Before planning your trip, find out about how to get to the Madeira Islands, the papers you need, customs formalities and health precautions.
The main hub is in Ponta Delgada (PDL) Airport. Major carriers serving include:
- Azores Express (US tel.: 800-762-9995, Portugal: 351 296 209 748) connects New England with the Azores, mainly on the Boston-Funchal route. The carrier is part of the SATA Group, which connects the Azores with mainland Europe.
- SATA Azores: Is both an Airline and a tour operator locally based on the Azores. Connects Azores with major European hubs like London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris, it also has a usefull connection to Gran Canaria and serveral other European destinations.
- TAP: Portugal's flag carrier, also flies on the major connections between Lisbon and Funchal.
On most islands there you can rent a car. On most islands there are also bus services that run around the islands, crossing the main villages. On the smaller islands however, these may have only a few runs per day, or none at all on certain days (Sundays, holidays).
These being volcanic islands, in many places the terrain is steep and rugged. The roads wind around very steep hillsides. Cycling around the islands is possible if you are in great shape, and don't mind a lot of hill climbing.
This is a great place for going around island to island and even town to town by boat. Almost every town is on the shore and most have ports. One of the best known sailing ports in the world is Horta, on Faial Island. There is a large and fully equipped marina that has catered for many famous boats and regattas. The marina is ideally placed in downtown Horta. Some other islands have marinas, like Terceira and São Miguel. Even when a marina is not present many of the larger villages have a harbour suitable for mooring a sailboat or yacht.
Each of the nine islands has an airfield, although the majority are aerodromes, rather than airports. The commercial terminals in Ponta Delgada, Horta, Vila do Porto and Santa Cruz das Flores are operated by ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, a public entity that oversees the operations of airports across Portugal. The remaining, except for Lajes Field, are operated by the Regional Government. Lajes, is a military airbase, as well as commercial aerodrome, and is operated by the Portuguese Armed Forces in conjunction with the United States.
Rua da Palha, 32-34
Angra do Heroísmo
Tel.: +351 295 216 480
artazores.com
Largo Infante D. Henrique
9900 Horta - Faial
Tel.: +351 292 292 167
Praça Fontes Pereira de Melo
9880 - 352 Santa Cruz - Graciosa
Tel.: +351 295 712 888
Posto de Turismo das Lajes do
Pico Forte e Zona de Lazer de St.ª Catarina
Rua do Castelo 9930 - 138 Lajes do Pico
Tel.: +351 292 679 320
Largo Cardeal Costa Nunes
9950-325 Madalena Pico
Tel.: +351 292 623 345
Rua do Cais, 25
9940 - 353 S. Roque - Pico
Tel.: +351 292 642 507
Rua Mariano Goulart
9850 - 032 Calheta - S. Jorge
Tel.: +351 295 416 252
Largo Dr. João Pereira (Praça Velha)
9800 Velas - S. Jorge
Alto das Covas
9700 Angra do Heroísmo
Tel.: +351 295 218 542
Largo da Luz
9760 Praia da Vitória
Tel.: +351 295 543 251
Rua Professor Machado Macedo, 4
Ponta Delgada
Tel.: +351 296 650 860 | Fax.: +351 296 650 869
asmpt@hotmail.com
Largo Conde Praia da Vitoria, 2
Praia da Vitória-Terceira
Tel.: +351 295 512 905 | Fax.: +351 295 513 334
Rua Machado dos Santos, 22
Ponta Delgada
Tel.: +351 296 201 895
Vale Linhares, Angra do Heroísmo
Tel.: +351 295 401 400
Rua Dr Luis Bettencourt, 130
Vila do Porto-Santa Maria
Telephone:296 882 176
Fax: 296 882 724
soltrans@sapo.pt
Ponta Delgada, São Miguel
Tel.: +351 966 780 299
www.azoreantours.com
garytravassos@azoreantours.com
Largo Colegio, Ponta Delgada
www.smigueltransportes.com
Rua Maestro Simara, 1
Madalena-Pico
Telephone:292 623 389
www.azoresoceanic.com
azoresoceanic@gmail.com
