Can you imagine exploring Jurassic Park with your own car that allows you to access its most hidden corners or escape quickly from a T-Rex? Well, that’s just it. The island of Flores, in the Azores, is an authentic Portuguese Jurassic Park in the middle of the Atlantic, so we consider it essential to rent a car to know it well and at your own pace.
Are you in a hurry or don’t feel like reading much? At Flores, we recommend renting a car through Discover Cars, to find a vehicle that meets your needs and budget, and we recommend purchasing Discover Cars’ extra insurance (Full Coverage)
Book as soon as possible (the number of cars available in Flores is quite limited, prices tend to go up, and vehicles can even sell out)
We rented a car in all the Azores Islands during our various trips to the archipelago, (except for the small island of Corvo where there is not even that possibility) and in our favorite island, Flores, it was not going to be less. In this guide we tell you which car rental companies exist in Flores (Azores Islands), what to check at the time of rental (insurance and excess), how to get the best price and how our experience traveling by rental car on the Azorean island of Flores was.
Why is it essential to rent a car in Flores (Azores)?
Although it is not one of the largest islands in the Azores, it was the one that became our favorite for its breathtaking scenery and for how much there is to explore and enjoy in its 143 km2. On this island you can drive to the sunset at the most westerly point in Europe, Fajã Grande (well, the most westerly point would actually be the islet belonging to Flores, the ilhéu de Monchique, which is not accessible). You will also know that, although you are driving in Europe, geographically speaking, you are actually stepping on the American continent since both Flores and its neighbor Corvo (the westernmost islands of the Azores) sit on the American tectonic plate.
If you want to get an idea of the kind of landscapes we are talking about, take a look at our guide to Flores. However, to enjoy all these places it is essential that you rent a car for your trip to the island and in this guide we tell you how and what you have to take into account.
If you are considering public transportation around the island, you can see the timetables here. Connections and frequencies are quite limited, but if you are traveling on a low budget it can be a valid option to visit some of the main points of the island.
If, on the other hand, you have considered renting a motorcycle instead of a car for this trip, remember that long distances on a motorcycle can be uncomfortable and, more importantly, the unstable and changeable weather in the Azores will make you have all four seasons in the same day… on the motorcycle.
Another option if you do not have much budget or if you don’t drive is to base yourself in the small capital of the island, Santa Cruz das Flores (where there are some incredible natural pools) and hire a tour to get to know the island better, although if you can rent a car, all the better:
- Tour of Flores, around the island: a tour around the island stopping at some of the most iconic places in Flores (Fajã Grande, Rocha dos Bordões, must-see viewpoints, Alagoa and even Ponta Delgada).
- Tour of the Flores and Lajes Lagoons: one of the attractions of the island of Flores are its 7 lagoons located in the calderas of inactive volcanoes. In this tour you will see them all.
- Tour of the viewpoints of Flores: a one-day tour that includes several viewpoints of the island.
- Hiking Tour around the island of Flores: you can choose between 5 different hiking trails to get to know the island. The best known is the route through Ponta Ruiva and Ponta Delgada.
Is it safe/easy to drive in Flores (Azores)?
In general, the main roads in Flores are in good condition so driving is quite easy and calm, even if you don’t have much experience. That doesn’t mean that we didn’t get a scare or two, like a car stopped in the middle of the road after a curve with no visibility because that man met his neighbor in the car in the opposite direction and decided to stop to chat for a while. Be aware that the Azores are predominantly rural so slow down, take a deep breath and arm yourself with patience because parked cars everywhere, unexpected turns or cow traffic are commonplace.
Some tips if you do not have much driving experience and/or are particularly concerned about driving on more complicated or unpaved roads:
- In the Azores in general it can be common to suddenly come across cows on secondary roads, so be patient, admire them and enjoy the unhurried travel.
- Drive slowly and cautiously. An island like Flores is perfect for slowing down, enjoying the views and, in addition, avoiding any surprise.
