13-Day Azores Porto Travel Itinerary

• Day 1 - Sao Miguel Island: Visit the stunning caldera at Sete Cidades and the beautiful twin lakes of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde. End the day with a relaxing dip at the Ferraria hot springs.
• Day 2 - Sao Miguel Island: Explore the charming city of Ponta Delgada, visit the Carlos Machado Museum and the Forte de Sao Bras, and sample some of the local cuisine at the Mercado da Graca.
• Day 3 - Terceira Island: Take a ferry to Terceira Island and visit the UNESCO-listed city of Angra do Heroísmo, followed by a hike on the scenic Monte Brasil trail.
• Day 4 - Terceira Island: Visit the Algar do Carvão volcanic cave and the beautiful Biscoitos natural swimming pools before enjoying a traditional Azorean meal at O Pescador restaurant.
• Day 5 - Pico Island: Take a morning flight to Pico Island and hike to the summit of Mount Pico for stunning views of the surrounding islands.
• Day 6 - Pico Island: Visit the UNESCO-listed vineyards of Pico, followed by a visit to the Whaling Museum in Lajes do Pico.
• Day 7 - Faial Island: Take a ferry to nearby Faial Island and explore the charming city of Horta, complete with a visit to the Peter Cafe Sport and the Scrimshaw Museum.
• Day 8 - Faial Island: Embark on a whale watching tour and discover the rich marine life of the Azores.
• Day 9 - Sao Jorge Island: Take a ferry to Sao Jorge Island and hike along the stunning Fajãs de Santo Cristo trail before enjoying fresh seafood at the Canto da Doca restaurant.
• Day 10 - Sao Jorge Island: Visit the beautiful Fajã do Ouvidor natural swimming pool, followed by a stop at the Caldeira do Santo Cristo lagoon.
• Day 11 - Flores Island: Fly to Flores Island and explore the beautiful Flores Island Natural Park and the stunning Rocha dos Bordões rock formations.
• Day 12 - Flores Island: Take a guided tour of the ancient Flores Island settlements, followed by a relaxing afternoon at the Poça da Alagoinha natural swimming pool.
• Day 13 - Flores Island: Explore the beautiful town of Santa Cruz das Flores and visit the Lajes das Flores waterfall before departing from the Azores.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Sao Miguel Island Caldera (2 hours, free)
• Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde (1 hour, free)
• Ferraria Hot Springs (2 hours, €4)
• Carlos Machado Museum (2 hours, €6)
• Forte de São Braz (1 hour, free)
• Mercado da Graça (2 hours, price varies)
• Angra do Heroismo (2 hours, free)
• Monte Brasil Trail (2 hours, free)
• Algar do Carvao Volcanic Cave (1 hour, €8)
• Biscoitos Natural Swimming Pools (2 hours, free)
• Mount Pico Hike (7 hours, free)
• Pico Vineyards Tour (2 hours, price varies)
• Whaling Museum (2 hours, €8)
• Peter Cafe Sport (1 hour, price varies)
• Scrimshaw Museum (1 hour, €6)
• Whale Watching Tour (4 hours, €50)
• Fajãs de Santo Cristo Hike (4 hours, free)
• Canto da Doca Restaurant (2 hours, price varies)
• Fajã do Ouvidor Natural Swimming Pool (1 hour, free)
• Caldeira do Santo Cristo Lagoon (2 hours, free)
• Flores Island Natural Park (3 hours, free)
• Rocha dos Bordões (1 hour, free)
• Flores Island Settlements Tour (3 hours, price varies)
• Poça da Alagoinha Natural Swimming Pool (2 hours, free)
• Lajes das Flores Waterfall (1 hour, free)
• Total Estimated Costs: €96

Transportation

Travelers should consider a combination of flights, ferries, and car rentals to visit all the islands on this itinerary. Flights between islands can be booked through Azores Airlines or SATA Air Açores, and ferries are also available through Atlanticoline. Car rentals are available at each airport to get around each island. Travel costs between islands average around €50 per person, with flights ranging from €30-€120 and ferries around €20-€50 depending on the route. Travel time by ferry ranges from 1-4 hours depending on the route, while flights range from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Useful Tips

For travelers with more time, consider adding additional hiking trails on each island or exploring the smaller islands of Corvo and Graciosa. For those with less time, consider reducing the number of islands visited or spending less time on each island. It is important to book accommodations and transportation in advance, especially during peak season in the summer months.

Airports

The Azores' main airport is João Paulo II Airport (PDL) in Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel Island. Other international airports include Horta Airport (HOR) on Faial Island and Lajes Airport (TER) on Terceira Island. Flores Airport (FLW) provides connections to other islands in the Azores.