HansHederman

Hi. Wife and I are planning a 2 week visit to Azores in September. We are looking to stay on 3 islands with a focus on hiking/nature, beach, good food and not touristy/busy. As soon as we figure out how to divide our stay, I'll be renting thru Home Away and renting a car to get around. Is September an ideal time? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.

Rubicund

The Azores are split into the central Group of Faial, Pico, Sao Jorge and Terceira, with Graciosa being a little further away. The northern islands, Flores and Corvo are a bit too far away for an island hopping holiday. The same is true of Sao Miguel and San Pedro.

When we did the same island hopper, we stayed on Faial at Horta in the Pousada-a great spot to walk about what is a tiny village size place. Then on to Terceira, staying at Angra do Heroismo and lastly back to Pico, staying on the beach near Carmo. We've also visited Sao Jorge staying in the Pousada near Calheta.

September is still warm, but a bit unpredictable towards the end and the islands are not too busy at that time once the kids in Europe have gone back to school. The food is excellent and we had great meals everywhere we went, especially the fish, as you'd expect.

HansHederman

Thank you much for the info. Looking further, Pico and Faial seem ideal so far. How would you divide the days and in what order if say, we chose Pico, Terciera and Faial? Is it recommended to rent a car?

Rubicund

We certainly found a car very useful to explore the island we were on. Pico is probably a day less than the other two and the order we chose suited our flight timings as we were in an out of Horta.

You catch the ferry from Faial to Pico and the flight from Faial to Terceira. One of the most enjoyable things we did, was the whale watching trip from Horta. You go out on a 12 person (or so) rib and career at ridiculous speeds across the Atlantic in search of a fluke or blow (come on now-behave). Dolphins swam along with us for most of the 4 or 5 hours that we were out and when we were sat waiting for whale sightings from boats, they swam round us. One or two of us got in the water with them. Fantastic.

davispeets

Sao Miguel was gorgeous. If you do Pico as a day trip you get four islands with three home bases.

HansHederman

Thank you, friends. Sao Jorge is looking terrific the more I research. I would like to visit Sao Miguel, but feel it would be too much to fit in, as I'm looking at Sao Jorge, Faial and Pico. Agree? I would like to do the Pico hike so that would probably take up most of my day. Another question... Flying from Boston and with the central island in mind, what island should I use as airport destination/departure? Obviously I would flank my days where I'm arriving/departing.... Was thinking 6 days Sao Jorge, 3 days Pico, 5 days Faial. How would you change this? Thank you again.

davispeets

I've never been to Sao Jorge - so can't comment. But, I love their cheese.

My travel partners and husband did the Pico hike with a guide. And it did take all day. I waved them off in the early morning at the Faial ferry dock and hooked back up with them late in the day in Pico.

I bailed after seeing the mountain as the plane landed in Faial, the point was above the clouds.

There were great natural swimming pool holes (ocean) in Faial and Pico.