SATA Air Azores are the only airline that run routes. However, it’s enough for small prop planes and that gives the potential for a pretty decent air network overall. Now, we’re not talking sprawling mega hubs with the capability of landing jumbo jets here. That’s enough to make the Cyclades blush. On top of that, you might be amazed to hear that EVERY SINGLE ISLAND has its own airport. Hopping on a plane means you can easily join together two of the distinct island groups within the archipelago, since going airborne means 370 miles is basically a walk in the park. It’s faster and – and here’s the kicker – lets you cover longer distances. Flying between islands in the Azores Photo by André Mendonça/UnsplashĪs a general rule, flying is the most convenient of the two options when it comes to traveling between the Azores. It’s certainly possible to do two, three, four, or even five islands plus in one jaunt, but it’s always a good idea to try to check off places that are within the same group or vicinity as that will cut down travel times and admin a lot. The upshot here is that planning is really important when you’re putting together an itinerary for your Azores island-hopping trip. You can see how they might not knit together well in the same itinerary! It’s not! But to put things into perspective a little let’s take an example: Corvo, the northernmost island of the western group of the Azores, is a mere 11 miles from its next-door neighbor Flores but a whopping 370 miles from Santa Maria Island in the far east of the group. This is a VERY important distinction if you’re looking to travel between the Azores in a single trip because, while it’s relatively easy to move between isles in the same group, it’s more of a challenge to move between islands in different groups. They stretch over 360 miles of ocean at their widest point (southeast to northwest) and can be separated, roughly, into three distinct groups: Western, central, and eastern. The archipelago of the Azores consists of nine islands in all. Once that’s done, then you’re onto getting between the isles themselves… That’s what you’ll need to hop over to arrive in the first place. Dotting the Macaronesia region of the North Atlantic, they sit a whopping 870 miles from Lisbon (the Portuguese capital) and nearly 1,000 miles off the coast of North Africa. One thing’s for sure…the Azores aren’t really on any travel radar. Why? A couple of reasons but mainly to manage expectations, give you a good idea of what islands are accessible from what others, and paint a picture of the sort of distances you’re going to have to cover when you go from one to the other. Let’s take a closer look…īefore we get stuck into our complete guide on how to travel between Azores Islands, it’s probably a good idea to get a little bit of geography out of the way. They might not be comparable to the flight and ferry links that link up the mainstay islands of the Greek Aegean, say, but they are regular, affordable, and relatively reliable. Thankfully, the Azores have some pretty good connections on offer when it comes to both air and sea. Basically, if there’s water to cover betwixt A and B then you’re either going to need to jump over it or skim over it. That’s just the same as with Greek island hopping, Croatian island hopping, Indonesian island hopping – the list goes on. There are only two ways to get between different islands in the Azores archipelago: By boat or by plane. This guide will delve into the ins and outs of getting from A to B in this eye-wateringly wonderful Portuguese archipelago, all to help you plan that perfect jaunt that includes the top hikes, the most dramatic beaches, and the most culture-rich towns. If you’re wondering how to travel between Azores Islands, then you’ve come to the right place.
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