Horta - Profile

Horta is located on the SE coast of Faial, which is the smallest of the three "Triangle Islands". The island has one of the main airports in the Azores and Horta itself owes its importance to its sheltered harbour. The town has several beautiful old buildings.
Almost every concrete wall and surface here is covered with paintings done by boats that have stopped here. It is tradition to leave a painting behind (and your paint if you have any left) to commemorate your voyage.

The volcanic eruption of the 1950's is well documented in the cruising guides, but the Island also suffered a major earthquake in 1998, measuring more than 6 on the Richter scale, severely damaging many buildings.

Position 38°32.1'N, 28°37.18'W (harbour entrance)

Webcam Horta, Faial

For full details on clearing into and out of the Azores see noonsite's Azores Formalities.

On arrival yachts should berth alongside the reception quay (minimum depth 3m). As you pass through the breakwater entrance turn to port and follow the breakwater on your starboard side to the end. To starboard is a two story white building (fuel pumps can easily be seen at its Northern end). This is the "reception dock."

The marina office is open 0800-1200, 1300-2000 (seven days a week in the high season April to June).

The offices of Immigration, maritime police, Customs (Alfandega) and Guarda Nacional Republicana are next to the marina office in the same building. The marina staff will inform the captain of the order in which these officials must be visited, both on arrival and at departure. Normally it will be Harbour Master first, then Immigration and finally Customs, who may or may not be there, depending if a cruise ship has just arrived.

The marina office will assign a berth once clearance is completed. Yachts arriving after office hours should wait at the reception quay until the next morning.

On departure, first pay the marina fees, then take the receipt to the Guarda Nacional Republicana and the Capitania for outward clearance.

Last updated June 2017.

It is forbidden for boats, local or visiting, to anchor at Porto Pim (south of Horta) due to the optical fibre submarine cable laid there.

Although the marina at Horta officially has "300 berths", this includes raft-ups. Along the jetty wall, yachts can raft up to 3 deep in busy season.

There are two marina basins, north and south. Majority of yachts must expect to raft up against the marina wall in the northern basin, however pontoon berths will be allocated if possible. Due to the turnover of yacht traffic, new places on the pontoons and wall become available daily, so expect to move during your stay. Long mooring lines are useful when rafted out.

When contacting the marina, it may be difficult to get a response via e-mail. Telephoning is the best method of communication.

Last updated June 2017.