How to rent a car in Flores (Azores)
Car rental companies in Flores (Azores)
Unlike on other islands in the Azores, there are fewer car rental options on Flores. The island is home to the two main local companies—which we recommend—as well as some international companies such as Europcar and Avis. To find the best price, we recommend that you use DiscoverCars and carefully review each company’s terms and conditions, not just the price:
- Ilha Verde: the largest car rental company in the Azores, but also the one that requires the highest security deposit (€1,200), and about which we read some negative reviews regarding wait times at the airport to pick up the car and strict policies regarding minor damage. The truth is that we’ve used Ilha Verde on some of our trips, and everything went smoothly.
- AutAtlantis: The cars we used throughout the archipelago (including Flores) on our two-month trip through the 9 islands of the Azores were from AutAtlantis, and everything went perfectly! Plus, it’s one of the car rental companies that charges the lowest deposit and deductible (€700, compared to €1,300–€1,500 at other companies).
In addition to these companies, Flores is also home to multinational companies such as Sixt, EuropCar, etc., which tend to be significantly more expensive than local companies. Even so, depending on how far in advance you book and the time of year, it’s possible that only those companies will have availability or that, in some cases, they might even offer better prices—which is why it’s best to use comparison sites like DiscoverCars with your dates to find availability and the best prices..
We try to keep this post as up-to-date as possible, but always check the information when booking, as some of these terms and conditions may have changed, and Discovercars provides all the information clearly and transparently.
Car rental prices in Flores (Azores)
Prices for car rental in Flores vary depending on the number of days you rent a car, the season, the type of car and how far in advance you book. They rarely go below 25€ per day (although, especially in winter, you can get them for less) and, to give you an idea, in recent summers prices have reached 100€ per day and we know several people who did not manage to rent a car because they waited until the last minute.
Ideally, you should check and compare all the companies with availability for your dates on DiscoverCars. Be sure to carefully review each company’s rental terms (deductible, what the insurance covers, fuel policy, whether a second driver is included or not, reviews, etc.)—not just the price.
Also, one good thing is that in Flores there are no tolls, so you’ll only need to factor in the cost of the car rental and gas to get a rough estimate of how much you’ll spend.
What to consider when renting a car in Flores, Azores
Book in advance
Especially in recent years, due to the increase in tourism in the Azores, prices have risen, and during peak tourist seasons, accommodations may sell out or become prohibitively expensive. For this reason, it is very important to try to book as far in advance as possible.
Deposit and Deductible
The vast majority of car rental companies require a deposit when you pick up the rental car, which involves placing a hold on a certain amount on your credit card, which remains frozen until the end of the rental period. If there are any issues (scratches on the car, accidents, etc.), the blocked funds will be used to cover these costs (up to the amount of the deductible); if there are no issues, the funds are released from the credit card and become available again.
When we visited the Azores, Ilha Verde required the highest deposit (€1,200 was held on the credit card and released upon returning the car in perfect condition), while AutAtlantis had the lowest deposit (€700), but it’s important to check when making your reservation, as it may depend on the type of vehicle. On the DiscoverCars comparison site, you can see this clearly so there are no mistakes.
If you’re planning to travel to several islands in the Azores and rent a car on each one, keep in mind that if you rent from the same company, they usually carry over the deposit from one rental to the next (in other words, they don’t block the deposit amount for each reservation; instead, the initial deposit holds over to subsequent rentals). It’s important to keep this in mind because if you rent from multiple companies, you may end up with a significant amount of money held in escrow, since the funds aren’t released immediately once the reservation ends.
In addition, the deductible is the maximum amount you’ll have to pay if the vehicle sustains significant damage or breakdowns; in other words, you’ll only have to pay it if the car has been damaged or broken down, but in most cases, you can waive it by paying X euros more per day or by purchasing a specific insurance policy.
To illustrate this with an example, if the deductible is €700, you’ll pay a maximum of €700 if something happens to the vehicle:
- If any part of the car gets scratched and the stipulated price for that is €200, you’ll pay those €200.
- If something more serious happens and the stipulated price for that is €2,400, you’ll pay €700.
- In other words, you’ll have to pay up to €700, and the insurance company will cover anything above that.
