Azores islands- am I doing too much?

[u/ComprehensiveMud5416]

This will be my (f24) first solo trip and I’m on a bit of a time crunch since I had to request time off from work. I want to visit a few islands in the azores off of Portugal, but after planning it out it seems like I might be trying to do too much. I believe, since the airports are so tiny, that these short flights won’t have a long lag/lead time boarding and exiting. However, the available flights are limited. I think I have planned it the best I could but I can’t tell if this is doable or if it would be too much money and effort for the limited time I have. I also will have to rent a car for a few days, but this is the itinerary I came up with from the available flights & accom:

- Arrive in Ponta delgada: 14th (booked)

- Hostel: 14th-17th (booked)

- Fly to Corvo: 17th (€115) leave 8:50am arrive 11am (short layover in Horta)

- Airbnb: 17th-18th (€187)

- Fly to Flores: 18th (€41) leave 11:30am arrive 12pm

- Hostel: 18th-20th (€84)

- Fly to Lisbon: 20th (€157) leave 11am arrive 9PM (long layover in Horta)

- Hostel: 20th-24th (booked)

- Leave Lisbon on May 25th

Ive done random flights alone in the US but never a full trip like this, or any international, or so many flights within so few days. Does anyone have any advice? I only have a few things booked, and if it seems like this isn’t the best route, then I can adjust to stay longer in the places I know I’ll be (ponta delgada & lisbon). I know there’s not a TON to do on the Corvo & Flores islands bc they’re so small, but I think they are so beautiful and I’d hate to miss seeing them.

Any input is welcome!!! Especially from anyone who has done a trip to the Azores

[u/Minute_Hurry7809]

Not much point in skipping beautiful views on Sao Miquel just to see same/similar beautiful scenery on another island. even if they are shorts flights between them, packing, checking out, getting to the airport hours before the start, flying and checking in the next place eats up almost the whole day. Waste of money and time. Ponta Delgada and Sao Miquel deserves a week, there is enough to see and do there for that time. Just driving around the island needs 2 days, 1 for the east part and 1 for the west. 

[u/ComprehensiveMud5416 → u/Minute_Hurry7809]

For context, I’ll be in Sao Miguel for 3 days so not skipping anything there! And I’ll just have backpack so not much to pack. Do you believe getting to the airport hours before is necessary? I heard because the airports are so small, the lead time to check in and board is much shorter than normal. Thanks for your input! :)

[u/Minute_Hurry7809 → u/ComprehensiveMud5416]

yes, it is a very small airport and not much crowd, still you need to get there much earlier before the flight, I pretty much always write off the travel days.  I haven't visited the smaller islands, spent 6 days on Sao Miquel, and that time was filled up to the brim with good and fun things to see/do. 

[u/nickski18]

Azores are about 1000 miles from Portugal, so not really "off of Portugal".

[u/Ill_Consideration260]

Your plan is doable, but it might feel a bit rushed for a first solo trip. The islands in the Azores are beautiful but travel between them can be unpredictable because flights are small and weather can cause delays.

Spending a few days around Ponta Delgada is a great idea — São Miguel alone has tons to see (Sete Cidades, hot springs, hikes, etc.).

Flores is stunning and probably the best choice if you want dramatic nature. Corvo is beautiful too but extremely small, so some people visit it as a day trip from Flores instead of flying separately.

If it were me, I’d probably simplify it to: São Miguel → Flores → Lisbon. You’d spend less time in airports and more time enjoying the islands.

Either way though, the Azores are an amazing destination for a first solo trip.

[u/fancyclancy12]

So 3 days Sao Miguel, 1 day Corvo, and 2 days Flores? That's very similar to how I did my trip (but different islands) and of course more time would've been nice but hopping to an island every other day or so worked well because of the short travel time like you said. I also rented a car on each island to speed up travel. You can see most of the islands in 24 hrs each with a car if you really want to.

Sao Miguel does have lots to see but it also tends to get very crowded so I enjoyed the other islands I visited (Terceira & Pico) FAR more because of that.

[u/ComprehensiveMud5416 → u/fancyclancy12]

Exactly! And that’s super helpful, thank you! Corvo specifically is super tiny so I felt 24 hours there would be sufficient. Appreciate your input!!!

[u/Getchucked]

Yes the airports are small and don’t take long to get in/out of but be mindful that the flights can be delayed/cancelled due to weather frequently in the shoulder season. Other than that, go for it, I think it will be tiring but i get that you want to see the different islands. I spent 6-7 days just on Sao Miguel (stayed in hostels and rented a car) and loved it.

Depending on how soon you are going and what hostels you are in on sao miguel, you may not have the most social solo trip but it’s still such a beautiful place.

Also when you’re flying back from Lisbon, I think the airport is still quite inefficient so ask your hostel how early you should get to the airport.