Ferry from Sao Jorge to Faial

About Sao Jorge

Sao Jorge is part of the Central Group in the Portuguese Azorean archipelago in the North Atlantic. With a dramatic landscape comprising vast networks of tall peaks, green craters and coastal plains, Sao Jorge offers the ideal scenery for hiking holidays. The villages are incredibly picturesque, too, most notably the capital, Velas, a quiet harbour town dating back to the mid-15th Century. The island is home to a wide range of birdlife including various gull species, so keep an eye out during your hike. Also, a stroll along the coast near Urzelina will lead you to a fascinating volcanic rock formation populated by wild pigeons. From the port in the capital, you can choose from many sailings to a great number of destinations in the Azores thanks to Sao Jorge’s central location in the archipelago.

About Faial

Faial is one of the Central Islands in the heart of the Portuguese archipelago, the Azores, in the North Atlantic. ‘The Blue Island’ is the third most populous in the Azores, so named for the long rows of hydrangea and blue and white housing. However, it’s colourful not only in landscape, but also in culture, with the principal settlement of Horta offering lively bars, a quirky marina and the fascinating Scrimshaw Museum featuring a comprehensive collection of maritime artefacts. For outdoorsy types, a hike to the Monte da Guia crater and the Whaler’s Chapel affords sublime views over the island and neighbouring Pico, while the surrounding blue ocean offers some of the best diving and whale-watching spots in Europe. Ferries sail to Horta on the southeast coast of Faial from almost every other island in the Azores, except the tiny island of Corvo in the northwest corner of the archipelago, making ferry travel one of the easiest ways to get around.