Car rental in the Azores

Azores Islands They are an archipelago that includes nine volcanic islands, and they are located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, in the territorial waters of Portugal. The islands are located about 1,500 kilometers apart from Lisbon, and their area is about 2,300 square kilometers. The capital city of the islands is Punta Delgada, located in the São Miguel Islands, and it, as well as the entire region, is considered to a prominent tourist attraction And especially loved. Volcanoes and the Azores go hand in hand, and almost every volcano in Portugal is in this area. Most of the walking tours revolve around the areas that were previously burned by the volcanoes, and it's nice to see how chefs use the natural heat of the earth to cook unique dishes with it, which have become a very prominent culinary trend recently.

The craters created in the area are a special sight, and you can see a lot of elements that you won't find anywhere else, such as unusual lakes, unique vegetation and fishing that also includes giant whales. The Azores offer a tropical climate, making being outside very pleasant. The islands offer options for travelers, people who like to sleep in nature, nature and fishing enthusiasts and even For professional divers. Because there are many options on each island, the option of renting a car is great and can help and maximize the trip.

How much does it cost us?

The price range for car rental in the Azores is very large. A private car with two seats and room for two suitcases will cost you only 5 euros per day. The price of most family vehicles and sports cars ranges from 20 to 40 euros per day, not including fuel, and you can also take a station wagon for about 50 euros per day. There are also luxury vehicles and SUVs, whose prices reach 80 or 90 euros per day, and overall, the variety is wide. Of course, there are many, many elements that affect the price, and it is important to define the vehicle you need before ordering. The reservation period, its length, the type of vehicle and the various extras greatly affect the price, so think carefully about what suits you and what you can avoid.

When to order?

Most vacations in the Azores are held during the summer. This is a warm area that offers a lot of water activities, and trips that cannot be done in winter weather. Therefore, it is important to order the vehicle at the beginning of the year, in January or February, in order to reserve the vehicle you need. Pre-ordering is important, because most of the large rental companies do not leave all their types of vehicles in all branches at all times, and you have to make sure that the vehicle arrives at the required place at the right time. It is worth making the reservation with the reservation of the hotel and the flight, and in any case, keep in touch with the rental companies in the network, to confirm the reservation, reserve the car and even ask for discounts or benefits. Please note that to get an automatic car, you will have to book well in advance, as the inventory in the area is limited.

During the summer several nice festivals are held in the Azores. The festival of the Holy Spirit is particularly interesting, the festival of flowers and the festival of the Holy Mary are the most prominent among them. In Portugal, a particularly religious country, they celebrate the holy holidays of Christianity in an extreme way, and also celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve in a special way. The Azores are not congested or overcrowded areas, even during the tourist seasons. The journeys are relatively long, but you will not encounter excessive congestion, except in the areas where these festivals are held. These are mountainous areas and picturesque towns, so traffic problems are minimal.

Which car do you choose?

If you want to travel to some or all of the islands (the land crossing between most of the islands is possible), you must take a large vehicle that is suitable for long trips and even for off-road trips. It is important to see what the needs of the trip are in terms of equipment, and adjust the vehicle according to the number of people and the extras it needs. An off-road vehicle can be effective, but a large station wagon can also fulfill the requirement and transport you relatively comfortably from island to island and even to the areas where the trips are made. Try to take a vehicle with a large and wide interior space, in order to make the journeys more bearable, and at the same time, take a vehicle that can withstand the challenge of these long and difficult journeys.

International driving license

Most of the car rental companies work in the Azores, although they require to see an international driver's license before they rent the vehicles to their customers. It is important to take all the relevant paperwork and not forget anything at home.

Driving and navigating the area

There are some things you should know before taking a car in the Azores. Driving is on the right side of the road, as in Israel and in light of the route in the area, avoid driving in bad weather, as there are many days when the fog is simply unbearable, certainly on the colder days of the beginning or end of summer. Remember that there are quite a few volcanoes in the area. The infrastructure on the islands is quite old, but absolutely reasonable, and the signage is at a fairly high level. In any case, it is better to use navigation apps to avoid getting lost, and also, to avoid getting into trouble, don't be afraid to turn around and return to a place you know. The area is full of squares and has no traffic lights, which makes traffic easier. There are no toll roads in the area, and there are quite a few gas stations, which will greatly facilitate dealing with the long journeys.

Parking in the Azores

On most of the islands you won't have any parking problems at all, and certainly when you go outside. Everything is very regulated and convenient, and mostly free. Try to avoid entering areas where events are held, but even then, you can park a little far away and walk until you reach your destination. The story is a little different in Punta Delgada, which is a very crowded island, with bad infrastructure. The signage is quite confusing, and you will have to work with parking tickets, which come with instructions in Portuguese. If you don't have to, don't enter the center of Punta Delgada, and try to get there by public transportation. As for the rest of the islands - it's fun and easy to manage, and as an alternative, you can park far away on purpose, and walk a bit, to soak up the atmosphere.