; the Eastern Group (São Miguel and Santa Maria), the Central Group (Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Faial and Pico), and the Western Group (Corvo and Flores). Even though there are similarities among them, the visitor soon realizes that each island is pretty unique.
What Is There To Do/See In The Azores?
The Azores Islands are particularly popular for their volcanic landscape (somewhat resembling majestic Iceland), with geysers, steaming hot springs, underground caves, and black-sand beaches. Beach lovers will most probably get very disappointed to hear this, but the Azores are not a typical beach destination. Having said that, your best shot for enjoying a bath is the numerous natural thermal pools rather than the ocean itself!
If you set aside beaches, there are still so many other things to do and see in the Azores. Depending on your personal liking, you can engage in one or more of the following activities:
- Hike-hike-hike. The Azores is every nature lover’s paradise, with so many hiking trails that will help you discover the islands to their fullest.
- Be wowed by the most mesmerizing crater lakes on earth. The sight of these lakes from up above is almost surreal. Nearly all islands have their own crater lake, but São Miguel is the home of the ones that rank on the Top 3 (Lagoa das Sete Ciedades, Lagoa do Fogo, Lagoa das Furnas).
- Discover amazing waterfalls (the so-called “cascatas”). Most of them can be easily accessible, but there are still a few slightly off the beaten track, requiring some extra effort to reach them.
- Enjoy unparalleled views over the coastline and the Atlantic Ocean, from the numerous scenic viewpoints (the so-called “miradouros”).
- Relax in the warm waters of the various hot springs that are scattered around the islands in the dreamiest locations possible!
- Go whale watching. The location of the Azores, being right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, makes them the perfect location for this activity, since lots of whale and dolphin species are passing by the archipelago during their annual migration. Even if it’s practically possible to see whales all year round, the official whale-watching season in the Azores runs from April to October. Spring, in particular, is the best season to see the blue whale (the world’s largest whale). While there are several viewpoints on the island that can serve as good whale watching spots, only an organized tour can really bring you up close and personal with one (or more) of the largest mammals on earth. The islands that are particularly popular for such tours are São Miguel, Faial and Pico.
Weather
The Azores enjoy a mild year-round climate that never gets too hot or too cold. The most important thing a visitor should know is that the weather in the Azores can get pretty unpredictable. Meaning, you can even experience all four seasons (sun, rain, fog, wind) in one day! Having said that, and while packing, think wisely about your outfit and footwear, so that you are well-prepared for both rain or shine!
As a general rule, the high season (and therefore the best time to visit the Azores) is late spring and/or throughout summer.
Once you are in the Azores, and before planning your itinerary for the day, you should always consult the Azores Webcams through SpotAzores! Webcams are set up on every island and can be accessed at all times from either the web page itself or through the respective Mobile App. Webcams can prove extremely useful if you are planning a hike or you are heading to a viewpoint where you need to secure visibility. Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo are two spots that require clear skies so that you can get the best panoramic view over these mesmerizing lakes.
It comes without saying that cloud coverage can change from one moment to the other, so you’d better check consistently the webcams to get a better idea of the most up-to-date conditions. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that while there might be sunshine on one part of the island, on the very same time it can be windy and rainy on another part. In fact, we have experienced this quite a lot while driving between places that required a change in elevation.
How To Get To The Azores?
Obviously, the easiest way to get to the Azores is by air. Most of the islands are directly or indirectly connected with mainland Portugal (Lisbon and Porto) through TAP, SATA (Azores) Airlines, and Ryanair. When it comes to Europe, you will also find direct flights to the Azores (mainly to Ponta Delgada, São Miguel) from UK, Germany and France. Thanks to the extended network of SATA Airlines (the official airline of the Azores) in North America, U.S. and Canada are directly connected with the Azores, as well!
How To Benefit From The Free Inbound/Outbound Flights To/From The Azores
I. The Routing Service
If you are not coming from UK, Germany, France, or North America, where a direct connection to the Azores is in place, then you will most probably connect through mainland Portugal. This might look like a hustle in the first instance, but you can easily turn it to your own advantage. How?
By simply drafting your travel itinerary in such a way so that you can benefit from the free inbound/outbound connecting flights offered by SATA Airlines! Not everyone is aware of this perk, but SATA Airlines is indeed providing a free routing service to all passengers that are entering the Azores from mainland Portugal (Lisbon, Porto) or from Funchal, Madeira.
Most direct flights to the Azores, arrive either in Ponta Delgada (Sao Miguel Island) or in Terceira. Those two airports are also the cheapest gateways from mainland Portugal. With such a booking in hand, you will be eligible for a free connecting flight to any of the other 8 islands within the archipelago.
II. The Requirements
The key requirements for utilizing such a free routing service, are listed here below:
- Your inbound flight to the Azores starts from mainland Portugal (Lisbon, Porto) or Madeira. Similarly, your outbound flight should end in mainland Portugal or Madeira. Note: The boarding pass of the inbound flight to the Azores must be presented to the SATA check-in counter in order to collect the boarding pass for your connecting flight. That means you cannot cheat the system by booking a flight without really using it!
- Your inbound ticket to the Azores is neither on an award flight nor booked under special conditions (personnel discount).
- As we are speaking about a connecting flight, and in order to safeguard the smooth baggage delivery and new check-in process, you cannot request a free flight departing in less than 90′ from the arrival of your first flight.
