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Azores 5-Island Self-Drive Adventure: 15-Day Island Tour

15 Days/14 Nights: Explore five Azores islands independently with rental cars and suggested scenic drives.

Duration 15 Days / 14 Nights
Trip style Self-Drive Vacation
Departures Departure Any Day
From $1564 per person

Tour Overview

Azores 5-Island Self-Drive Adventure is a 15-day independent island-hopping vacation through Flores Faial, Pico, Terceira and São Miguel. With rental cars and a suggested route, you can discover the islands at your own pace while enjoying prearranged accommodations, daily breakfast and local assistance.

The journey begins amid the crater lakes, waterfalls and dramatic scenery of Flores, then continues to Faial and a ferry day trip to Pico. From there, travel onward to Terceira before finishing on São Miguel. Suggested drives introduce volcanic landscapes, historic towns, coastal viewpoints, vineyards, geothermal areas and some of the best-known natural attractions in the Azores. Optional visits to Corvo and São Jorge may also be possible depending on ferry schedules and local conditions.

Map of five island self-drive tour of the Azores

Itinerary at a Glance

  1. Day 1 - Flores: Arrival
  2. Day 2 - Flores: Lakes, Waterfalls & Viewpoints
  3. Day 3 - Flores: Free Exploration or Corvo
  4. Day 4 - Flores to Faial
  5. Day 5 - Faial: Caldeira & Capelinhos
  6. Day 6 - Pico: Ferry & Self-Drive Day Trip
  7. Day 7 - Faial: Day at Leisure
  8. Day 8 - Faial to Terceira
  9. Day 9 - Terceira: Island Drive
  10. Day 10 - Terceira: Angra & Monte Brasil
  11. Day 11 - Terceira to São Miguel
  12. Day 12 - São Miguel: Furnas & the East
  13. Day 13 - São Miguel: Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo
  14. Day 14 - São Miguel: Free Day
  15. Day 15 - São Miguel: Departure

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 - Flores: Arrival

Arrive on Flores, collect your rental car at the airport and drive to your hotel. Use the rest of the day to settle in and get your first look at Santa Cruz das Flores and the surrounding coast.

Day 2 - Flores: Lakes, Waterfalls & Viewpoints

Suggested drive: spend the day exploring Flores’ volcanic interior and western scenery. Consider stops at crater lakes, waterfalls, Rocha dos Bordões and viewpoints around Fajãzinha and the island’s dramatic valleys.

Day 3 - Flores: Free Exploration or Corvo

Enjoy another day to explore Flores at your own pace, perhaps choosing a short hike, coastal villages or additional viewpoints. When ferry service and weather permit, you may instead consider an optional visit to Corvo. A rental car is not provided on Corvo.

Day 4 - Flores to Faial

Check out of your hotel, return your rental car at Flores Airport and fly to Faial. After arrival, continue to Horta and use the remainder of the day to explore the marina, waterfront and historic center.

Day 5 - Faial: Caldeira & Capelinhos

Suggested drive: cross the island through the green interior toward Faial’s central Caldeira, then continue west to the volcanic landscape of Capelinhos. Return to Horta with time for coastal stops and viewpoints along the way.

Day 6 - Pico: Ferry & Self-Drive Day Trip

Return your Faial rental car at Horta harbor and take the ferry to Madalena on Pico. Collect a car on arrival and spend the day exploring Pico’s lava landscapes, vineyard areas, traditional villages and maritime heritage. Return the car in Madalena and take the ferry back to Faial.

Day 7 - Faial: Day at Leisure

Enjoy a relaxed day on Faial for additional sightseeing, walking around Horta or exploring the coast. In summer, ferry schedules may also make an optional day trip to São Jorge possible.

Day 8 - Faial to Terceira

Check out of your hotel, return your rental car and fly to Terceira. Collect your car at Lajes Airport and drive to Angra do Heroísmo, approximately 24 kilometers away. Spend the rest of the day discovering the historic city center.

Day 9 - Terceira: Island Drive

Suggested drive: explore Terceira’s south coast and interior, with possible stops around Porto Judeu, São Sebastião, Praia da Vitória and Serra do Cume. Continue toward volcanic attractions such as Algar do Carvão when open, then consider the natural pools at Biscoitos before returning to Angra.

Day 10 - Terceira: Angra & Monte Brasil

Spend the day at your own pace. Explore more of Angra do Heroísmo, drive or walk around Monte Brasil for panoramic views, or use the day to visit villages and coastal areas you may have missed.

Day 11 - Terceira to São Miguel

Check out of your hotel, return your rental car at Terceira Airport and fly to São Miguel. Collect your new rental car on arrival and drive to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day exploring Ponta Delgada.

Day 12 - São Miguel: Furnas & the East

Suggested drive: head east through Lagoa and Vila Franca do Campo toward Furnas. Explore the lake, geothermal areas and village, then continue through the north side of the island with stops at scenic viewpoints or a tea plantation before returning to Ponta Delgada.

Day 13 - São Miguel: Sete Cidades & Lagoa do Fogo

Suggested drive: visit the Sete Cidades caldera and Vista do Rei viewpoint, then continue through the western countryside. Later, explore the central part of the island around Lagoa do Fogo, Ribeira Grande and, if desired, Caldeira Velha.

Day 14 - São Miguel: Free Day

Use your final full day to revisit a favorite part of São Miguel or explore somewhere new. You might spend more time in Ponta Delgada, visit additional gardens and viewpoints, enjoy the coast or simply leave the day open for a slower pace.

Day 15 - São Miguel: Departure

Check out of your hotel, drive to the airport and return your rental car before your departing flight.

