Horta | Central Group
SUGGESTED ITINERARY FOR 1 WEEK
DAY 1 | SAIL TO VELAS (SAO JORGE ISLAND), 22 MILES AND VISIT VELAS/SAO JORGE
Be amazed by arriving at the unique natural setting of Velas Marina, sheltered by huge cliffs of 200 m. Discover the enchanting towns of Velas and Calheta and cross the thin (8 km) but steep island (300 m) to visit some of its more fabulous fajas (low tongues of lava at the bottom of steep volcanic cliffs), Cubres, Ouvidor and, especially, Santo Cristo, a unique natural lagoon ring-shaped, that is now becoming a surfing sanctuary. Must visit: Town of Velas; Fajã dos Cubres, Fajã do Ouvidor and Fajã de Santo Cristo.
DAY 2 | SAIL TO ANGRA DO HEROISMO (TERCEIRA ISLAND), 49 MILES
Enjoy a full day of sailing and cross your fingers for an amazing ride shared, for sure, with dolphins and, perhaps, turtles and whales! You won’t be the first lucky one.
DAY 3 | VISIT TERCEIRA ISLAND
Once in Angra do Heroismo, get yourself lost in the immaculate and well preserved streets of one of the most historical cities of Portugal and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Still, Terceira does not end in the unique charm of Angra. You must drive along the green leaves of a truly stunning landscape towards the Algar do Carvão lava tube, with its magnificent stalagmites, stalactites and a lake. And by the way, Terceira is the land of joy and excitement in the Azores. If there is a traditional bullfight, on any of its many villages, don’t lose it, even if you are not fond of bulls and fights. It’s a local social event, full of regional flavors. Must visit: UNESCO city of Angra do Heroismo; Algar do Carvão lava tube.
DAY 4 | SAIL TO LAJES DO PICO (PICO ISLAND), 54 MILES
Enjoy another full day of sailing and admire the natural beauty of Pico’s rough south coast before entering the birthplace of the Azorean once legendary whale industry, Lajes do Pico.
DAY 5 | VISIT PICO ISLAND
Organize yourself. One day to visit Pico is the least you can do. Start in heart of its ancient whaling culture, visiting the Whalemen's Museum at Lajes do Pico and starting contouring the island along its coastline towards the unique Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue through the coastline and you will be amazed by roughness of its magma setting. Once in São Roque do Pico visit the Whaling Industry Museum and start climbing the mountain back to Lajes do Pico, stopping at the altitude lagoons of Capitão and Caiado. Must visit: Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture; Whalemen's Museum at Lajes do Pico and Whaling Industry Museum at São Roque do Pico; Capitão and Caiado Lagoons.
DAY 6 | SAIL BACK TO HORTA (FAIAL ISLAND), 21 MILES
Arrive at Horta Marina and get yourself a well-deserved last night on board, along a mythical Gin at Peter’s Café Sport to celebrate a full week of sailing while travelling and discovering the wonderful Azores. But don’t forget, Faial is not only about yachts, the Marina and Horta. Don’t leave us before admiring the Caldeira Volcano, a deep crater of 2000 X 400 meters and Capelinhos Volcano, an almost lunar and arid landscaped of 3 square km conquered to the sea by more than 300 explosions and earthquakes in 1957 and 1958. Must visit: Caldeira and Capelinhos Volcanos.