News
Nov 5, 20261 min read
Ferry Gilberto Mariano out of service until the end of the year
The 10:45 Horta to Madalena crossing will run without vehicle space from Monday to Saturday while the Atlânticoline ferry is in a Spanish shipyard.
Getting Around São Miguel
Buses, car hire, taxis and the inter-island ferries out of Ponta Delgada, with the practical answer to the question every visitor asks first: whether you need a car here.
Tours & activities
All tours →Best-rated tours in the Azores
The island's highest-rated guided trips, boat tours and tastings, ranked by the people who took them.
Most booking links go to Viator: if you book through them we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Each card names the site it books on, and prices and availability are that site's.
Travel TipsOct 18, 20267 min read
Ponta da Fajã on Flores: hamlet, 1987 landslide, waterfall road
Ponta da Fajã, at the end of the west-coast road on Flores, was evacuated after a 1987 rockfall; people still live there. The rules now and how to visit safely.
Travel TipsOct 17, 20268 min read
Cycling on Santa Maria: the official road loop, the Pico Alto enduro trails and bike hire
The official Santa Maria road loop is 52.77 km with 1,244 m of climbing, from the Vila do Porto town hall past Praia Formosa, Malbusca, Santo Espírito, São Lourenço and the north coast. Plus the three short enduro descents off Pico Alto, why bikes are banned on the walking trails, SATA's bike rules in October 2026 and what you can hire on the island.
Travel TipsOct 16, 20267 min read
Pico's old roads on foot: Terra Alta, the Caminho das Voltas, the Canadas da Ribeirinha and the Caminho dos Burros
Three official Pico trails on old roads: the easy Caminho das Voltas (PR07PIC, 5.8 km) from the Terra Alta viewpoint down to Santo Amaro, the Canadas da Ribeirinha (PR18PIC, 8.7 km) with its ox-cart ruts to Calhau, and the Caminho dos Burros (PR02PIC, 8.9 km) across the highlands to the Baía de Canas. How to link them, and how to get back to your car.
Travel TipsOct 11, 20267 min read
Ponta Delgada to Santa Maria in a day: flights and a route
Fly from Ponta Delgada (São Miguel) to Santa Maria at 06:30 and back in the evening for 12 hours on the island: 2026 flight times, fares, car hire and a route.
Travel TipsOct 9, 20267 min read
São Jorge in winter: ferries, flights, weather and what stays open
São Jorge from October to March: November the wettest month, sunset at about 17:36 on the shortest day, and only the Green Line ferry once the summer lines stop. Flights go only to Ponta Delgada and Terceira, so keep a spare day. Rain closes fajã roads, the Calheta museum keeps winter hours, the campsites close or cut back, and the buses do not run on Sundays.
Travel TipsOct 9, 20266 min read
Flights to Faial in 2026: from Lisbon, via Ponta Delgada or Pico
Azores Airlines flies Lisbon to Horta direct, at least six times a week in summer 2026. Or connect via Ponta Delgada, or fly to Pico and take the ferry.
Travel TipsOct 9, 20266 min read
Flights to Pico in 2026: direct from Lisbon, or via Horta and the ferry
Pico's small airport fills up fast. How to get there in 2026: Azores Airlines' direct Lisbon flight (six a week in June, plus a Friday from 19 June), flying to Horta on Faial and taking the 30-minute ferry to Madalena (8.20 euros in 2026), or connecting in Ponta Delgada or Terceira, and which to choose in summer and winter.
Travel TipsOct 7, 20265 min read
Morro Alto: the highest point of Flores, the road up and the juniper plateau
Morro Alto is the top of Flores at 914 metres, with an antenna mast that has stood there since 1986 and the island's weather radar, in service since 2025. Around it lies the 1,573-hectare Morro Alto and Pico da Sé reserve, the largest Azores juniper forest in the archipelago and a Ramsar wetland. The 6 km forest road up from the ER 2-2ª, where the PR03FLO trail meets it, how to read the fog, and when the trip is worth it.
Travel TipsOct 6, 20266 min read
What a Flores trip costs in 2026: the Corvo boat, bus fares, fuel, boat trips and canyoning
What Flores costs in 2026: Atlânticoline's fare to Corvo (EUR 16.30 one way), the UTC bus fares from February 2026, why the EUR 61 Azores Fare is for residents only, the October 2026 fuel cap, published prices for boat trips and canyoning, and which costs you have to ask for.
Travel TipsOct 6, 20267 min read
What a Santa Maria trip costs in 2026: flights, the summer boat, buses, fuel, beds and diving
What Santa Maria costs in 2026: the Isabel C summer boat from Ponta Delgada (EUR 25 to 28 one way), TSM bus fares from EUR 0.99, the October 2026 fuel cap, why the EUR 61 Azores Fare is for residents only, the Praia Formosa campsite rates, Wahoo Diving's 2026 packages, the Maré de Agosto pass, and which prices you have to ask for.
Travel TipsOct 6, 20267 min read
What a São Jorge trip costs in 2026: ferry fares, flights, car, beds and guided trips
What São Jorge costs in 2026: Atlânticoline's published ferry fares (EUR 17.30 one way to Pico, EUR 46.00 return for a car), whether to bring a car or hire one, why the EUR 61 Azores Fare is for residents only, the October 2026 fuel cap, the one published campsite rate, canyoning and kayak prices, and which prices you have to ask for.