What's Included

Included:

  • 14 Night accommodations
  • Daily buffet breakfast
  • 15 Day car rental (including Pico Island)
  • Ferry tickets Horta/Pico/ Horta w/ one day car rental
  • Airfare: Flores/Faial/Terceira/Sao Miguel  
  • Ferry tickets Horta/Pico/Horta
  • 1 brunch on São Miguel only
  • Complimentary welcome crate on São Miguel only

Car Rental Includes

  • Automatic transmission vehicle
  • Unlimited kilometers
  • Airport taxes
  • CDW and TP basic insurance
  • 24-hour assistance

Not Included

  • International airfare
  • City taxes
  • Meals other than mentioned
  • Super CDW and other optional insurance coverage
  • Gas

Dates & Rates

Understanding the Rates

Package Type

For some packages you may be given a choice of different hotel categories.

  • Superior/Premier Hotel Package - Includes first-class 4-star hotels, except on Flores where accommodations may differ based on availability.
  • Comfort/Standard Hotel Package - Includes tourist-class hotels, generally 4-star, with selected 3-star properties on the smaller islands.

Hotel Notes

  • Each package has a hotel summary description. For detailed information, please visit the hotel's official webpage online.
  • For specific hotel or ocean-view room preference, please notify us when filling your booking form. Additional charges may apply.
  • Pousada Forte da Horta (Faial) will be closed until March 31. Hotel Azoris Faial Garden will be booked as alternative.

Room Rate Type

  • Solo = Person traveling alone
  • Single = Person staying in a single room and sharing tour services with others in travel party
  • Double = 2 Persons per room
  • Triple = 3 Persons per room

Price Currency

  • Rates are shown in U.S. Dollars

Departure Date Between:

8/26/2026 and 9/30/2026

  • Solo Comfort: $4720/person
  • Single Comfort: $3810/person
  • Double Comfort: $2710/person
  • Triple Comfort: $2131/person
  • Solo Superior: $6182/person
  • Single Superior: $5272/person
  • Double Superior: $3304/person
  • Triple Superior: $2762/person
Room TypeComfortSuperior
Solo$4720/person$6182/person
Single$3810/person$5272/person
Double$2710/person$3304/person
Triple$2131/person$2762/person

10/1/2026 and 10/31/2026

  • Solo Comfort: $4720/person
  • Single Comfort: $3810/person
  • Double Comfort: $2710/person
  • Triple Comfort: $2131/person
  • Solo Superior: $5076/person
  • Single Superior: $4166/person
  • Double Superior: $2823/person
  • Triple Superior: $2302/person
Room TypeComfortSuperior
Solo$4720/person$5076/person
Single$3810/person$4166/person
Double$2710/person$2823/person
Triple$2131/person$2302/person

11/1/2026 and 12/31/2026

  • Solo Comfort: $3188/person
  • Single Comfort: $2452/person
  • Double Comfort: $1864/person
  • Triple Comfort: $1564/person
  • Solo Superior: $3905/person
  • Single Superior: $3336/person
  • Double Superior: $2172/person
  • Triple Superior: $1863/person
Room TypeComfortSuperior
Solo$3188/person$3905/person
Single$2452/person$3336/person
Double$1864/person$2172/person
Triple$1564/person$1863/person

Hotels

Note: Hotels shown are for reference only. We reserve the right to change hotels based on availability, group size or other factors. Should alternate hotel be required, it will be of same or better rating .

Comfort Hotels

Superior Hotels

Booking & Policies

Booking Your Vacation

  • Prices are shown in U.S. dollars. We can also charge in euros using the prevailing daily currency conversion rate.
  • Early booking is recommended. Availability of accommodations and inter-island flights can be limited, especially during the summer months.
  • If a hotel named in the itinerary is unavailable at the time of booking, a similar property of the same rating may be offered. Any change in price will be reflected in a revised quotation.
  • The order in which the islands are visited may need to be changed due to inter-island flight schedule changes.
  • When sightseeing tours are included, unless otherwise indicated, they are operated by private car with an English-speaking driver. Other languages may be available upon request.
  • Quotations requiring different hotels are subject to a non-refundable $50 deposit. This deposit will be credited toward the final booking price.

Booking Your Vacation With Air

  • International airfare is additional to the price shown in the Rates table. Departure cities are limited to those served by Azores Airlines.
  • If you would like airfare included in your quotation, select “Yes” when prompted during the booking or reservation request process.

Booking Conditions

  • A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $350 per person is required to confirm and hold both land and air arrangements.
  • Final payment is due 50 days before departure.
  • You may also choose to pay the full package price at the time of booking.

Cancellation Policy - Land Portion

  • If canceled 50 days or more before departure, the amount paid will be refunded less the non-refundable $350 deposit per person.
  • If canceled 49 to 39 days before departure, 75% of the total amount paid per person will be refunded.
  • If canceled 38 to 31 days before departure, 50% of the total amount paid per person will be refunded.
  • No refunds are provided for cancellations made fewer than 30 days before departure.

Cancellation Policy - Airfare

  • Airfare cancellation terms and conditions are determined by the airline and will be provided to you before the ticket is booked.

Refund Fees

  • For payments made by credit card, any refund will be reduced by a 3.9% credit-card processing fee assessed on the payment. This also applies to deposits refunded because requested services are unavailable for the requested travel dates.

I Want to Book. What Do I Do Next?

  • Click the “Request Quote” button to send us your reservation request.
  • No payment will be collected when you submit the request.
  • One of our travel associates will contact you by email to answer your questions and assist with booking your package.
  • If you are not ready to book, please contact us with any questions about your trip or vacation.

Booking Changes

  • A fee of $35 per person, per transaction, will be charged for revisions or changes made to a reservation after the booking has been confirmed.
  • If the requested change increases the total value of the booking, the $35 per person change fee will be waived.

Travel Insurance

  • We strongly recommend purchasing travel and cancellation insurance.

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