The Azores

Azores archipelago is located in the Atlantic North, between 36º and 43º latitude north and 25º and 31º longitude west. It is formed by nine magnificent islands of volcanic origin and it is home to 250.000 inhabitants, nearly half of them living in São Miguel island. The islands are divided into three groups: the Eastern Group of São Miguel and Santa Maria islands; the Central Group of Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, and Faial islands; and the Western Group of Flores and Corvo.

The Azores islands are the perfect setting for outdoor recreation and adventure activities. Each of the nine islands has a wide range of activities to offer to those who come to visit. If you're a nature lover you can hike, bike, birdwatch, or try kayaking in a variety of breathtaking sceneries. If you're more of an adrenaline junky you have canyoning, rock climbing, abseiling, and paragliding where you can get your fix from.

As you can guess, Azores is also a great place for water sports and it has great conditions for the practice of surf, windsurf, paddleboard, sportfishing, and diving. After a long day filled with activities and adventures, you will be able to enjoy a relaxing thermal bath warmed by the volcanic “caldeiras”(hot springs). The Azores are famous for their beautiful landscapes, where crater lakes, mountains, and waterfalls are always a stone's throw away from the ocean.

Climate & Cruising Conditions in the Azores

Weather in the Azores is temperate and significantly humid, with summer temperatures around 24ºC (74ºF) and winter months dropping to around 11°C (52ºF). Despite the relatively warm winters, most people prefer to sail the islands between the beginning of May and October when the weather is better and the waters are calmer.

It is known that the weather changes quickly in the Azores, and within five minutes, one can experience sunny skies to torrential rains and back. For that reason, and several others, sailing the Azores alone is not recommended for beginners and/or sailors with little experience in ocean sailing. If that is your case don't worry, you can always rent a skippered yacht.

Known as one of the best sailing spots in Portugal and the North Atlantic, the Azores have been attracting sailors from all over the world. The remoteness of the islands means that the Azores still are fairly unknown amongst amateur enthusiasts and provide an amazing insight into the world of high seas sailing.