Travel TipsOct 6, 20266 min read
What a Faial trip costs in 2026: the Capelinhos ticket, whale trips, ferries and fuel
The fixed costs of a Faial trip in 2026: EUR 10 for the Capelinhos volcano centre and its winter closing days, EUR 5 for the botanic garden, the free Porto Pim aquarium, whale watching from Horta from EUR 70, the EUR 8.20 ferry to Pico, the October 2026 fuel cap, the free bathing places, and a sample week for two of about EUR 280.
Travel TipsOct 6, 20266 min read
What a Pico trip costs in 2026: mountain fees, the lava cave, whale trips, ferries and wine
The fixed costs of a Pico trip in 2026: EUR 15 to the crater and EUR 25 to the Piquinho, the GPS tracker waiver, Gruta das Torres at its last published EUR 10 while the new formats are priced, whale watching from Lajes at EUR 70, Picowines tastings from EUR 20, the EUR 8.20 ferry to Faial, the October 2026 fuel cap, the free bathing places, and a sample week for two of about EUR 360.
Travel TipsOct 6, 20266 min read
What a Terceira trip costs in 2026: cave tickets, the Angra City Pass, whale trips, ferries and fuel
The fixed costs of a Terceira trip in 2026: Algar do Carvão at EUR 10 and Gruta do Natal at EUR 9 (no combined ticket this autumn, four opening days a week), the EUR 10 Angra City Pass, whale watching from EUR 65, summer-only ferries from EUR 42.80, the October 2026 fuel cap, EUR 11 a night camping for two, the free beaches, and why we found no tourist tax on the island.
Travel TipsOct 5, 20266 min read
What a Graciosa trip costs in 2026: ferry fares, flights, beds, car and tickets
What Graciosa costs in 2026: Atlânticoline's published ferry fares (EUR 42.80 one way to Terceira, EUR 88.70 return for a car), why the EUR 61 Azores Fare is for residents only, published rates for rural houses, the October 2026 fuel cap, the Furna do Enxofre tickets, and which prices you have to ask for.
News
Oct 4, 20261 min read
APPAA calls for urgent clearing of roads and streams to prevent flooding
The environmental association says blocked drainage, unchecked vegetation and debris raise the risk of flooding and flash floods on several islands.
Travel TipsOct 4, 20266 min read
Driving on São Miguel: car hire, roads, fuel and the rules
Hire a car on São Miguel for Sete Cidades, Furnas and the east. The expressways are toll-free; here are fuel prices, speed and alcohol limits and the fog.
Travel TipsOct 3, 20267 min read
Day trip to São Jorge from Pico or Faial: ferries and a route
In winter 2026/27 a São Jorge day trip works on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only. Ferry times and fares, car hire in Velas and a 55 km loop.
News
Oct 3, 20261 min read
APPAA urges urgent clearing of Azores roads and watercourses
The environmental association says blocked drains, overgrown verges and debris in water lines raise the risk of flooding, erosion and landslides during heavy rain.
Travel TipsOct 2, 20266 min read
Faial to Pico day trip: ferry times, car hire and what to see
Horta to Madalena is a 30-minute ferry. The winter 2026/27 boats, the 2026 fare, car hire at the terminal and what fits in a day on Pico's west end.
Travel TipsOct 1, 20266 min read
Best time to visit São Jorge: weather, festivals, ferries
June to early September: July is São Jorge's driest month, the summer ferries run and the bathing season is open. Weather, festivals and ferries month by month.
Travel TipsOct 1, 20266 min read
Getting around Terceira: Lajes airport bus, car hire, ferries
The EVT bus from Lajes airport to Angra takes about 70 minutes with a change in Praia da Vitória. Also car hire, taxis and the summer-only ferries.
Travel TipsSep 30, 20266 min read
Getting around Graciosa: the bus timetable, car hire, taxis and what you can do on foot
Graciosa's buses run two loops out of Santa Cruz on weekdays, with a last departure at 17:00, two loops on Saturday and none on Sunday. The timetable the operator posted in September 2026, which bus goes to Carapacho in summer, why no bus reaches the Caldeira, when a hire car pays off, and three trails that start on a bus line.
Travel TipsSep 30, 20267 min read
Getting around São Jorge: buses, taxis, car hire and trail transfers
One bus a day each way between Topo and Velas, none on Sundays, none to the airport or the fajãs. São Jorge's timetable, taxis for trail transfers and car hire.
Travel TipsSep 30, 20266 min read
Getting around Faial: buses, taxis and car hire from Horta
Faial's buses run Monday to Saturday and never up to the Caldeira. Bus times from Horta Airport, Capelinhos by bus, taxis, and when a hire car is worth it.
Travel TipsSep 30, 20266 min read
Getting around Pico, Azores: car hire, buses, taxis, ferries
Most visitors to Pico hire a car: the two bus routes keep to the coast and none goes up the mountain. Plus the airport, ferry ports, taxis and going car-free.
Travel TipsSep 30, 20266 min read
São Miguel without a car: buses, taxis and what works
Ponta Delgada, the north coast and Furnas work by bus (line 110 out at 7:15, back at 17:10). Where you need a taxi, night buses, tickets and when to hire a car.
Travel TipsSep 29, 20266 min read
Corvo in winter: ferry days, flights, weather and what stays open
Corvo stays open all winter, but from mid-October the boat from Flores sails only on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the museum houses keep weekday hours, and wind and fog decide whether you get on and off the island. The 2026 ferry times, what we could and could not confirm about winter flights, what is open, and how much slack to build in.
Travel TipsSep 29, 20266 min read
Getting around Flores: car hire, taxis and the bus timetable
On Flores you want a car: UTC's five bus lines run on weekdays only, a few times a day. Where to hire, taxis for linear walks, and 2026 bus times and fares.