There is currently just the 1 ferry route running between Santa Maria and Sao Miguel operated by 1 ferry company – Atlanticoline. The Vila do Porto to Ponta Delgada ferry crossing operates weekly with a scheduled sailing duration from about 3 hours.
Whilst we’ve taken great care to ensure the information on this page is correct, as the frequency and duration of crossings on all routes can vary from time to time we’d advise that you get a live quote for current availability on this Santa Maria Sao Miguel crossing between Vila do Porto and Ponta Delgada.
Santa Maria is the oldest and southernmost island of the Portuguese Azores archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Known locally as ‘the island of the sun’ and ‘the yellow island’, Santa Maria boasts the sunniest climate of the Azores and a landscape characterised by dry vegetation and sandy shorelines.
The island has a rich cultural heritage, too, which is evident in the town of Anjos, the first landfall of Christopher Columbus on his return voyage from the Americas. Also, each traditional home in Santa Maria’s villages has a distinctively coloured chimney in order to contrast with the whitewashed masonry.
Santa Maria also claims the best swimming spots in the archipelago, with a wide choice of stunning beaches and refreshing tidal pools. The most popular beach is Praia Formosa on the south coast which also offers excellent surfing, water skiing and sailing conditions.
Santa Maria is well connected to the other Azorean islands by ferry, with numerous routes provided from its port on the southwest coast to almost every island.
Sao Miguel, the largest island in the Portuguese Azores, measures just over seven hundred squared-kilometres in the North Atlantic.
Two volcanic ranges, three crater lakes and the largest city of the island group, Sao Miguel offers everything that makes this archipelago so wonderful. And although life moves at a gentle pace, there is plenty to excite. The vibrant capital, Ponta Delgada showcases some of the nation’s finest 17th Century architecture, museums and restaurants, whilst the award-winning Terra Nostra Park boasts some excellent walking trails. The most sumptuous views can be found throughout the Furnas valley towards the east, with its beautiful flower-lined lake, botanical garden and countless hot springs.
Sao Miguel is part of the Azorean Eastern Group, with nearly every island providing ferry routes to Ponta Delgada. The journey times can vary considerably from each island, so depending on where you depart, booking some spacious accommodation is advisable.