This 7-day, 6-night Faial self-drive package lets you explore the Azores' Blue Island from a hotel base in Horta. Drive to the island's immense Caldeira, see the volcanic landscape created at Capelinhos, follow hydrangea-lined roads through rural communities and spend time around Horta's famous marina.
Six hotel nights, daily breakfast and an automatic rental car are arranged in advance. The suggested itinerary balances volcanic scenery, coastal drives, museums and free time, with flexibility for weather and optional activities such as whale watching or a passenger-ferry visit to Pico.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1 — Arrive on Faial; collect your rental car
Day 2 — Horta, Monte da Guia and the marina
Day 3 — Faial Caldeira and the island's interior
Day 4 — Capelinhos and western Faial
Day 5 — North-coast villages and scenic island circuit
Day 6 — Flexible day or optional Pico ferry excursion
Day 7 — Return the car and depart Faial
Is this package right for you?
This package suits independent travelers interested in volcanic history, coastal scenery, maritime culture and relaxed island exploration. Staying six nights in Horta provides flexibility for changing mountain and sea conditions.
Drivers should be comfortable with winding roads, steep grades, narrow village streets and fog near the Caldeira. Optional boat trips and Pico excursions depend on schedules and sea conditions.
It is not the best match for travelers seeking a guided daily program or assuming that Pico transportation, whale watching or attraction admissions are included.
Day-by-day itinerary
These routes are suggestions rather than included tours. Adjust them for weather, visibility, road access, attraction opening times and your preferred pace.
Day 1 — Faial Island — Arrival
Arrive at Horta Airport, collect your automatic rental car and drive to your hotel, where you will stay for six nights. The remainder of the day is free to settle in and begin exploring Horta.
Day 2 — Horta and Monte da Guia
Explore Horta's marina, waterfront and historic streets, then drive toward Monte da Guia for views over Horta and Porto Pim. Museums and cultural sites can be added according to opening hours.
Central Horta is best explored on foot, and parking may be easier outside the busiest waterfront streets.
Day 3 — Faial Caldeira
Drive through the Valley of Flamengos toward Faial's Caldeira, a vast protected volcanic crater in the island's interior. Stop only in designated areas and follow current access and trail restrictions.
Visibility can change quickly at higher elevations. If the crater is covered by fog, move this drive to another day.
Day 4 — Capelinhos and western Faial
Follow the island roads toward Capelinhos, where the 1957–58 eruption created a stark volcanic landscape around the old lighthouse. Allow time for coastal viewpoints and the interpretation center if open.
Admission fees are not included, and exposed areas can be windy.
Day 5 — Faial island circuit
Explore Faial's north coast, small communities and hydrangea-lined rural roads. Combine village stops with viewpoints toward Pico or São Jorge when the weather is clear.
Distances are short, but winding roads and frequent scenic stops make a relaxed pace worthwhile.
Day 6 — Flexible day or optional Pico excursion
Use your final full day to revisit a favorite area, reserve an optional whale-watching trip or arrange a passenger-ferry visit to Pico. Optional transportation and activities are not included.
If visiting Pico, the Faial rental car does not travel with you. A separate Pico car or tour must be arranged, and ferry operation depends on sea conditions.
Day 7 — Faial Island — Departure
Check out, refuel and return the rental car at Horta Airport. Allow enough time for the vehicle inspection and flight check-in.
What's included
Please note
This is an independent hotel-and-car package. Guided sightseeing and admission fees are not included.
Suggested drives are flexible and may be rearranged according to weather, road access and your interests.
Hotel nights can be added or removed subject to availability and a revised quotation.
Included
6 nights' accommodation in Horta, Faial
Daily breakfast
Automatic rental car for the scheduled seven-day rental period
Unlimited kilometers
Basic collision damage waiver and theft protection, subject to the rental agreement, exclusions and applicable excess
Applicable hotel taxes, excluding municipal tourist taxes payable locally
24-hour assistance during the trip
Not included
Flights or ferry transportation to and from Faial; ask us to include transportation in your quotation
Fuel, parking charges, traffic fines and other driving expenses
Super collision damage waiver, reduced-excess coverage and other optional insurance
Additional drivers, child seats, GPS units, upgrades and other rental extras unless quoted
Meals, admission fees, guided tours, boat trips and optional activities
Municipal tourist taxes payable directly at hotel check-in
Rental-car information
Automatic transmission is included, but the exact vehicle make and model are subject to availability. The lead driver must satisfy the supplier's license, age, identification and payment-card requirements.
Driving preparation
Bring the original driver's license, accepted identification and a payment card in the lead driver's name. Expect winding roads, steep grades, narrow village streets and rapidly changing visibility near the Caldeira.
Dates & rates
Understanding the rates
Package Type
Some packages offer a choice of hotel categories. The category selected affects the hotels and per-person price.
Superior/Premier Hotel Package — First-class 4-star lodging in standard rooms.
Comfort/Standard Hotel Package — Tourist-class 4-star lodging in standard rooms. On smaller islands, the package may use selected first-class 3-star properties.
Hotel Notes
Each package includes a summary of the proposed hotels. For complete property details, consult the hotel's official website.
Named hotels are subject to availability. If a listed hotel is unavailable, a comparable property of the same or a better rating may be offered.
If you prefer a specific hotel, ocean-view room or other room feature, tell us when submitting your booking request. Requests cannot be guaranteed, and additional charges may apply.
