About Sao Miguel

Sao Miguel is the largest island in the Portuguese Azorean archipelago, situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. Known locally as ‘the green island’, Sao Miguel’s landscape is characterised by rolling hills, vast green plains and towering mountains. It also boasts beautiful crater lakes, sandy beaches, blue ocean waters and an award-winning national park. The bustling capital of Ponta Delgada offers both a cosmopolitan and historical atmosphere, with a great number of fascinating monuments and century-old buildings found alongside upmarket restaurants and a variety of shops. As the most populated island in the Azores, Sao Miguel offers numerous ferry connections to many locations in the archipelago. The routes are operated by a popular local ferry company, but, given the sparseness of the islands, the journey times can vary greatly.

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.