What is this Faial and São Miguel self-drive tour like?
This 7-day, 6-night Azores self-drive vacation combines Faial's volcanic history and maritime culture with São Miguel's crater lakes, geothermal landscapes and varied coastlines. Explore Horta, the Faial Caldeira and Capelinhos before flying to Ponta Delgada for Sete Cidades, Furnas and Lagoa do Fogo.
Hotels, daily breakfast, automatic cars for both island stays and the Faial–São Miguel flight are arranged. You return the Faial car before flying and collect a separate vehicle on São Miguel.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1 — Arrive on Faial; collect your rental car
Day 2 — Faial Caldeira, Capelinhos and western Faial
Day 3 — Horta, Monte da Guia and a flexible island drive
Day 4 — Fly from Faial to São Miguel; collect a new car
Day 5 — São Miguel: Furnas and the geothermal east
Day 6 — São Miguel: Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo
Day 7 — Return the car and depart São Miguel
Is this package right for you?
This package suits independent travelers who want two contrasting islands in one week: compact, maritime Faial and geographically varied São Miguel. Hotels, the island flight and cars are arranged without imposing a guided schedule.
Drivers should be comfortable with roundabouts, winding roads, steep grades and changing visibility. The trip also requires an airport transfer day and two separate rental agreements.
It is not ideal for travelers seeking a private guide, a single vehicle for the whole trip or a slow-paced one-island stay.
Day-by-day itinerary
These routes are suggestions rather than included tours. Adjust them for weather, visibility, road access and attraction opening times.
Day 1 — Faial Island — Arrival
Arrive at Horta Airport, collect your automatic rental car and drive to your hotel, where you will stay for three nights. Spend the remainder of the day around Horta's marina and waterfront.
Day 2 — Faial Caldeira and Capelinhos
Drive through the Valley of Flamengos toward Faial's Caldeira, then continue to the volcanic landscape and lighthouse at Capelinhos. Mountain visibility can change quickly, so reverse the route or move it to Day 3 if needed.
Day 3 — Horta and flexible Faial exploration
Explore Horta, Monte da Guia and Porto Pim, or follow the north coast through small communities and hydrangea-lined roads. Museums, whale watching and other activities are optional and paid separately.
Day 4 — Faial to São Miguel
Return the Faial car at Horta Airport and fly to São Miguel. Collect a separate automatic car at Ponta Delgada Airport and drive to your hotel, where you will stay for three nights.
Day 5 — São Miguel Island — Furnas
Drive toward Furnas for its lake, geothermal areas, gardens and thermal pools, then return by the north coast with a possible tea-plantation stop. Meals and admissions are not included unless confirmed in your quotation.
Day 6 — São Miguel Island — Crater lakes
Drive west to Sete Cidades and viewpoints such as Vista do Rei and Lagoa do Canário. If conditions permit, use the remainder of the day for Ribeira Grande and Lagoa do Fogo. Adjust the order to mountain visibility.
Day 7 — São Miguel Island — Departure
Check out, refuel and return the car at Ponta Delgada Airport. Allow time for the vehicle inspection and airport check-in.
What's included
Please note
This is an independent self-drive vacation. Guided sightseeing is not included.
Separate rental cars are provided on Faial and São Miguel. Return the Faial car before flying and collect another car after arrival.
Flight schedules, road access and the itinerary order may change because of weather or operating conditions.
Included
6 nights' accommodation: 3 nights on Faial and 3 on São Miguel
Daily breakfast
Automatic rental cars on Faial and São Miguel for the scheduled periods
Unlimited kilometers
Basic collision damage waiver and theft protection, subject to the rental agreement, exclusions and applicable excess
Inter-island flight from Faial to São Miguel
One picnic meal on São Miguel
Complimentary welcome crate on São Miguel
Applicable hotel and airport taxes, excluding municipal tourist taxes payable locally
24-hour assistance during the trip
Not included
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 and optional activities
Municipal tourist taxes payable directly at hotel check-in
Rental-car information
Automatic transmission is included, but the exact 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, roundabouts and changing mountain visibility.
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.
Ponta Delgada - Hotel Ponta Delgada
Hotel Ponta Delgada (RNET 6591) is centrally located and only a 10-minute drive from the airport. Hotel Ponta Delgada features a family ambiance and comfortable furnishings. It features an indoor pool.
Air-conditioned rooms all open out on to a private balcony and are fitted with double-glass windows. All rooms include a TV set with cable channels and private bathrooms with walk-in shower or bathtub. Free WiFi access is available in all areas of the hotel.
The Ponta Delgada’s Baco Restaurant offers authentic cuisine from the Azores. The hotel’s bar has an esplanade, where guests can enjoy a refreshing drink or cocktail.
Guests can stroll in the narrow streets of the city center. Alternatively, they can dip in the hot tub or relax in the on-site hammam and sauna.
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.
Ponta Delgada - Vila Gale Collection S. Miguel
Located in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel island, the Vila Gale Collection S.Miguel provides superior accommodations, excellent restaurant, bar, sauna, swimming pool, kid's club and private parking.
The 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WIFI, each with a private bathroom, and is at a short walking distance to the center of town.
All guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV. Each room includes a safety deposit box, while certain rooms will provide you with a balcony. At Vila Gale Collection S.Miguel every room includes bed linen and towels. A buffet breakfast is available every morning.
At Vila Gale Collection S.Miguel guests are welcome to use a sauna and a Turkish bath.
The attentive and professional reception staff speak English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, and are always on hand to help.
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.
Unless otherwise indicated, rental car is included for all islands.
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 Request pricing 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
Are rental cars included on both islands?
Yes. Separate automatic cars are included on Faial and São Miguel for the scheduled periods.
Do I take the Faial car on the flight?
No. Return it at Horta Airport and collect another car after arriving on São Miguel.
Is the inter-island flight included?
Yes. The Faial–São Miguel flight is included. Flights to Faial and home from São Miguel are not included unless quoted.
What rental-car insurance is included?
Basic collision damage waiver and theft protection are included, subject to each supplier's agreement, exclusions and excess.
Are fuel, parking and admissions included?
No. These and other personal expenses are paid locally.
Can I visit Pico from Faial?
A Pico day trip may be arranged separately, subject to ferry schedules and availability. The Faial rental car does not travel to Pico under this package.
What documents are required for the cars?
The lead driver generally needs an original valid license, accepted identification and a payment card in the lead driver's name. Confirm whether an International Driving Permit is required.
Can I add extra nights?
Yes. Extra nights may be added subject to hotel, flight and rental-car availability and a revised quotation.
What happens if the island flight changes?
Weather can affect Azores flights. The local team will advise about available arrangements, and hotel or car bookings may require adjustment.
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To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
Required for the website to work properly and cannot be switched off.
Preferences
Allows the website to remember choices and settings that improve your experience.
Statistics
Helps us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve its performance and content.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
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