São Jorge Island is one of the wildest and most dramatic islands in the Azores, best known for its steep cliffs and the unique coastal plains known as fajãs.
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Admittedly, I haven’t yet been to all of the Azores islands so there is a chance that São Jorge’s position as my favourite may be usurped in the future. For now, let me share what makes it so special to me. If you enjoy hiking, small-scale rural life and landscapes that feel untouched, you might just love it too.
Here’s what to see and do, plus practical tips to help you plan your visit.
Quick Planning Tips
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Best for: confident drivers, hikers and independent travellers
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Ideal stay: 3–4 nights
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Car hire: strongly recommended
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Terrain: steep, winding roads
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Local speciality: São Jorge DOP cheese
North south divide
As on other Azorean islands, the south side of São Jorge is more populated and the landscape divided up into flower-rimmed fields. São Jorge cheese is as close to Cheddar cheese as you’ll find in Portugal and the Azores supply much of the mainland’s dairy products. Unsurprisingly, there are lots of cows and trucks transporting milk churns from small producers to central dairies for processing.
While all this is pleasant enough, my heart lies in the north, where cliffs are often too steep to farm and foliage runs rampant. Waterfalls, lagoons and wildlife rule here.
Two walking trails on São Jorge. One wonderful, one less so
I love walking in Portugal and the Azores is a great place to do that, especially São Jorge. These are the trails my friend and I did.
PR1: Serra do Topo – Caldeira de Santo Cristo – Fajã dos Cubres
By far the most enjoyable hike we did in the Azores was the PR1 trail. It begins with a descent through hydrangea-splattered hillsides and continues through a patch of woodland to a crater lagoon on the edge of the ocean. A natural ridge of volcanic rock protects the water inside, making it warm, calm and perfect for swimming.
There is a tiny village here, and a surf school if you’re that way inclined. Backed by a jungly escarpment and almost totally isolated from ‘civilisation’, this is the happy place my mind brings me back to. If I close my eyes, I can almost hear the birds chattering and squawking, the occasional splash of fish jumping and the gentle rustle of waves beyond the lagoon.
After a refreshing swim and picnic lunch, Dori and I set off again along the dirt road that connects the car-free Caldeira with Fajã dos Cubres. We passed ruined and restored cottages hewn from volcanic rock, one with fish hung in the doorway to dry.
We were soon joined by a man who used to live there who explained that prior to the 1980 earthquake that devastated the settlement, around 200 people lived in the village. Back in those days, in order to attend school or go to market, villagers had to walk up the mountain Dori and I had just zig-zagged down. While we thoroughly enjoyed the views going down, I don’t envy them the upward journey one bit. Especially not laden with school books or groceries.
Fajã dos Cubres is now a peaceful nature reserve full of terns with wooden walkways that allow you to walk across to the ruined circular buildings. From here, the views of the cliffs and the green-tinged, slightly sulphorous lagoons is glorious.
Our taxi driver (more about that in Practicalities) was already waiting for us when we arrived in the village but happy to wait while we stopped for an ice-cold beer.
São Jorge island walk PR4: Pico do Pedro – Pico da Esperança – Fajã do Ouvidor
This hike starts high up in the mountainous spine of São Jorge island and climbs steadily to the highest point, Pico da Esperança, before heading down to a village with natural swimming pools.
It promised spectacular views from the peaks and, since it was largely downhill, didn’t look too difficult. It turned out to be quite a challenge in more ways than one.
The first obstacle was the weather. By the time we got dropped off at the start of the walk, the mist hanging over the mountain tops was so thick we could barely see 5 metres in front of us. While our taxi disappear into the cloud we shivered in our shorts and factor 50 sun cream, woefully unprepared for the cool temperature.
Optimistic that the mist would soon burn off, we began the walk. Buffeted by blasts of grit-filled wind and learning from the cows that it’s easier to walk on the grassy verges than the gravelly track, the only bright spots were the occasional wafts of mint that we had crushed underfoot and an all too brief glimpse of the dramatic scenery we were missing.
9 km later, the relief we felt upon seeing blue sky and greenery stretching out in front of us was enormous. Behind us, a thick layer of cloud loomed but we had made it to the sheltered slopes and the warmth of the sun. Looking back at the mountains, they did indeed look spectacular, as did our immediate surroundings.
Our joy was short-lived.
