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The harbor is the center of town. Very popular by yachts crossing the Atlantic.
This is a tender port. The walls and walkways of the marina are covered with paintings made by visitors memorializing their vessels, crews and the year they visited.
Printable map to take along.
Watch a destination video.
Ship's Location
in Cruise Port:
The Azores are actually the tops of some of the tallest mountains on the planet, as measured from their base at the bottom of the ocean. The islands are home to a rich maritime fauna, being like a swimming pool on the middle of the ocean, on which also grow exotic species such as the black coral. Sealife includes jamantas, sharks, sea turtles and thousands of other different creatures.
Horta, the fortified main town of Faial, lies facing the imposing cone of Pico in a wide bay on the southeast coast of the island, with a beach of black volcanic sand. The town is attractively situated on gently rising ground, surrounded by handsome villas and beautiful gardens. The inhabitants, many of them of Flemish descent, live by trade and the sale of fine embroidery and basketwork.
Leave Horta by boat in search of the Atlantic whales and dolphins that make the area around the Azores their home. Species found in these waters include bottlenose dolphin, beaked whales, pilot whales and sei whales—the latter is the third-largest whale in the world. Sperm whales are perhaps the most commonly seen as some scientists believe they live in these waters all year round to snack on the local squid. Other sightings include sea birds and other marine life.
The Porto Paim offers a breathtaking beach with calm blue waters.
Popular souvenir items include ceramics, such as hand-painted dishes, vases, mugs, and teapots made of clay; lace and embroidery; wickerwork; tea and pineapples; and Azorian wine.
The Azores is a part of Portugal and the currency is Euro as well. Most of the restaurants, hotels and car-renting companies accept common credit-cards. But don't expect credit cards to be accepted in smaller restaurants and residencias. Be sure to carry small bills. There are places that it can be a problem to change bigger notes.
Most banks accept Visa/MasterCard's. Most banks have employees who speak English or French
The national language is Portuguese. Azoreans speak a special dialect. Sometimes the inhabitants understand also English or French, especially the younger ones.
1st January New Year's day, Good Friday , Easter Sunday , 25th April Liberty Day , 1st May Labor Day , 24th May Autonomy Day , 10 June National Day of Portugal , 3rd June Corpus Christi , 15th August Feast of the Assumption , 5th October Implantation of the Republic , 1st November All Saints Day , 1st December Restoration of Independence , 8th December Feast of the Immaculate Conception , 25th December Christmas Day .
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