In search of new experiences, tourists increasingly abandon their usual destinations and look for secluded places remote from the continent. Azores - one of these places. But booking a good hotel is not enough. You need to choose the right international airport in the Azores.
Archipelago in the Atlantic
The Azores are under the jurisdiction of Portugal and stretched in the ocean far from the western tip of Europe. The nearest of them is almost 1.5 km from Lisbon. The archipelago includes nine volcanic islands. Each of them is inhabited, but not everyone is suitable for a beach holiday. On some islands, instead of the usual sand or pebbles, the coast is a frozen lava.
The archipelago is divided into three parts: eastern, central and western. The distance between the two extreme islands is 600 km. The most popular are San Miguel, Terceira and Santa Maria. It is here that the international airports hosting tourists are located.
How to get to the Azores?
Airports are in all parts of the archipelago. Local flights fly between the islands, as well as ferries. Getting to the westernmost of them is not easy. These are the islands of Floris and Corvo. There are also airports here, but the weather is so changeable that it will be difficult to guess the flight. For this reason, car rental is even prohibited on Corvo.
Of the nine islands, five are connected by air with Lisbon. Graciosa, São Jorge, Florisch and Corvo can only be reached from other parts of the archipelago. All flights are provided by the local airline Azores Airlines. The longest of them are between the eastern and western islands. But the flight between Florisch and Corvo takes only 15 minutes by a screw plane.
The islands are connected by ferry, but regular flights run only during the season for short distances. From November to April it often rains and impenetrable fogs hang.
Airport in Ponta Delgada
The largest and closest of the Azores is San Miguel. Regular flights fly from Portugal to Ponta Delgada Airport, the largest city. You can get from other European capitals. The airport is quite modern. It was built in 2005 and named after John Paul II.
Direct flights connect the island not only with major cities in Europe and the UK, but also with North America. You can fly here from New York, Boston or Toronto. But from Russia a direct flight will not work, even a charter. The most convenient will be a flight through Lisbon. From there, up to ten regular flights per day flies to San Miguel.
The airport itself is small and has only one landing strip, but copes with the flow of passengers. According to tourists, it is very clean and comfortable. Airport infrastructure is not overloaded. It has everything you need: ATMs, left-luggage offices, several cafes and a souvenir shop. The duty-free shop cannot boast a rich assortment, the prices practically do not differ from other airports in the Azores.
You will have to get to the city by taxi. Public transport does not go to the airport, but the price is not high. The trip to the center will cost 7-8 euros. Free Wi-Fi is available in the airport building. Here you can also apply for Tax free and get a tax refund on site.
Santa maria
This small island is the southernmost in the archipelago. It has a much drier climate than the rest of the Azores. If it can rain several times in San Miguel a day, then in Santa Maria the sun will shine at that time.
The local airport serves only two flights. Aircraft from Lisbon fly twice a week, and to Ponta Delgada from one to three per day. Like San Miguel, public transport does not go here. By taxi to Vila do Porto, the main city of the island, the trip will cost 5 euros. Tourists with little luggage can even be reached on foot. The airport is located within the city.
Given the number of flights, there is a minimum of services: a small Duty Free store, a newsstand and a cafe. Nevertheless, the airport is equipped with equipment for disabled passengers and free Wi-Fi. Here you can rent a house or rent a car.
Terceira Lages
The airport is located on the territory of the former United States Air Force military base and is a converted military airfield. Aircraft takes one landing strip. Regular flights fly from Lisbon. Air links with other islands of the archipelago are also provided. Transatlantic flights are refueling here.
There are several hotels near the airport. Tourists traveling to other islands can inexpensively and comfortably spend the night here waiting for a connecting flight. You can get to the city center by taxi or book a transfer. The second option is more convenient, as the driver will be guaranteed to speak English. In the Azores, the majority speaks only in Portuguese, and the local dialect is significantly different from the continental.
Archipelago west
Separately, it is worth talking about the islands of Floris and Corvo. These are the most inaccessible places on the Azores. There is no ferry to get there, only by plane. It is also the rainiest island in the archipelago. The weather can change several times a day, so focusing on the forecast is pointless. This should be taken into account when planning a trip, since you can get stuck there for a long time due to thick impenetrable fog. But courage will be rewarded with the unique natural views of the islands.
Next to Florisch is the westernmost point of Europe - the rock of Monsigny, the basaltic residue of the volcano. In the Middle Ages, it was used by sailors for navigation. Florish has many picturesque waterfalls, the largest of which is more than 300 m in height.
Corvo is the smallest island in the archipelago. The permanent population is about 500 inhabitants. The island is famous primarily for two lakes in the crater of an extinct volcano. In the center of each of them is a small island. You can get here only on foot, having overcome the path of 6 km along a mountain trail.
The addresses of the Azores airports can be found on the website of Azores Airlines, but this is not necessary. Every resident knows their location. Just say aeroporto in Portuguese.