- If there is no direct flight between your initial entry point in the Azores to your selected final destination, you can claim a flight with one additional connection. Especially for Corvo, where there is no regular service in place, you can be offered a route with two connections.
- The routing service needs to take place within 24-hour from the arrival of the first flight and the departure of the last flight to your final destination.
You can read more details, as well as apply for your Inter-island Connecting Flight Service, on this page.
How To Get Around In The Azores
I. By Air (SATA Airlines)
Inter-island flights run between all nine islands on a daily basis, and on the following routes:
- São Miguel: Direct flights to Santa Maria, Terceira, Pico, Faial, São Jorge and Flores
- Santa Maria: Direct flights to São Miguel
- Terceira: Direct flights to São Miguel, Pico, Faial, São Jorge, Flores and Graciosa
- Faial: Direct flights to São Miguel, Flores, Corvo and Terceira
- São Jorge: Direct flights to São Miguel and Terceira
- Flores: Direct flights to São Miguel, Corvo, Terceira and Faial
- Graciosa: Direct flights to Terceira
- Corvo: Direct flights to Flores and Faial
However, considering that SATA Airlines uses small airplanes for these inter-island connections, seats fill up quite fast. Make sure you have made your reservations well in advance if you want to secure a seat!
II. By Boat (Atlânticoline)
Island hopping can be additionally served by Atlânticoline, the regional ferry transport company that is operating across the Azores. In 2021, and due to pandemic, only the Western and Central Group of islands were connected by ferry. Before COVID, however, also the Eastern group had a Seasonal Line (running only throughout the summer season).
Not all islands have a daily ferry connection, while cancellation of the service might also occur due to adverse weather conditions. You can have a look on the current operating routes, here below:
- Azul / Blue Line: Faial – Pico
- Verde / Green Line: Faial – Pico – São Jorge
- Rosa / Pink Line: Corvo – Flores
- Lilas / Purple Line: Faial – Pico – São Jorge – Terceira
- Branca / While Line: Faial – Pico – São Jorge – Graciosa – Terceira
The detailed day/time schedules can be found on the official page of Atlânticoline, here. You can check the current ticket prices through the Atlânticoline online booking page once you have opted the route/date of your choice.
Keep in mind that there are special rates for families and groups (of a minimum of 10 persons). There is also a Sea Pass (Azores 4 You) that offers 4 trips between islands of the same group of the archipelago (Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico or Faial, Flores, Corvo) at a reduced price.
III. Rent a Car vs Public Transportation
Public transportation is indeed available on all islands, however, it seems rather limited when it comes to the interest of a tourist. In order to discover the Azores to their fullest, I would highly recommend renting your own car.
For those that may wonder about road conditions, rest assured… The road infrastructure in the Azores is surprisingly very good, making driving a safe and relaxing experience.
Depending on the island you are planning to visit, there may be a lot or a few car rental options. As long as you make your booking well in advance, you can get affordable prices even during the summer season. The last-minute prices are simply outrageous.
Traveling To The Azores In The COVID-19 Era
If you are flying directly to the Azores, then you will have to fulfill the entry requirements of the Azorean archipelago. In the case you are transiting through mainland Portugal, you will have to abide by the entry requirements of both territories. More specifically:
For Entering Mainland Portugal you will need:
- To fill in the Passenger Locator Card prior to flying into Portugal. This can be done either electronically by filling in the online form or through a paper form that will be distributed onboard.
- A negative RT-PCR Test taken 72h before boarding, or
- A Rapid Antigen Test taken 48h before boarding, or
- The EU Digital COVID Vaccination Certificate, or
- Proof of COVID-19 recovery for up to 180 days
For Entering the Azores you will need:
- To pre-fill the online My Safe Azores Questionnaire
- A negative RT-PCR Test taken 72h before boarding, or
- The EU Digital COVID Vaccination Certificate, or
- Proof of COVID-19 recovery for up to 180 days
- If you have not taken a PCR Test prior to your flight to the Azores, you will be offered a free test upon arrival BUT you will have to wait for the results in a prophylactic isolation (12-24 hours).
- If you are planning to stay in the Azores longer than 7 or 13 days, and you do not hold a vaccination or recovery certificate, then on the 6th and 12th day from the date you performed your first PCR Test, you will have to repeat the exam. Those additional PCR tests are also offered free of charge, but you will have to timely make your appointment depending on the island you will be on that specific day.
For Leaving the Azores:
If your next destination requires a negative PCR Test, you will have to perform this test at your own expense.
* IMPORTANT NOTE: Entry requirements related to COVID-19 can change very quickly. Make sure you check the latest conditions on the official website of Azores.
Do I Need Travel Insurance For The Azores?
The Azores is not a dangerous destination, and chances are that you will hardly encounter any problem. However, with travel turned upside down by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it’s more important than ever to safeguard emergency medical and evacuation coverage every time you leave your home country.
The insurance program of my choice with Mondial Assistance does not only cover medical, hospitalization, and repatriation expenses (including those incurred due to COVID-19), but also offers compensation due to loss or damage of luggage, and additional compensation in case of a personal accident. With insurance plans starting from as little as €9.50, there is no excuse for overlooking the necessity of Travel Insurance while preparing your trip.
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