Although both of us were wearing sturdy walking shoes and Dori even had a pole, we both found the loose pebbles on the steep track to be treacherously slippery and it took a great deal of effort to stay upright. I have never been so pleased to see tarmac as I was when we got near the Miradouro overlooking Fajã do Ouvidor.
With the end tantalisingly in sight and the promise of a swim, we cut down a forested path towards the village. It was possibly the hardest kilometre I have ever walked. Steep, slippery and littered with uneven stones, we had to negotiate every step with caution.
By the time we reached Café O Almica, it took four mini beers each for us to be able to speak to each other. Sagres has never tasted so good.
After an experience like that, you might be wondering why my opinion of São Jorge island is still so high.
The natural swimming pools were worth every step (although I’d be inclined to drive straight there in future). Aside from the relaxed family-friendly atmosphere, being able to admire the surrounding rock formations and slopes as we floated in clear warm water was a treat.
Velas, São Jorge. The town with the prettiest pavements in Portugal
Portugal is renowned for its calçada, the art of creating beautiful patterns using black and white cobblestones. Lisbon and many other cities are full of intricate designs you can walk all over.
Velas takes calçada to a new level. The town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1964, the story of which is depicted in a tile panel in one of the squares. The replacement calçada laid during the rebuilding of the town is remarkable.
The high street offers scenes of island life while Largo Cons. Dr. João Pereira pays tribute to St. George (São Jorge) and the dragon as well as the parish church. The street running through Jardim da Repbública is also worth a look.
Other highlights in Velas
Sculptures and structures
Jardim da República is also dominated by a decorative bandstand and bordered by some beautiful architecture.
The town’s main square is home to a fantastic dragon sculpted from volcanic rock. I want one!
The whalers of São Jorge used to while away their idle hours at the art of scrimshaw, engraved bone. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this eclectic monument to both the whaling industry and scrimshaw art in Velas.
Poço das Frades natural swimming pool
In between our walking days, we had a day to just relax in Velas, more specifically at the town’s natural pools. Not only do they offer warm, safe waters for swimming, you also get a great view of Pico island,
You can lay your towel out on the concrete platforms or swim out to the rocks to laze around. Or pick a table at the café-bar – be warned, they may not offer much in the way of food. I had to walk back into the centre to find a café that actually had bread and could make us a sandwich to take away!
Lively Velas harbour
Our accommodation overlooked the harbour, a hive of activity, especially when the ferry arrives. It’s also a place to while away some time observing local fishermen tend to their boats.
If you hear weirdly bouncy giggling noises, don’t be alarmed, it’s probably a Cory’s Shearwater bird.
Practicalities for visiting São Jorge island
Getting there
We had been staying on Flores island, in the most remote group of the archipelago. To Get to São Jorge, we flew from Flores to Faial island then took the ferry to Velas in São Jorge a few hours later. Ferry connections vary by season. Check the official Atlanticoline website for current schedules.
Getting around
São Jorge was the only island in the Azores where we didn’t have a rental car. Having read about the lack of public transport, I had been concerned about how we would get around.I needn’t have worried. A quick visit to the tourist information office on Rua Cons. Dr. José Pereira and we were all set.
If you do decide to drive, you can compare car hire prices for São Jorge here.
Local taxis
I am impressed by how organised all of the Azores islands seem to be in terms of leaflets for walks and maps, which are readily available at the airport and other tourist offices. São Jorge is no exception and we came away with a selection of walks, having discussed which ones might be most suitable for our level of ability.
The island’s taxi drivers have agreed set fares between them so the very helpful man gave us a list of fares for various destinations on the island including the walking routes.
The driver will drop you off at the starting point, stopping at significant viewing spots en route for photo ops. Simply agree a time and he/she will be waiting for you at the end point. You pay when you get back to Velas, or whichever place you’re staying in. If there are 4 of you sharing the cost, it’s cheap and still very reasonable for just two people.
Where to stay on São Jorge island
Most accommodation is in or around Velas and Calheta, ranging from small guesthouses to rural cottages and self-catering stays. If you want easy access to restaurants and services, Velas is the most convenient base. For a quieter, more rural feel, look at properties near the fajãs.
We decided to stay in Velas because we were arriving there by ferry and it is the biggest town on the island. Without a car, we wanted to be within walking distance of restaurants.