Fuel Policy
Ideally, you should choose a “full-to-full” fuel policy, meaning you receive the car with a full tank of gas and return it with a full tank as well. Otherwise, you’ll have to return the vehicle with the same fuel level it had when you picked it up. However, not only is it always more complicated to fill the tank to exactly the level you want at the gas station before returning it (and you end up losing money), but there may also be misunderstandings with the rental company.
In either case, take a photograph of the mileage and fuel level when the car is delivered to you so you have photographic proof.
Mileage
Most local rental companies include unlimited mileage, so you don’t have to worry and can drive around Flores freely. In any case, be sure to confirm this in the terms and conditions (and/or use DiscoverCars filters) before booking.
Type of car
In general, the roads in Flores are in good condition so in our opinion, the most basic and smallest car (the cheapest) is usually more than enough. In any case, depending on your preferences (if you are 5 people or even more, or if you prefer an automatic and/or a more powerful car) most companies have cars for all tastes. Use DiscoverCars filters if you have preferences to be able to compare the prices of various companies for the type of vehicle you prefer. Keep in mind that the more requirements you have, the harder it will be to find something at a good price (for example, automatic cars are few and far between).
Extras (GPS, additional driver, baby seats, etc.)
Most of the extras have to be paid separately, making prices go up (usually X euros per day for each extra), so if you are going to need them, use DiscoverCars filters to see the prices of the different companies with those extras included and do not get surprises later at the time of booking.
One of those extras is GPS: in our opinion, it is not worth paying for it nowadays as it is much easier and faster to use apps like Google Maps on your smartphone. So, you can take our map of the island in your Google Maps app, select the place to visit and follow the GPS indications of the app itself. We recommend you to bring a good cell phone holder (and remember to remove it when you deliver the car hahaha, in our case we have already forgotten a few) and a good powerbank (some cars bring USB charger, but not always and sometimes they charge very slowly).
Forms of Payment
Most car rental companies ask for a credit card in the driver’s name to block the deposit amount. In any case, the ideal thing is to check the particular conditions of each company in the Discovercars search results (there you will find all the information).
If you don’t have a credit card, you will have to limit yourself to companies that only ask for debit cards, which in general are few and more expensive. If you search in DiscoverCars, in the filters you have a specific one (Payment Method) to see only the companies that accept one type of card or another.
Extra insurance: yes or no?
If you prefer to pay a little more to avoid headaches or hassles at the time of delivery of the rental car, you can consider hiring the Discovercars Full Coverage Insurance . The daily cost of this insurance varies depending on the number of days and the company you choose. More info about the insurance.
As a recommendation, when the vehicle is delivered to you, make a video/photo of the car’s condition, to avoid situations in which the company tells you that some of the damage was not there and they want to charge you for it.
Visit the neighboring island of Corvo
If you’re thinking of taking advantage of your trip to Flores to visit the neighboring island of Corvo, don’t hesitate! Corvo is home to one of Portugal’s most spectacular landscapes—the Caldeirão (the volcano’s impressive caldera)—and its people are incredible.
The three ways to get to Corvo Island from Flores are:
- By speedboat: book your trip to Corvo here or here (includes only the round-trip boat transfer to Corvo and a tour of some points along the northeast coast of Flores),
- By Atlantico Line ferry (in any case, only for people, you will not be able to take your rental car so you will have to hire a transfer to Caldeirão upon arrival). This service was not operational when we visited the island.
- By plane with Sata, in the shortest flight we made, just 7 minutes. Although we arrived in Corvo by speedboat, after two days we had to return by plane because the sea conditions did not allow the speedboat to leave (we slept 2 nights on the island of Corvo and highly recommend it).
Very important: if you can, Corvo is worth spending at least one or two nights there. The island is much more than its Caldeirão.
Where to stay in Flores (Azores): hotels and apartments with parking
Check out the best areas to stay in Flores and our recommended accommodations in our guide to accommodations in Flores
The best option for Flores is to stay in Fajã Grande or nearby, where there are not only some of the most beautiful spots on the island (Poço Ribeira do Ferreiro, Poço do Bacalhau, Fajã Grande itself) but also some of the best restaurants and accommodations.
