Pico
The resort island of Pico is dominated by its volcanic namesake,
rising from the middle of the landscape and towering 7,720ft
(2,351m) above sea level. It is the highest peak in Portugal. A
single road, following the rugged coastline, encircles the island.
It is possible to climb the volcano to the peak but the route is
arduous and should not be attempted by amateurs. Pico's other main
claim to fame is as a jumping-off point for whale-watching
expeditions, offered by local boatmen. In the island's vineyards,
the famous 'verdelho' wine grapes are grown. In the town of Lajes,
there is a whale-hunting museum and at São Roche, you can discover
a museum depicting the operation of a whaling factory.
Pico
AiresAlmeida
Terceira
Terceira, an island resort destination in the Azores, holds many
places of interest for tourists. The historic centre of its capital
town, Angra do Heroísmo, is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. The town is an idyllic setting, renowned for its
pastel-coloured sunset vistas. Terceira is best known for its
periodic 'running of the bulls'. Ask in the local bar when the next
event is likely to take place. Besides the capital, the other main
town on the island, Praia da Vitória, is interesting because of its
American flavour. Being close to the American airbase in Lajes, it
features several burger joints and US-style souvenir shops.
Angra do Heroismo
Marco Derksen
São Jorge
The resort island of São Jorge is surrounded by sheer
black cliffs and is the centre of the Azores' dairy industry. The
lush green grass of the island's fields plumps up the grazing cows,
who in turn produce rich milk for creamy, straw-coloured wheels of
cheese. The island also has exclusive rights to the delicious
fleshy cockles that are caught in the waters of Caldeira de Santo
Cristo. Aside from its gastronomic delights, São Jorge offers
active pursuits like dive fishing, hiking, swimming and bird
watching. Villages such as Velas and Manadas possess historic
buildings dating back to 1400 and offer the sleepy culture of
traditional harbour towns.
Sao Jorge
Aitor Salaberria
Santa Maria
The island resort of Santa Maria, a fantastic holiday retreat,
lies southwest of São Miguel Island and features an airport that
was a World War II American Air Force base, now appropriated as a
civil airport. The main town on the island is Vila do Porto. It
only has one hotel but also several inns and private villas for
rent. There are a few sandy golden beaches on the island, including
Praia Formosa, and the scenic Maia and São Lourenço Bays, offering
rocky cliffs and attractive vineyards. Pretty villages like Anjos
and Santo Espírito are steeped in local history and culture, and
the island has many colourful festivals throughout the
summertime.
São Lourenço Islet
Carlos Luis M C da Cruz
Graciosa
The tiny Graciosa is known as the 'White Island' of the Azores
due to the pale rocky landscape. But there is variety in its golden
wheatfields and green and purple vineyards. The landscape is dotted
with quaint Dutch-style windmills, and most of its 4,600
inhabitants make their living from farming, winemaking and
cattle-raising. Graciosa has its own unique natural attraction: the
Furna de Enxofre. This is a small, warm sulphur lake, concealed in
a grotto underneath a volcanic crater. Visitors on holiday here can
reach the lake via a 270ft (80m) spiral staircase enclosed in a
brick tower.
Graciosa
Xavier
Faial
Faial, with its sheltered bays and immense volcanic crater, is
the most visited of the Azores islands. Much of the interior is
protected as a reserve where visitors can enjoy the diverse flora
and fauna under the guidance of local guides. Faial's main town,
Horta, has a large marina that is a favoured stopping point for
yachtsmen, and the harbour also occasionally accommodates cruise
liners. Horta and other villages have a number of pretty churches,
chapels, towers and forts, and a lively small-town atmosphere. Of
interest to sightseers is the new section of land, covering an area
of approximately one mile (two km), added to the island in the most
recent volcanic eruption of 1957.
Faial
trebol-a
Flores
Literally the island of 'flowers', this most
northerly of the Azores blooms, carpeted with numerous flowers
among impossibly green hills and white-washed villages. Considered
one of the most beautiful islands in the Azores, the best time to
visit is summer, when it is covered in the bright pink and blue
hydrangeas that give Flores its name. Highlights on the island
include the seven serene lakes in volcanic craters, the Enxareus
Grotto, the Águas Quentes hot springs, and the multiple waterfalls
of the Ribeira Grande. Flores' largest town, Lajes, is a
picturesque fishing port set in green fields. All the island's
towns and villages have historic chapels and churches to
explore.
Flores
Julen Iturbe-Ormaetxe
The Azores islands have a sub-tropical climate, characterised by
high humidity and frequent fluctuations in weather patterns. The
islands enjoy pleasant year-round temperatures with mild winters
(January to March) and warm summers (July to September). The
highest rainfall in the Azores archipelago is from October through
to January.
João Paulo II Airport
Location: 1.9 miles (3km) west of Ponta Delgada, São Miguel
Island
Time: GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday
before last Sunday in October)
Getting to the city:
There is a bus to downtown Ponta Delgada, however taxis are the
preferred method for city transfers as the airport is only 1.8
miles (3km) from the city centre.
Car Rental:
Argus operates car hire facilities at Ponta Delgada airport.
Airport Taxis:
There are taxis available at the airport 24 hours a day.
Facilities:
The terminal contains restaurants, duty-free shopping, a bank,
currency exchange, post office, ATM, and tourist information
centre.
Parking
Parking in lot P1, closest to the airport terminal, starts at
€0.60 per 15 minutes and then charges €10 for the first day, €12
for two days, €14 for three days, and €3.20 per day thereafter. Lot
P2, situated farther from the terminal, is a little cheaper at
€0.50 per 15 minutes, €8 for one day, €9 for two days, and €1 per
subsequent day.
The nine volcanic islands of the Azores archipelago offer up a
variety of things to see and do for travellers to its shores. With
hundreds of resorts, the year-round warmth certainly suits the
sun-loving visitor as they are never far away from a beautiful
beach on which to laze.
On popular resort island São Miguel, there are endless
activities and sights for the traveller to explore: mountain
biking, golfing on world-class courses, horse-riding on the beach
and whale watching from a boat cruise. Ponta Delgada on São Miguel
makes a good base from which to explore the other eight islands of
the Azores.
The town of Ponta Delgada has a variety of cultural sights such
as a bustling town square filled with markets, the charming Chapel
of Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, and a harbour boasting the imposing
fortress of São Brás. From this base, which has its own airport
chartering international flights, one can explore the surrounding
islands, such as the picturesque Graciosa, sporting stunning
turquoise waters and a pale white landscape. Alternatively, one can
visit the historic centre of Terceira's capital town, Angra do
Heroísmo, which has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.