Madeira & Azores Tourism Guide - Azores Islands

Sao Miguel Island Azores

Sao Miguel is long and thin, almost boomerang shaped, and consists of 6 municipalities across an area of 747km squared. Ponta Delgada to the south west is the island's main centre and indeed the Azores' most populated city. Sao Miguel's airport is near Ponta Delgada.

Walking amongst the forested peaks of Sao Miguel is popular with visitors. Sao Miguel has two volcanic ranges and three dramatic crater lakes at Sete Cidades (10 miles across!), Furnas and Lagoa do Fogo. You can walk the crater edge at Sete Cidades, and you'll note that volcanic activity is still present here when you view the choice of thermal springs and geysers! Sao Miguel is green, and crops like tobacco and tea are grown here. Car hire on Sao Miguel is highly recommended to enjoy all this Azores island has to offer.

Terceira Island Azores

Terceira is the third largest island in the Azores archepelago, covering an area of 3118.96km squares. At only 29km long and 17.5km wide, there's much crammed into this pretty volcanic island including the UNESCO town of Angra do Heroismo and plenty of opportunities for outdoor leisure pursuits such as horse riding, golf, mountaineering, tennis, diving and more. (see Activity Holidays Azores guide weblink right for more details).

Terceira has its own airport - Lajes Airport near the town of Lajes to the north, as well as two bustling harbours. There's a huge American Airbase on Terceira too, located in Lajes. (Not surprising, as the Azores sit strategically in the mid-Atlantic. The Azores are served by direct flights from both America and Canada).

Pico Island Azores

Stunning landscapes are what you can expect here on Pico island. This Azores Island is the furthest south of the central cluster of the Azores islands and is the second largest in the archipelago (around 46km long and 15km wide). The most mountainous island on the Azores and containing the most dramtically beautiful landscapes, Portugal's highest peak is here - Pico Alto which stretches up 2352m and like Teide on Tenerife can be seen from all over the island and indeed from peaks on the other Azores islands. There's a special magic about Pico Alto, now a protected Natural Reserve. It last erupted in 1718, and you can view the lava fields and black lava rocks around the volcano.

Pico Alto and its surrounding high plateau covers most of the west of Pico Island. The Planalto da Achada also contains numerous volcanic cones and crater lakes to the east. Volcanic caves, stunning rock formations at Arcos, laurel and juniper forests and the ancient laurissilva are all here on stunning Pico Island. It the youngest volcanic island in the Azores archipelago, forming some 300,000 years ago. Pico does have its own little airport, and to fly here you'll usually be flying from Terceira's Airport. (if flying from the UK you may need to land first on Sao Miguel, then fly to Terceira and then on to Pico - contact Iknow Holidays booking line direct for assistance on flight bookings to Pico Azores).

Faial Island Azores

Little Faial just to the west of Pico (4 miles) is much flatter than its neighbour and is often called the Blue Island. The poet Raul Brandao named it Ilha Azul due to the huge number of hydrangeas which bloom here on Faial in the summer months. Horta has its own little airport, and the usual route to get here from the UK is via a flight to Lisbon Airport, then a connector from Lisbon to Horta. (contact Iknow Holidays booking line direct for advice and flight bookings). Horta Airport sits just 9.5km outside Horta centre.

Most of the bustle on Faial centres around Horta, the main town. Horta's marina is a busy place, usually crammed with luxury yachts stopping off here. Horta offers a stunning choice of historic architecture and an Arte Sacra Museum. Some of the best views of Pico's huge mountain volcano can be seen from Faial.