The best option for Flores is to stay in Fajã Grande or nearby, where you’ll find not only some of the island’s most beautiful spots (Poço Ribeira do Ferreiro, Poço do Bacalhau, and Fajã Grande itself) but also some of the best restaurants and accommodations. On our second trip to the island of Flores, we stayed in Fajã Grande—a few days at Aldeia da Cuada and a few others at Villas do Mar
But if, just like what happened to us on our first trip to the island, you can’t find a place to stay in Fajã Grande due to lack of availability, remember that on Flores, everything is about a half-hour drive away, so it’s no big deal. On our first trip with Randomtrip, we ended up staying in the island’s capital, Santa Cruz das Flores, where there’s a wider variety of accommodations. At this link, you’ll find a list of accommodations with parking very close to the incredible Natural Pools of Santa Cruz and Poça das Salemas—and we loved it.
Lajes das Flores is another very good option to stay, with excellent restaurants nearby. The point that seems to be farther away for you to look for accommodation on the island of Flores is Ponta Delgada, so this would be the only point on the island where we do not recommend you to make a base.
Where to stay in Fajã Grande and surroundings
- Residence Mateus (50€/night): Simple and comfortable rooms overlooking the impressive Poço do Bacalhau waterfall.
- Palheiro da Assomada (55€/night): A very cozy house with one bedroom and a sofa-bed in the living room with a plus: Flower butter and homemade jam for breakfast.
- Aldeia da Cuada (from 70€/night): Rural tourism in stone houses of different sizes (depending on the number of guests there are houses with 1, 2, 4 or 6 rooms). Each cottage has its own kitchen and outdoor space. Of course, the goal is to connect as much as possible with nature and disconnect from the rest, so there is no TV or WiFi, for that you will have to go to reception or to the (very good) restaurant of the complex. It is undoubtedly the most famous accommodation on the island and you have to book well in advance.
- Moinho da Cascata (from 70€/night): a cottage right next to the Poço do Bacalhau waterfall, the most beautiful on the island. It can accommodate up to 6 people
- Sítio da Assomada (75€/night): A wooden cottage for a couple or family with children, idyllic, with a garden
- Casa Via d’Água (from 80€/night): A 2-bedroom house that accommodates up to 6 people. The garden with hammocks is ideal for relaxing during the day and stargazing at night.
- Alojamentos Flores Island (from 80€/night): Houses from 1 to 3 bedrooms in the village of Fajã Grande. Unbeatable service
- Casa Atlantida (from 85€/night): 1 to 4-bedroom houses facing the Atlantic Ocean, direct access to the sea, barbecue and private parking.
More options where to stay in Fajã Grande here
Where to stay in Fajãzinha
- Casa da Queijaria (65€/night): Are you familiar with Queijaria Pico Redondo? This 2-bedroom house (where up to 5 people can stay), kitchen and sea view is managed by Mrs. Ilda Helriques, the cheese maker. Do you know what that means? Delicious fresh cheese for breakfast and, who knows, a little farewell gift?
- Fajãzinha Cottage (70€/night): A house for 2 people in front of the sea, ideal to enjoy the sunset.
Where to stay in Santa Cruz das Flores
- Casa da Cruz (62€/night): House with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen and terrace (barbecue) with sea views.
- Casas da Quinta (from 75€/night): remodeled one-bedroom houses and one apartment with sea views
- Inatel (from 100€/night): small hotel with double rooms with minimalist decoration overlooking the sea and the island of Corvo.
- Casa Vicente (from 120€/night): a spacious house overlooking the Atlantic. Accommodates up to 5 people.
More options in Santa Cruz das Flores here.
Where to stay in Lajes das Flores
Everything on the island of Flores is really close (with the exception of the northern tip of Ponta Delgada, where we do not recommend staying), so from Lajes das Flores you can move in a short time to the main points of the island, offering good accommodation options. Staying here has a great advantage: its gastronomic offer.
