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The Azores Archipelago consists of 9 fantastic islands. In this article, we explain how to travel between islands in the Azores, in a quick guide with everything you need to know to explore this paradise in the Atlantic Ocean.
Given the location of the Azores, there are only two ways to travel between islands: by boat or by plane.
Traveling Between Islands
As mentioned earlier, you can only do this using two modes of transportation: boat and plane. Below you will find detailed information about each of these transport options, schedules, operations, prices, and other tips to enjoy your stay.
When you visit one of the Azorean islands, you will certainly want to visit the other eight. We recommend that you always plan your stay in the Azores in advance and with some care, which means you should always book at least 4 to 5 days on an island. This is the ideal number of days to see the main points of interest on each island. Don’t forget that if you are traveling between islands, you should account for any flight layovers and/or the duration of the boat trip.
To fully explore an island (and you will never see everything), one to two weeks is the ideal length of stay. See also our tips on how to plan a trip to the Azores.
Inter-Island Boat Trips
Inter-island boat trips are operated by Atlânticoline. The inter-island connections are divided into several lines:
- Blue Line: Connection between Horta (Faial) and Madalena (Pico);
- Green Line: Connection between Horta (Faial), Madalena (Pico), and Velas (São Jorge);
- Pink Line: Connection between Santa Cruz (Flores) and Vila do Corvo (Corvo);
- Purple Line: Only on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Connection between the Triangle Islands (Faial – Horta, Pico – Madalena, and São Jorge – Calheta) to Terceira Island – Praia da Vitória;
- White Line: Only on Mondays and Fridays. Connection between Faial (Horta), Pico (Madalena), São Jorge (Velas), Graciosa (Praia), and Terceira (Praia da Vitória);
- Orange Line: Every day except Wednesdays and Thursdays, connection between Velas (São Jorge) and São Roque (Pico).
Note: The seasonal operation that connected the 9 islands of the Azores is not active. There is currently no maritime connection between the Islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria.
