We are Yacht Charter Agents specializing in the Azores and the Atlantic Ocean.

The two main yacht charter areas of the Azores are either the central island group including the islands of Faial, Pico, Sao Jorge, Terceira and Graciosa or the eastern islands of Sao Miguel and Santa Maria. The Azores are a great cruising ground with everything from steep rising majestic volcanos to sleepy little fishing villages. We have charter yachts based in the lovely marinas of Horta on Faial island, Lajes on Pico island and Vila Franca on Sao Miguel.

Click on the following link for further information on the Azores
Get a quote for your Azores yacht charter here. Or contact us by email

General - The Archipelago of the Azores are located in the mid North Atlantic Ocean, within a range bounded by the parallels 36° 55' 43'' and 39° 43' 02'' N and the meridians 24° 46 ' 15'' and 31° 16' 02'' W. It is about 1430 km from the European continent and more than 3900 km east of North American mainland. The islands form the Autonomous Region of the Azores, one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal. The archipelago consists of nine islands gathered into three distinct groups: the Western Group, the Central Group and the Eastern Group.

The two main yacht charter areas of the Azores are either the central island group including the islands of Faial, Pico, Sao Jorge, Terceira and Graciosa or the eastern islands of Sao Miguel and Santa Maria. The Azores are a great cruising ground with everything from steep rising majestic volcanos to sleepy little fishing villages. We have yachts based in the lovely marinas of Horta on Faial island, Lajes on Pico island and Vila Franca on Sao Miguel.

The Central Group of Islands

Faial is located at 38° 36' N and 28° 30' W and is just 21 km long and 14 km wide. The island is 4.5 miles from Pico and 14 miles from Sao Jorge. On the SW coast Faial lies the town of Horta, the main port of the Azores archipelago. And here you will find our charter boats in Horta Marina, renowned amongst transatlantic sailors and blue water cruisers at the mandatory stop over when making the west-east Atlantic crossing from the Americas to Europe. The paintings that cover the walls and ground of the marina are made by the crew of boats conscious of the legend says that sailors who do not draw a painting will not reach their destination. Horta Marina has 300 berths and is within walking distance of the town making shopping, sightseeing and provisioning very easy and convenient. Horta is a pleasant town to explore with many old shops, cafes and good restaurants. Check out Pete's Bar, popular with sailors and locals alike.
Major attractions ashore and inland include; The Caldeira and Capelinhos Volcanos and the Horta Regional Museum

Pico Island is located at 38° 30' N 28° 20' W, just 11 miles south of Sao Jorge and just 4.5 miles east of Faial. It is 46 km long with a maximum width of 16 km. The island is well known for its visually dramatic volcano, Ponta do Pico (2351m altitude) which is not only the highest point of the entire Mid-Atlantic Ridge, but is also the tallest mountain in all of Portugal and the Azores. Pico is often called Ilha Preta (Black Island) by locals, thanks to its black volcanic soil. Pico Island boasts historical vineyards that played a large part in the historic development of the area and these are now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Major attractions ashore include;- The Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, Torres Cavern, Capitao and Caiado Lagoons and the Whalemen's and Whaling Industry Museums

Sao Jorge is located at 38° 24' N 28° 33' W, 11 miles north of Pico, 22 miles south of Graciosa, 14 miles east of Faial and 32 miles west of Terceira. It is 56 km long and just 8 km wide. The island is distinguished by its long narrow shape and by the presence of numerous coves which have been formed over thousands of years by the falling slopes. The coves now contain many small, quaint coastal villages. Velas Marina, on the SW coast provides 77 berths in the protected natural harbour and offers a spectacular view of the cliffs. The town of Velas is within walking distance from the marina making shopping, sightseeing and provisioning easy and convenient.
Major inland attractions include; Caldeira de Santo Cristo Faja, the peaks of Morgadias, Esperança, Areeiro and Calheta. Ponta dos Rosais and the Ethnographic Museum.

Graciosa Island is located in the north of the Central Group, about 20 miles northeast of Sao Jorge and 32 miles northwest of Terceira. The island is the least mountainous of the Azores, reaching a maximum altitude of 402m. Graciosa's landscape is very beautiful, combining green pastures with white isolated houses and villages. It's fertile fields produce vegetables, fruit, wine and cattle.

Terceira is the most populated island of the Central Group in the Azores archipelago with a population in excess of 50,000 inhabitants. It is the most eastern island in the group located 90 miles from Sao Miguel and 66 miles from Faial. The city of Angra do Heroismo, the main urban center of the island was classified as World Heritage by UNESCO because of the beauty of its Renaissance houses, churches and monasteries. These are characterized by vivid colors.

The Eastern Group of Islands

Sao Miguel is the largest island in the Azores archipelago with an area of over 7.5 thousand square kilometers and a population of approximately 140,000 inhabitants. The bustling port of Ponta Delgada welcomes sailors and fellow holiday makers alike. Nicknamed “the green island,” because of its extensive vegetation and abundance of cultivated fields, it is visually stunning so try to spare a little time to explore inland.
Other inland attractions include; the Sete Cidades and Fogo Lagoons.

Santa Maria, the other island in the Eastern Group, was the first of the Azores islands to be discovered by the Portuguese navigator Diogo de Silves, circa 1427. In February 1493 Christopher Columbus stopped on the island returning from his first trip to America.

The image below shows the central group of islands which is one of the two Azores yacht charter areas. Click for a larger map of the complete Azores Archipelago including the eastern islands of Sao Miguel and Santa Maria where we also have charter boats.



Get a quote for your Azores yacht charter here. Or contact us by email

What You Need - Experience, Qualifications, Visa Requirements, etc. - Coming soon

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Charter Season - The high season is July and August. May, June and September are the mid season while October through to the end of April make up the low season.

Climate - The archipelago is spread out in area but generally it has a tepid, oceanic, subtropical climate. Daily maximum temperatures usually range between 15°C and 25°C. The average annual rainfall increases from east to west, and it ranges from 700 to 1600 annual millimeters on average. The Azores high, an area of high atmospheric pressure, is named after the islands.
See the following link for detailed information on the Azores Weather complete with monthly averages

How to Get There - The Horta airport is only 10 km away from the town and harbour. There are international flights from; Lisbon, the Portuguese capital with a 2.5hours flying time.
Pico and Sao Miguel Islands, where we also have charter bases, are served by international flights.
See the following link for more info on flights and carriers serving airports in the Azores

Time Difference - GMT -1

Currency - Euro

Language - Official - Portuguese. English and French are widely spoken

Get a quote for your Azores yacht charter here. Or contact us by email

Food & Drink - Coming soon

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Suggested Itineraries & Routes - Click the following link for a selection of suggested yacht charter itineraries in the Azores

Marinas - Detailed reports and information on Yacht Marinas, Harbours and Anchorages in the Azores can be found in our Cruising Guide

Feedback - We would welcome any comments you may have about your charter in the Azores. Contact us here

History of the Area - All the islands have volcanic origins although some, such as Santa Maria, have had no recorded activity since the islands were settled. Because these once-uninhabited and remote islands were settled sporadically over a span of two centuries, their culture, dialect, cuisine and traditions vary considerably.

Terms & Conditions -These vary depending on the individual boat. Normally a deposit is required at the time of booking with the balance due a month before the date of your charter. Please contact us if you require further information.

Get a quote for your Azores yacht charter here. Or contact us by email