About Flores

Flores is the westernmost island of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal in the North Atlantic Ocean. Regarded as the most attractive island of the archipelago, Flores has a ruggedly beautiful terrain consisting of magnificent crater lakes, dramatic cliffs plummeting into the ocean and vibrantly coloured flowers blanketing the coastal plains. The village of Faja Grande is the most westerly in Europe, set before a large natural bowl with picturesque waterfalls and plunge pools, whereas the capital, Santa Cruz is ideal for birdwatching. Flores is a fantastic canyoning and hiking destination, too, thanks to the large number of cascades throughout the unspoilt, hilly landscape. However, there are also plenty of lovely beaches if you would prefer a more relaxed day on the island. Flores is the only Azorean island to provide ferry crossings to Corvo, which means it offers the most routes of the island group. From the capital in the north and the village of Lajes Das Flores to the south, you can sail to anywhere in this beautiful Portuguese archipelago.

About Santa Maria

Santa Maria is the oldest and southernmost island of the Portuguese Azores archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. Known locally as ‘the island of the sun’ and ‘the yellow island’, Santa Maria boasts the sunniest climate of the Azores and a landscape characterised by dry vegetation and sandy shorelines. The island has a rich cultural heritage, too, which is evident in the town of Anjos, the first landfall of Christopher Columbus on his return voyage from the Americas. Also, each traditional home in Santa Maria’s villages has a distinctively coloured chimney in order to contrast with the whitewashed masonry. Santa Maria also claims the best swimming spots in the archipelago, with a wide choice of stunning beaches and refreshing tidal pools. The most popular beach is Praia Formosa on the south coast which also offers excellent surfing, water skiing and sailing conditions. Santa Maria is well connected to the other Azorean islands by ferry, with numerous routes provided from its port on the southwest coast to almost every island.