How to island-hop around the Azores

24.04.2024 - 15:11 / lonelyplanet.com

The Azoreans travel frequently between islands all year, so the archipelago has a reasonable network of inter-island flights and ferry routes, making it easy to navigate all nine islands. Weather is the only thing that might cause a sudden change of plans, but as locals put it, that's just a part of the Azorean experience.

On the islands of the Azores, buses are not the most reliable option, so renting a car or hiring a taxi is often the better alternative – except in Corvo where the island is so small you can walk everywhere.

Renting a car is the most practical way to travel around the Azores at your own pace – signs for major sights are clear, the traffic is often low and most of the main roads are well-maintained.

However, during peak season, especially in smaller islands with fewer resources, a scarcity of cars sees an increase in prices, and parking spaces can be hard to find near restaurants, top attractions, and beaches. 

Some rural roads are so narrow they appear to be one-lane when, in fact, they're two-way streets – unless a traffic sign states otherwise, always expect cars coming in the opposite direction. And it’s not a myth that most of the countryside traffic jams are caused by farmers leading herds of cows between grasslands. Get as close to the side of the road as possible, turn off your engine, and wait it out.

Want to explore the Azores without hiring a car? Find out how to do it.

For non-drivers, or if you couldn’t rent a car due to peak season scarcity, hiring a taxi to cover the highlights is a practical way of getting around in the Azores. Taxis aren’t metered, so they’ll either charge a fixed fee based on the area or destinations you want to cover, or charge you by the hour (plan for around €20 per hour). 

Taxi drivers often speak English, although sometimes only well enough for basic communication. Those who are a little more fluent will be happy to answer your questions about the island and the sights to the best of their knowledge. Also expect no-strings-attached local tips on where to eat and must-sees, especially on the smaller islands. 

 Finding a cab that offers round-the-island tours or sightseeing trips is as easy as asking the person driving the taxi from the airport to the hotel – it's typically a service they offer, and if they don't, they'll know someone who does. 

Negotiation is usually between you and the driver, but prices generally don’t vary much between taxi companies. Prices are usually quoted as a fixed fees per trip, rather than per passenger, but always check before agreeing to a rate.

Government-owned SATA Air Açores is the only airline operating all inter-island flights and locals use it pretty much like a bus system, travelling between islands for shopping,