If you want to be in the town itself Hotel São Jorge Garden is a good 3-star hotel with an outdoor pool.
With your own transport, or the help of local taxis, you have more options.
Cabanas da Viscondessa has spacious apartments that come with a balcony and garden view. A lovely peaceful place to unwind.
Hotel os Moinhos is a charming country hotel with rustic touches, a pretty garden, great views of Pico island, a pool and an onsite restaurant.
You can browse current availability for São Jorge here
For a wider overview of accommodation options across the islands, see my Azores accommodation guide.
FAQs About São Jorge Island
How many days do you need on São Jorge?
Three to four nights allows time to explore several fajãs, do at least one hike and sample local food without rushing.
Do you need a car on São Jorge?
Public transport is very limited and many of the most scenic areas are only accessible by car. However, local taxis can be very useful for linear hikes.
What is São Jorge famous for?
São Jorge is known for its dramatic cliffs, coastal fajãs and its PDO São Jorge cheese, produced on the island for centuries.
Is São Jorge suitable for non-hikers?
Yes, but hikers will get the most out of it. Even without long walks, the scenery and small villages are worth the trip.
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Oh dear! I’m sorry to hear that you had such bad luck with the weather and then illness. I still love São Jorge but agree that some of the walks are treacherous in wet weather.
Hi Julie, I came across your site when doing some post-holiday research about São Jorge. I spent 3 full days there last June and unfortunately I had bad weather as well, in fact probably worse than you: I would have been happy to see some ‘mountains in the mist’ on the Pico da Esperança trail. I only saw the signs for the various Picos, but did not even see any outline due to essentially walking in the clouds. It is kind of funny though that I shot virtually the same photo as you of the path in the fog https://www.openviews.org.uk/sao_jorge-faial/imgs/mountain_trail1.jpg . It was only when I was right at/on the Pico da Esperança that the clouds partially cleared for a few minutes and I could see some of the landscape including some nice views to the south coast. Otherwise it was completely foggy, cold and extremely windy until I got to the latter stages of the walk when getting below the clouds again. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t any better for the Serra do Topo – Fajã dos Cubres walk. Again, thick fog until the latter stages of the walk, and in addition it was raining as well, with the result that some parts of the walk got quite muddy and slippery, so that I slipped and fell a couple of times in the steep sections of the downhill path. Worst of all, I got then a very bad chest/throat infection ( presumably because of the adverse weather conditions during these walks, although I can not exclude Covid either) so that I was basically house bound for a several days during my following week in Horta/Faial (not that it mattered much because the weather there was only marginally better, high altitudesalso mostly in clouds and too cold and overcast at the coast to spend much time on the beach).
Such a beautiful paradise! This was my mom’s home island! Her dad was a whaler and was in the Portuguese Navy, and she’s told me about the beautiful hydrangeas in bloom there. I’ve been to the mainland once before, but not yet to the Azores. Hoping to see them one of these days, before my mother is too elderly to travel back to her home country. I’m absolutely fascinated with the country of my ancestors, and enjoy reading your posts. So, I’ve nominated you for the Creative Blogger Award! Take a look on my blog for details! Thanks! 🙂
Oh Julie, you’re giving me such saudades for São Jorge (one of my great-grandfathers was from Topo), and for the Azores in general (three of my other great-grandparents hailed from the west coast of Flores). I hope you won’t mind that I’ve taken the liberty of listing this post, as well as your earlier ones about Flores and Furnas, in my Azores tourism bibliography:
http://www.inolongerlikechocolates.com/cul-tour-refs.htm
I’m going to Topo in January
Any suggestions
Should i rent a car?
I agree with your son and partner. You should go!
I know what you mean, Brid. We won’t forget that walk in a hurry, although I had forgotten how lovely the scenery was once we emerged from the clouds.
Hi Julie, My son and his partner have visited the Azores and they speak highly of the islands -“You really should go, Mum!” – but we’ve never got round to it. And now you are eulogising them, too. Thank you for this. Perhaps this spring we’ll finally take a plane and visit since you are so encouraging
I love the honesty of your R4: Pico do Pedro – Pico da Esperança – Fajã do Ouvidor walk, Julie. Many of us have ‘been there, done that’ e.g in Madeira (twice) for me, but these challenges tend to be the most memorable. I’ve only been to Terceira so will add this to my list of other places to go in the Azores.