GUIDES TO SÃO MIGUEL & THE AZORES
There are many great things to do and see on São Miguel from whale watching to hikes and of course the lakes and coastline. Everything you need to know is contained in our guide to this island.
Guest exclusive: With so many great things to do and see on São Miguel, but a lot of miles between each we have created this guest only Google Map with pins. This means that you can plan a day by day trip with the most efficiency.
Guest exclusive: Save time with this map to all the best spots to get photos of São Miguel.
With so many amazing places to eat you are spoilt for choice on São Miguel. From the most well known restaurants on the island to those "local favorites" where tourists rarely venture we have them all reviewed and listed for you in this handy guide.
With so many amazing places to eat you really are spoilt for choice on São Miguel. From the most well known restaurants on the island to those "local favorites" where tourists rarely venture we have them all reviewed and listed for you in this handy guide.
Guest exclusive: As you would expect, we save our best tips, beautiful places to see and off the beaten track local only spots for our guests. Use the WIFI password here to gain access to this page and access the best that São Miguel has to offer. Keep it special and don't share!
The Azores is safe, beautiful and quiet. Until your kids start running around because they are bored. We list out the best things for children to do here on Sao Miguel. Bonus: We include something for the parents (after all it is meat to be a holiday for you too.)
The Azores is green, beautiful, and peaceful. Until your kids get bored of course. Read our guide to all the best activities for your children (and as a bonus something for parents as well.)
The Azores has some of the very best hikes in the world. We have picked our favourite (and most importantly the circular ones) on the island of Sao Miguel.
A quick breakdown of the basics you need to know before coming to the Azores. Including car hire tips, weather and traveling around the island.
There is a saying here in the Azores, "if it is raining, just wait 5 minutes and it will be sunny." The weather can change frequently during the day, but also from town to town. Read up on what you need to know to take advantage of your time in this beautiful place.
As the Azores is made up of 9 islands, we highly recommend seeing at least one other if you have the time. Read our guide to how to do this and what time you need to allow to fly between the islands that make up the Azores.
Get out on a bike and explore some of the most beautiful countryside in the world.
The island is also known as Ilha Azul or Blue Island, due to the Hydrangeas that bloom during the summer months. Faial is hilly; the highest mountain, the Cabeço Gordo Caldera, is 1,043 meters high and the inner crater is 2 km wide and 500 meters deep. The deepest part of the crater is filled with a lake.
Pico, is named after its imposing mountain Ponta de Pico or Pico Alto, which is the highest mountain of Portugal and also the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Pico with its 300,000 years the “youngest” island of the Azores. The island is situated 17 km south of São Jorge and just 6 km west of Faial. If you wish, you can stay on the island of Faial and have easy access to Pico. The ferry from Horta to Madalena only takes about ½ hour. There are departures all day long.
Located in the central group of the Azores and has a population of 15,000 people. The highest point is Serra de Santa Barbara (1,022 m). The view from this point is breathtaking. The natural landscape has beautiful scenery and great varieties.
The landscape of Santa Maria is quite different from the other islands on the Azores and the houses are spread all across the island. The land is very fertile and the rural landscape is beautiful.
The island of Flores or flowers is the most western point of the Azores and of Europe. This lovely island is divided into two municipalities (concelho), Santa Cruz das Flores in the north, with 1,820 inhabitants, and Lajes das Flores in the south.
São Jorge is well known for the tasteful cheese produced on the island. São Jorge is just as many Azorean islands a volcanic island, without sandy beaches. It is possible to take a ferry from São Jorge to Faial, Pico and Terceira. The ferry to Pico and Faial departs several times during the daytime. The ferry to Terceira Faial departs a few times a week. The airport is situated close to Velas.
Graciosa, meaning Gracious belongs to the Central Group of the Archipelago of the Azores (about 30 miles from Terceira). The island has an area of 61 km² in an oval form and is called “the white island."