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Azores Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025
Our 29 most popular Azores trips. Compare tour itineraries from 14 tour companies. 59 reviews. 4.3/5 avg rating.
Popular Azores Tours
See all 29 Azores tripsBy Iberian Escapes
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5
11 reviewsPrivate Guided
By Intura Travel
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5
94 reviewsSelf-Guided / Independent Tour
By Iberian Escapes
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5
11 reviewsPrivate Guided
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Small Group Azores Tours
See all 11 Azores trips
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Top Azores Attractions & Experiences
Top Azores Experiences
- Swim in Natural pools and thermal baths, created by combining cold ocean waters and hot geothermal water.
- Dive deep into Algar do Carvao through an ancient lava tube. Explore the insides of an extinct volcano!
- Learn about the expeditioners who made the transatlantic journey to travel to America at Andra do Heroisma.
- Explore the beauty of Caldeira, a former lake that transformed into a crater after a volcano eruption.
Azores Tours & Travel Guide
Azores Attractions & Landmarks Guide
Where are the Azores?
The Azores seem a little bit hidden on the map, but if you zoom in on the coast of Portugal, you’ll see the archipelago of nine islands. The islands are located around 1,000 miles off of coastal Portugal. The nine islands are divided into three groups. San Miguel and Santa Maria make up the eastern islands.
The central islands consist of Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico, and Faial. Flores and Corvo are the western Islands. The Azores are a great happy medium for those who want to visit Europe without the long flight. This is also a great option for those heading to Lisbon, France, or elsewhere in Europe who want to break up the flight. Leave from the east coast (Boston or New York), break up the trip with a stop in the Azores, and continue on to other parts of Europe, or vice versa.
Outdoor travel activities on the Azores
The Azores has plenty of outdoor activities for anyone and everyone in your group. Different islands offer various activities, but here, we’ll list some of the must-dos:
- Whale watching – the Azores is often part of the migration route, and some sea life choose to make this their permanent home. On good days, you can see a combination of turtles, dolphins and whales.
- Diving – get underwater and see some more marine life! Diving provides the opportunity to see stingrays, turtles, sharks, and mantas. The best time to go diving is June-October.
- Paragliding provides a different view of the islands. Deep canyons, high peaks, and great views are offered, and this provides a birds-eye view that other viewing points can’t reach. There is a reason why there is an annual international paragliding festival on the island of Sao Miguel.
Islands of the Azores
As many of us would like to visit all nine islands, sometimes, it’s just not possible. Pick a few for this adventure – you’ll be craving more). Regardless of where you go, there’s beautiful scenery and opportunity for adventure. Here’s a quick island guide to help you decide which Azores islands you should visit:
- Pico island: Looking to climb the tallest mountain in Portugal? Head to Pico island for some great hiking, and make sure to visit the volcanic vineyards at the bottom of the mountain.
- Terceira: The second largest island, this is a popular visit for those wanting to learn about the history of the Azores and want to visit UNESCO sites.
- Sao Jorge has some of the best landscapes and outdoor adventure options in the Azores. Mountains, fjord-like lakes, cliffs, and vineyards are all found on this island.
- Faial is a popular destination for people hoping to see marine life.
- Santa Maria is a great option if you’re looking for great sandy beaches and warm swimming water.
- Flores – filled with waterfalls, lagoons, crater lakes, and florals, some of the best nature is found on Flores island. Combined with activities such as canyoning, caves, and lava tubes, anyone looking to spend tons of time outdoors should consider a visit to Flores.
- Sao Miguel – The biggest island, and the most popular among tourists, Sao Miguel is usually the island most people visit. Some of the best features of the Azores (nature, community, plus the tea plantation!) is found in Sao Miguel.
- Corvo – the island of Corvo is one big community, with a little over 400 people living there. If you’re looking for an escape and some alone time, consider visiting Corvo island.
- Graciosa is calm and quiet, and offers some awesome whale-watching opportunities.
Must try food in the Azores
One of the best parts of traveling is trying the local cuisine, and the Azores has some special dishes! Because of the location and climate of the Azores, they have a unique opportunity to produce ingredients that can’t be grown in other parts of Europe. Make sure to try these foods when you’re in the Azores:
1. Cheese – not a commonly expected item on the list, but it’s the most well known local product on the island. Around 50 percent of the cheese found in Portugal is from the Azores. One of the most popular types of cheese is the trangy three-year Sao Jorge cheese.
2. Tropical Fruit – Passion fruit, pineapples, and oranges are some of the delicious fruit you can find on the island. Fruits in the Azores have high acidity because of the climate and the soil. Visit a pineapple plantation on the island of Sao Miguel.
3. Seafood – Traditional seafood is found here. Fish and tuna are popular ones. The real treat is the rare seafood, such as leopard-print eels, cracas (barnacle) and/or lapas (sea snails). Different islands have different sea creatures you can crack into (literally, like the caracas you crack into on Terceira Island). Whether you want to go with something familiar or something exotic, sea food options are plenty.
