Getting around by boat and ferry The Azores

Atlanticoline operates year-round services between Faial, Pico and São Jorge. Horta has direct connections to Madalena and São Roque on Pico. To reach São Jorge, a stopover is necessary. From June to September, a larger boat connects all the islands in the central group, with a circular itinerary that starts in Horta and passes through Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira (white line). The purple line, also operational in summer, runs from Horta to Madalena (Pico), Calheta (São Jorge) and Angra (Terceira).

The Atlanticoline shipping company operates year-round services between Flores and Corvo. The minimum frequency in winter is two round trips a day, two days a week (usually Tuesday and Saturday), except in the event of very bad weather. The journey takes around 40 minutes. This is the pink line (timetables available on the website). For several years now, Atlanticoline has no longer linked the Western Group to the Central Group by ferry. If you want to reach an island other than Corvo, you have no choice but to fly.

Atlanticoline is the main airline operating between the islands. Between Flores and Corvo, these services operate at a minimum frequency of two return trips per day, two days a week in winter (pink line). From June onwards, you can take your car with you on the boat. Please note that the Western Group is not connected to the other islands by ferry. To get to another island from Corvo or Flores, you'll need to fly. Remember to bring your identity card with you when crossing the islands.

From June to September, Atlanticoline, the Azores' main shipping company, offers a single itinerary via Angra do Heroísmo. This is the purple line: Faial (Horta) - Madalena (Pico) - Calheta (São Jorge) - Terceira (Angra do Heroísmo). There is a direct connection between Angra and Calheta, on São Jorge. For the other islands, there will be stopovers. To reach Graciosa by ferry, the route is also direct, but departure is from the port of Praia da Vitória (white line). In winter, there is no ferry from Terceira.

Since 2023, Atlanticoline (the Azores' main shipping company) no longer offers ferries from São Miguel. To reach the other islands, you'll have to fly. However, there are direct connections between the islands of the Central Group and those of the Western Group. Taking a boat from island to island is a slower option than flying, but the scenery you'll be able to see from your boat is unrivalled and quite simply magnificent. An option worth considering.

From June to September, Atlanticoline offers just one itinerary, with a stop in Graciosa. The white line links the small island directly to its neighbors São Jorge (Velas, in 3 hours) and Terceira (Praia da Vitória, in 4 hours). The other islands of the central group can also be reached via Atlanticoline, but one - or even more - connections are unavoidable. Ferries to and from Graciosa don't run the rest of the year, so air travel is the only option for getting to other islands.

According to the destination, from 22 euros to 98 euros the return ticket from Faial to the other islands. Direct to Terceira, São Jorge and Pico but with connections for other islands. Hours on the site. The company operates from May 3 to October 10 only. Departures several times a week in this season.

From Velas, direct year-round connections with Pico (Madalena and São Roque). From June to September, Atlanticoline operates an additional route (the white one), linking Velas to Graciosa. To reach the other islands in the central group (Faial all year round and Terceira in summer), you'll need to count on at least one stopover from São Jorge. Ferry journeys are slower than air travel, but allow you to see some magnificent scenery - and even take your car with you! An option to consider if you have the time and inclination to travel differently.

From São Roque, you can reach Velas, on São Jorge, all year round with Atlanticoline ferries (green and orange lines). From June to September, the company also operates direct services between São Roque and Horta on Faial (white line). To reach the other islands from São Roque, you'll need to make at least one stopover. There are more departures from Madalena, Pico's other ferry terminal. In bad weather, ferries may be cancelled. An option worth considering for those with the time and inclination to travel differently...

Pico is linked by boat to Faial and São Jorge all year round. From June to September, the service is extended to Graciosa and Terceira. From Madalena, Atlanticoline operates around 5 round trips a day, at least 5 days a week, to Horta on Faial (blue line). The green line connects Madalena directly to Velas on São Jorge: count on two to three round trips a day, between two and four days a week, depending on the season. In summer, ferries also leave Madalena for Calheta on São Jorge, two days a week (purple line).

Atlanticoline, the Azores' main shipping company, operates a ferry service between Praia da Vitória and Graciosa, only from June to September. This line (the white one) also passes through São Jorge, Pico and Faial. For the rest of the year, Terceira is not connected to the other islands by boat, so you'll have to fly to get between them. Note that Atlanticoline operates a second line in summer (the purple one) from Angra do Heroísmo to Calheta, on São Jorge. For travellers who have the time and inclination to travel differently.

From May to September, Atlanticoline (the main shipping company in the Azores) operates direct flights between Ponta Delgada and Santa Maria. You can also reach the other islands with Atlanticoline, but one (or more) connections will then be inevitable. Taking the boat to travel from island to island is a slower alternative than flying, but the scenery you can see from your boat cannot be seen from anywhere else and is simply beautiful. An option to consider....