About Sao Jorge

Sao Jorge is part of the Central Group in the Portuguese Azorean archipelago in the North Atlantic. With a dramatic landscape comprising vast networks of tall peaks, green craters and coastal plains, Sao Jorge offers the ideal scenery for hiking holidays. The villages are incredibly picturesque, too, most notably the capital, Velas, a quiet harbour town dating back to the mid-15th Century. The island is home to a wide range of birdlife including various gull species, so keep an eye out during your hike. Also, a stroll along the coast near Urzelina will lead you to a fascinating volcanic rock formation populated by wild pigeons. From the port in the capital, you can choose from many sailings to a great number of destinations in the Azores thanks to Sao Jorge’s central location in the archipelago.

About Graciosa

Graciosa is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve island in the Azores, a Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. Portuguese for ‘graceful’ and nicknamed the ‘white island’, Graciosa is one of the most peaceful and picturesque of the island chain, characterised by rolling hills and whitewashed houses. And with roots in the farming industry, the landscape is primarily wheat fields and vineyards, producing some of the finest wines in the country. Relaxing in natural thermal pools, exploring sulphur caverns and deep sea diving are popular excursions on Graciosa, and the beautiful, main settlement of Santa Cruz has narrow, cobbled streets and a charming central square which are well worth seeing. Graciosa sits in a relatively central position within the Azores, so travelling by ferry is a convenient and popular way to get there. Routes are available from nearly every other island, with ferries docking in Vila da Praia on Graciosa’s east coast.