Ponta Delgada | Eastern & Central Groups
SUGGESTED ITINERARY FOR 2 WEEKS
DAY 1 | SAIL TO VILA FRANCA DO CAMPO (SAO MIGUEL ISLAND), 12 MILES AND VISIT VILA FRANCA DO CAMPO
Get yourself in the right mood with a brief coastal trip of 2/3 hours to the first capital of São Miguel, the historic city of Vila Franca do Campo, with its old buildings and manor houses, a lively charm remembrance of the early settlement days. If you have time, don’t lose the opportunity of visiting Furnas, a thermal paradise lost in one of the world’s most exuberant green hidden gems. Must visit: Terra Nostra Garden; Vila Franca do Campo.
DAY 2 | SAIL TO VILA DO PORTO (SANTA MARIA ISLAND), 54 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.
DAYS 3/4 | VISIT SANTA MARIA ISLAND AND SAIL TO ANGRA DO HEROÍSMO (TERCEIRA ISLAND), 145 MILES
Santa Maria is the only non-completely volcanic island and enjoy the title “Sun Island”, given by a prevailing warm and dry climate. Visit Barreiro da Faneca, also known as “red desert” because of its scarlet clays formed by pyroclastic rocks and say Wow! When visiting São Lourenço Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the archipelago with it is cliff side vineyards, typical houses and agricultural plots. Say goodbye to Santa Maria Island and set sails to Terceira Island. Must visit: Vila do Porto; São Lourenço Bay.
DAY 5 | 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 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 6 | SAIL TO PRAIA DA GRACIOSA (GRACIOSA ISLAND), 45 MILES AND VISIT GRACIOSA ISLAND
Classified by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, the island of Graciosa is the second smallest of the archipelago and is ranked as an exceptional location for diving and fishing. The charming town of Santa Cruz with its typical windmills provides a unique glance. Caldeira da Graciosa and Furna do Enxofre, a splendid volcanic cave, are the most iconic natural attractions of the island. Must visit: Town of Santa Cruz; Caldeira da Graciosa; Furna do Enxofre.
DAY 7 | SAIL TO VELAS (SAO JORGE ISLAND), 38 MILES
Another sailing day, another opportunity to observe and enjoy the presence of natural treasures like dolphins, turtles and, luckily, whales.
DAY 8 | VISIT SÃO JORGE ISLAND
Start discovering São Jorge Island by visiting the town of 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 Calheta; Fajã dos Cubres, Fajã do Ouvidor and Fajã de Santo Cristo.
DAY 9 | SAIL TO HORTA (FAIAL ISLAND), 22 MILES
Arrive at Horta Marina and get yourself a well-deserved night on board, along a mythical Gin at Peter’s Café Sport to celebrate with your crew your sailing charter discovering the wonders of the Azores.
DAY 10 | VISIT FAIAL ISLAND
Don’t forget, Faial is not only about yachts, the Marina and Horta. Don’t forget to admire the Caldeira Volcano, a deep crater of 2000 X 400 meters and Capelinhos Volcano, an almost lunar and arid landscape of 3 square km conquered to the sea by more than 300 explosions and earthquakes in 1957 e 1958. Must visit: Caldeira and Capelinhos Volcanos.
DAY 11 | SAIL TO LAJES DO PICO (PICO ISLAND), 21 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. Start visiting Pico Island from the heart of its ancient whaling culture, visiting the Whalemen’s Museum at Lajes do Pico.
DAY 12 | VISIT PICO ISLAND
Organize yourself. One day to visit Pico is the least you can do. Start 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 the 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; Whaling Industry Museum at São Roque do Pico; Capitão and Caiado Lagoons.
DAY 13 | SAIL BACK TO PONTA DELGADA (SÃO MIGUEL ISLAND), 130 MILES
Arrive at Ponta Delgada Marina and get yourself a well-deserved last night on board, along a drink at “Portas do Mar” area to celebrate two full weeks of sailing while travelling and discovering the wonderful Azores. But don’t forget, São Miguel is not only about yachts, the Marina and Ponta Delgada. Don’t leave us before admiring its most iconics places: Sete Cidades – a twin lake crossed by legends and myths – and Fogo, with its stunning views. Must visit: Sete Cidades Lake; Fogo Lake.