- Casa das Pedras Brancas (from 62€/night): A one-bedroom house with a terrace and incredible views, 100 meters from Praia da Calheta.
- Casa dos Morros (from 65€/night): A one-bedroom house (and sofa bed in the living room), terrace and everything you need, washing machine included.
- Vivenda Joaquim (from 70€/night): One-bedroom house with a terrace with hammocks and sea views, and a vegetable garden from which, with luck, you will be able to taste some vegetables.
- Casa das Flores (from 110€/night): A one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen, living room and terrace overlooking the sea.
More accommodation options in Flores with parking included here
Maps and useful Apps for driving in Flores (Azores)
In this Google Maps map that you can carry on your smartphone to consult at any time we leave you all the places of interest in Flores that we talked about in our complete guide to the island.
Here you can see tourist map with the roads of Flores (click on the image to download it in larger size and resolution).
We recommend that you carry a good holder for your cell phone, to use Google Maps as GPS in the car (and remember to remove it when you deliver the car, in our case we have already forgotten a few) and a powerbank (some cars come with USB charger, but not always and sometimes they charge very slowly).
In addition, we recommend these apps that will be very useful when driving to explore the island of Flores:
- SpotAzores (Android / iOS / Web): here you can see all the existing webcams in different points of the islands to see how the weather is. Because the weather is very changeable and it can be raining in one part of the island and sunny in another, this app is the fastest way to make sure and avoid unnecessary trips.
- Google Maps (Android / iOS): this app is our best friend on the road. Besides working as a GPS, it is the app we use to save/classify all the places we want to go/have gone. You can see other people’s opinions of the places, photos, restaurant menus, phone numbers of the places to contact them, etc.
- Maps.me (Android / iOS): this app is similar to Google Maps but works better offline than the previous one and that’s great in some parts of the island where you lose connection.
- Windy (Android / iOS / Web): essential app for our trips. It allows you to see forecasts not only for wind but also for rain, clouds, etc. to help you plan your days based on the weather (as there are places that lose a lot depending on the weather). Obviously the forecasts are not 100% reliable. It also shows the available webcams
Also, always travel with travel insurance: medical expenses, theft, or flight issues can cost you a fortune, so it’s best to purchase travel insurance.
Azores travel insurance
Do you know what cannot be missing in your luggage? A good travel insurance! We are affiliates of several specialized travel insurance companies and you can get a discount in some of them if you book with us:
Appart from the medical assistance in case something happens when you visit Portugal, the insurance can also cover anything that happen while you get into adventures like hiking, kayaking, snorkeling and diving. Also, if something happens to your luggage (damage, theft, delays, losing it) or if your flight is cancelled or delayed (or, if because a delay you lose another connecting flight), a travel insurance can also help
Carefully read the terms and conditions of each policy and hire the insurance that best suits your needs.
Our experience renting a car in Flores (Azores)
In our case, we’ve visited the island of Flores twice and tried the two main rental companies. With both Autatlantis and Ilha Verde everything went perfectly: the service upon arrival was quick and efficient, the cars were spacious, comfortable, and in good condition, and we didn’t have any problems. Virtually all companies include a deductible in their insurance, and Autatlantis has one of the lowest deductibles (€700, compared to €1,200 at Ilha Verde). As we’ve mentioned, rental car prices in Flores rarely drop below 25€ per day, and—especially in the summer—we recommend booking well in advance to avoid running out of cars or finding that the few available come at exorbitant prices.
Driving through Jurassic Park—sorry, through the roads of Flores—is a real adventure in itself, where you’ll want to stop every few minutes to admire a breathtaking waterfall, a panoramic view that looks like a Windows desktop background, or to escape a T-Rex (though what you’ll actually find are calm, happy cows—but let’s give our imagination free rein). Fortunately, the island’s roads are dotted with several viewpoints for exactly that reason. Stop and enjoy the view, without rushing, whenever possible and safe to do so.
What are you waiting for? Come explore this Portuguese Jurassic Park! Buckle up and… Enjoy your trip through the most beautiful paradise in the Azores!