4. Drinks – wine, coffee, and tea. Surprisingly enough, the Azores grow all three! Visit the vineyards on Pico Island and see the unique pattern the wine grows in. The island of Sao Miguel is where Europe’s only tea plantation is found. Also grown in the Azores, found on the island of Sao Jorge, is coffee. Arabica beans grow in the village of Faja dos Vimes, one of the only places where coffee beans can grow in Europe.
Getting to the Azores
The Azores are located in Europe, but it’s actually an easy destination trip for visitors traveling from both the United States and Europe. A quick four or five hour flight from Boston or New York via Delta airlines or SATA airlines (the airline for the Azores) can get you to the islands sitting in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
For those departing from Europe, the Azores are a quick two-hour flight from Lisbon. Thanks to low-cost airlines, such as EasyJet and RyanAir, the trip is also affordable! Visitors can fly from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada International Airport on the island of Sao Miguel for just $40. For those who want to visit multiple islands, many tour options allow the opportunity to island hop, taking care of the need to figure out how to get between islands. Some tours include accommodations as well.
Flights: Each island in the Azores has its own airport, so whether you’re visiting one island, three islands, or all nine, it’s easy to transport yourself. Most international flights fly into San Miguel, and connecting flights are offered to other islands. If you’re flying in from Lisbon, there are more options of which island you can fly into, including Horta, Terceira, and Santa Maria.
This is helpful for those who are traveling in the off-months, as some islands don’t offer ferry service in the colder months. SATA, the Azores islands airline, makes it easy to hop between different islands. The airline actually offers an Azores Air Pass, that allows nonresidents to explore multiple islands.
There are a few guidelines: the pass allows you to make three stops on different islands, but you must spend at least 24 hours on each island before departing for the next. An international/domestic flight ticket to the Azores must be combined with the Azores air pass while checking in for the flights. This is a pretty cool offer for those who want to jump around to different islands!
Boats: While the option to fly is there, nearly every Azorean island is connected through a ferry boat. Some routes are only available in the warmer months. The ferry system makes it possible to easily tour any of the islands.
Traveling around the Azores
1. Car rental
Renting a car while visiting the Azores is an ideal option. The freedom that comes with the car rental gives you full potential, that a tour or public transportation may not allow. You can stop wherever and whenever you want (in a safe pull-off location, of course) to snap photos of the incredible scenery, or to just sit and soak in the views.
Want to wake up early and drive somewhere for sunrise? You’re able to do it! Want to spend some time at home between your morning and afternoon adventure? A rental car allows that. Local rental car services usually have better pricing than large well-known rental car agencies. Whichever route you go, don’t skip out on the car insurance though.
The windy roads and “off-roads” may contain dirt and gravel that may scrape your car. No one wants to arrive home with a pricey bill for a scratch that happened. Adding CDW or super CDW can make sure you’re covered without liability for potential damage. This isn’t meant to scare you or dissuade you from renting a car, just some smart traveling tips!
2. Tour group
A tour group is a great medium for someone who wants to explore all the best spots, but may not have the opportunity (or desire) to rent a car. When exploring a foreign area, car rental actually isn’t such a bad idea. You don’t have to worry about trying to navigate the road, and you get the opportunity to just sit and stare out the window, enjoying the landscape.
Another perk – not having to deal with parking. Popular attractions can lead to sometimes difficult parking situations. With a tour bus, you just jump off and go. Tour groups usually hit all the best spots, and allow times to get out, stretch, and take photos. Some tour guides may know hidden spots that you may not find if you rented a car and drove around the islands yourself.
Options include half-day trips and full day trips, or a tour from the start of your trip to the end. Inexpensive options often have larger groups, usually 30+ people on a bus. If you want a more intimate experience, look for a company that offers small groups to give you a more personal experience.
3. Public transportation
Public transport in the Azores isn’t usually targeted for tourists, but it does exist! The routes serve the locals who are heading to work, so most buses don’t run often or frequent enough to solely rely on jumping around the island. Some routes only run a few times per day, if they run at all.
Again, not the best way to get around and visit the island, but if you’re on island time and staying in the main villages, the local buses may work for you. Taxis aren’t really an economical choice either. They’re expensive and if you’re going somewhere off the beaten path, it may be hard to get a taxi to return you home.
If you do find one, taxi services sometimes charge passengers the fare it takes to reach the destination from where they are retrieving you.
Azores Reviews & Ratings
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Wonderful week in the Azores
I've been to Portugal before, and was looking forward to experiencing another aspect of this country. This was my first trip with Exodus, and it was very impressi...
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Lovely walks in varied and interesting locations
This is a short but packed easy walking trip guided by the brilliant knowledgeable and fun Bruno. From the lush heights overlooking lakes and craters to swimming i...
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Truly Wonderful
A really lovely trip to The Azores. A packed itinerary with whale and dolphin watching and exploring the island landscape, which is one of a kind! We saw tropica...
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Walking n the Azores
Walking in the Azores was as good as expected - the islands are quite stunning and to see so many islands in one week and to do so much made it very special. It is ...
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Walking In The Azores
A great trekking trip. The Azores are an unknown quantity to most people, but I fell in love with the islands natural and unspoilt beauty. The hotels that we stayed ...
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