Room and Car Occupancy
Self-drive prices are per person and vary according to the number of travelers sharing the room and rental car.
Solo — One person traveling alone, occupying a private room and using the rental car alone.
Single — One person occupying a private room while sharing the rental car and package arrangements with others in the travel party.
Double — Two people sharing one room and the rental car.
Triple — Three people sharing one room and the rental car.
Note: Hotels shown are for reference only. We reserve the right to change hotels based on availability, group size or other factors. Should an alternate hotel be required, it will be of the same or a better rating.
Comfort Hotels
Horta - Hotel Horta
Located in the old Azorean town of Horta, the newly-renovated Hotel Horta offers views of Pico Island. It features rooms with balconies, a large garden and an outdoor pool.
Horta’s rooms are decorated in neutral colors, and have wooden furniture. Each of the air-conditioned rooms has a cable TV and a private bathroom with a hairdryer.
The hotel’s panoramic restaurant offers international and regional dishes. The bar and the lounge offer views of the outdoor pool, the pool bar and the garden.
Guests can rent a bicycle to explore the surrounding area. Horta is famous for the whale watching and the volcanoes of Capelinhos and Caldeira.
Horta Airport is 4.3 mi away, and the hotel provides free private parking on site.
Superior Hotels
Horta - Pousada Forte da Horta
Just an 8 minute walk from the beach, The Pousada Forte da Horta is set in a 16th century fortress with a view of Horta Bay and Pico island. This Pousada features air conditioned rooms, a swimming pool, and a regional restaurant. Most of the rooms offer a view of the marina.
Classified as a National Monument since 1947, the Pousada Forte da Horta offers modern rooms with cable TV and a minibar. Each private bathroom is stocked with a hairdryer and bathrobe.
A breakfast buffet is served daily on the poolside veranda terrace. Guests may taste fried pork, tuna and passion fruit pie in Pousada Forte da Horta’s restaurant.
The swimming pool area is furnished with sun beds, tables and parasols. Indoors, there is a lounge with various seating areas and a bar with a piano.
The 24-hour reception offers car rentals and free on-site parking. The Horta Airport is just 5.4 miles from the Pousada Forte da Horta.
Booking & policies
Booking Your Trip
While prices are shown in USA dollars, we can also charge in Euros at the prevailing currency conversion daily rate.
Early booking is advised. Availability of accommodations
and
inter-island flight is limited especially in summer months.
If hotels named in itinerary are not available at time of booking, alternate similar
same rating properties will be confirmed, and subject to new quote.
Order of islands visited may need to be altered due to
flight schedule changes.
Quotations with different hotels have a non refundable deposit
of $50. Deposit will be credited towards final booking price.
Booking Your Trip with Air
International airfare for this package is additional to
price shown on Rates table. Departure cities are limited to those serviced
by SATA International (Azores Airlines).
If you want a quote for airfare to be included make sure to
check yes when prompted during the booking/reservation
request process.
Booking Conditions
A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $350 per
person per vacation is required to book and hold both land and air for you.
Final payment is due 50 days before departure.
Option to pay full price up front is available.
Cancellation Policy - Land Portion
$350 per person if canceled up to 50 days prior departure.
25% of total reservation if cancelled 49-39 days prior departure plus any other additional fee.
50% of total reservation if canceled 38-31 days prior departure plus any other additional fee.
No refunds if canceled less than 30 days prior departure.
Cancellation Policy - Airfare
Airfare cancellation terms and conditions will be provided to you before ticket is booked.
Refund Fees
A 3.9% credit card assessed fee will be subtracted from any refunded payment, including deposits refunded due to services requested not available for date of booking.
I Want To Book. What Do I Do Next?
Click on the Book Now button to send your reservation request.
No payment will be collected at this time.
Our travel Associate will contact you via email to answer any questions and book your Package
If you don't plan to book at this time please click here to contact us with any questions or concerns about your trip or your holiday.
Booking Changes
A fee of $35 per person, per transaction, will be charged
for any revision or alteration made to a reservation after the booking
is confirmed.
If the change increases the value of the booking, the $35
per person fee will be waived.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase travel/cancellation
insurance.
Common questions about this package
Is the rental car included for the entire stay?
The package includes an automatic car for the scheduled seven-day rental period, normally collected and returned at Horta Airport.
Is an automatic car included?
Yes. Automatic transmission is included. The exact make, model and class remain subject to supplier availability.
What rental-car insurance is included?
Basic collision damage waiver and theft protection are included, subject to the supplier's agreement, exclusions and excess. Optional reduced-excess coverage is not included unless quoted.
Are flights or ferries included?
No. Transportation to and from Faial is not included in the land-package price, but flights or ferry arrangements can be requested.
Is a Pico day trip included?
No. A Pico visit is optional and separately arranged. The Faial rental car cannot be taken to Pico under this package.
Is whale watching included?
No. Whale watching may be added separately. Departures depend on sea conditions, and wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
How much does weather affect the Caldeira?
Cloud and fog frequently limit visibility at higher elevations. Keep the itinerary flexible and visit when local conditions are favorable.
Are fuel, parking and admissions included?
No. Fuel, parking, attraction admissions and other personal expenses are paid locally.
Can I add or remove nights?
Yes. The stay can be customized subject to hotel and rental-car availability and a revised quotation.
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