North Atlantic
Sailing the Azores
The Azores lie in the middle of the North Atlantic: nine green volcanic islands where whales pass offshore, where hydrangeas turn whole lanes blue and pink in summer, and where Horta has been the harbour every Atlantic sailor dreams of for generations. Sailing here is no bay-to-bay hop but a genuine ocean passage – long legs, open Atlantic, and the cone of Pico on the horizon. Where other regions offer everything from catamaran cruise to boutique cruise, only a few carefully chosen ships make the Azores: from an exclusive sailing holiday to a sailing cruise in windjammer luxury, from the personal yacht to the grand vessel.
Horta and Faial – the legendary Atlantic harbour
Horta on the island of Faial is the most famous sailors’ harbour in the North Atlantic. Those who complete the passage paint their boat on the quay wall – over decades this has grown into the largest harbour mural in the world, and leaving no painting brings bad luck, tradition says. Opposite stands Peter Café Sport, for generations the meeting point, post office and logbook of ocean crossers. Faial itself is nicknamed the Blue Island when the hydrangeas bloom; to the west lies the Capelinhos volcano, whose eruption in 1957/58 made the island grow.
Pico – the volcanic island
Directly across the channel Pico rises from the sea, at 2,351 metres the highest mountain in Portugal and an almost perfect volcanic cone. Its slopes are lined with lava-stone vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site where wine has ripened between black walls for centuries. The waters between Pico and Faial are among the finest whale-watching grounds in Europe: sperm, blue and fin whales pass through.
São Jorge, São Miguel and Terceira
São Jorge is the narrow, steep island of the fajãs – flat spits of land at the foot of the cliffs where coffee, wine and the celebrated island cheese thrive; its harbour is Velas. São Miguel, the green main island, welcomes you at Ponta Delgada and leads to the crater lakes of Sete Cidades and the steaming thermal springs of the Furnas valley. On Terceira, ships call at Praia da Vitória, the gateway to the Renaissance town of Angra do Heroísmo.
Which ship for the Azores?
The Azores are no mass-market region – only a few ships take on the Atlantic passage, and we bring both together for you at ivent-sailing:
- Luxury sailing yacht (Kairos) – an elegant large yacht for up to 24 guests, with a ten-strong crew, captain and chef aboard; the feel of a private yacht and personal service at the highest level, ideal for the passage from island to island.
- Windjammer luxury (Sea Cloud Spirit) – hand-set sails and grand-hotel atmosphere at sea; the spacious, comfortable way to cross the Atlantic under square sails.
So an Azores voyage ranges from personal sailing aboard a private large yacht to a sailing cruise in windjammer luxury – two routes to the same Atlantic horizon.
| Ship | Route | Period | nights | from price p.p. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kairos | Azoren / Faial → Pico- Faial | 01.05.–08.05.2027 | 7 | from 3.600 € | View |
| Kairos | Azoren / Faial → Pico- Faial | 08.05.–15.05.2027 | 7 | from 3.600 € | View |
| Kairos | Azoren / Faial → Pico- Faial | 15.05.–22.05.2027 | 7 | from 3.600 € | View |
| Kairos | Azoren / Faial → Pico- Faial | 22.05.–29.05.2027 | 7 | from 3.600 € | View |
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to sail the Azores?
From late May to September. Summer brings the mildest Atlantic weather, the hydrangeas bloom from June to August, and this is when most whales pass through the waters between Pico and Faial. Earlier and later dates are pure ocean passages with rougher seas.
Which ship suits whom?
For a personal, exclusive passage from island to island, the luxury sailing yacht Kairos - up to 24 guests, captain and chef aboard, the feel of a private yacht. For the spacious, comfortable way to cross the Atlantic under sail, the Sea Cloud Spirit in windjammer luxury with hand-set sails.
What are the highlights of an Azores sailing holiday?
The legendary sailors' harbour of Horta with its quay-wall paintings and Peter Café Sport, the volcanic cone of Pico with its UNESCO vineyards, whale watching between Pico and Faial, the fajãs of São Jorge and the crater lakes of Sete Cidades on São Miguel.
Tell us your vision of the Azores - we will find the right ship for your Atlantic passage.
Talk to us - we will find the right solution for your voyage.
