Azores - Bio-Security
COVID-19:
- All Covid restrictions for entry into the Azores were lifted July 2022.
- It is recommended that vaccination certificates are carried should regulations change without prior notice.
Our thanks to Duncan Sweet of MAYS for assisting with updating the protocols throughout the Pandemic.
Resources:
- www.visitazores.com
- Azores Government Covid-19 Page (translate button bottom left)
- Peter Café Sport Facebook page.
Reports:
History:
- On 12 March, 2020, all ports in the archipelago closed to foreign yachts, except 3 (Horta, Ponta Delgada and Angra do Heroismo).
- On 18 March the President of Portugal declared a national State of Emergency.
- Yachts were still allowed to call for supplies, but had to get authorization to enter the harbor’s quarantine area and no crew were allowed ashore.
- Mid Atlantic Yacht Services and Peter Café Sport did an incredible job with coordinating provisioning, supply and repair needs of yachts in transit.
- On 15 June, new procedures were introduced to allow sailors to get ashore. Horta and Ponta Delgada were the only ports of entry. Testing on arrival was put in place, but waived for many boats that had arrived in the Azores after a long passage with no symptoms of Covid on board.
- As flights opened up from Lisbon, new Covid cases were identified on the Islands in July. The system for arrivals put in place in June 2020 continued, however all arrivals had to be tested or crew were not allowed ashore. Additional testing on day 6 and 12 was also required.
- Spring 2021 the requirement for additional testing was removed and entry with an EU vaccination card meant no testing was required.
- July 2022 all restricitons were lifted.
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
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In the Azores, Horta is welcoming yachts already from across the Atlantic and their busy season is in full swing. Duncan Sweet of MAYS, a company dedicated to ocean cruising sailors, reports “the main waterfront thoroughfare in Horta has been given a serious rebuild over the winter with on-going work to complete a new laundry and showers complex to the south of the Yacht Club (Club Naval da Horta). Until these are completed, the original laundry, toilets and showers by the marina bar, are still operational.
The Island of Sao Jorge is having a seismic episode at the moment – some 20,000 tremors in the last two weeks. No-one really knows what, if anything, this portends – earthquake or lava effusion – however visiting yachts should be aware. The tremors are mostly in the Velas area where the main town and marina are.
You can come directly to Santa Maria – Vila do Porto !
We arrived in Horta June 17th. The COVID test is free and results back in 24 hours. All very organized and the marina, maritime police, and Peter Cafe Sport all doing an amazing job to support boats. With a negative test result document we went to Velas, São Jorge and Angra de Heroismo, Terceira; cleared in through the local marinas and anchored in both places free of charge. Ponta Delgada is not requiring COVID test for entry.
Please note – the above comment is not true. Horta and Ponta Delgada remain the only open ports of entry and at BOTH PORTS a SARS-Cov-2 test will be required on arrival, unless the regional health authority waives it in view of the non-stop travel time and the absence of symptoms. A passage time of more than 14 days is seen as voluntary quarantine. If test results are negative you will be given permission to go ashore.
s/v DellaMyra departs today, 22nd June, 2020, for Horta and Falmouth,UK
lone sailor . MMSI235102055
Hurricane Lorenzo struck the western Azores in October, destroying the breakwater at Lajes, Flores. Until repairs are complete, this port is unusable.
Ponta Delgada is a convenient place to enter the Azores : nice city, facilities for provisioning, skilled professionals if repairs are needed. But there are some issues :
– the local police considered me as highly suspect because I stopped in Ponta Delgada and not Horta like everybody ! So I had a complete police search, including drug search with dog.
– the professionals like the famous Thomas and JB Electronica don’t accept payment with credit cards, only cash or bank transfer. Cash is not possible beyond a small amount, so bank transfer is the only solution, which implies delays and possible errors on the bank apps. It is what happened to me and at my next stop in Gibraltar my mail box was full of complaining and threatening e-mails, saying I would be designed to all ports as a robber ! Visitors should make a strong pressure on these people for accepting credit cards like anywhere in the world (and in Sao Miguel by all shops and restaurants) to avoid such problems.
Just spent a fortnight here in ponta delgada marina in unsettled weather,in my opinion it is untenable in any strong south,south east or southwest winds.We had so many boats break lines and fenders.I bought a pump from Thomas through bank transfer,he put it on ferry to Santa Maria(€4.80) and the total time took 2 days.
I just watched a you tube video of a couple who were charged an engine tax based upon the weight and power of their engine. They had an electric engine which should have been exempt but were forced to pay upon threat of their boat being impounded. They were also charred a lighthouse tax. Neither are mentioned in the formalities section. Report here:-
https://youtu.be/PSm5SbcBHUQ
The old page was perfect, This is useless
couln not agree more
Must do’s if you have time on Terceira:
1. Go to the local town where there is a “running of the bulls” that particular evening (they move them from town to town). The reason to go is more to observe the way the locals commune around this event than to see the bulls themselves, who are given stimulants and then downers when they are still in their bright red boxes before being released to put on their show.
2. Terceira has several interesting caves that are worth visiting, donning the requisite hard hats, and exploring on a guided tour.
3. Lastly, driving across the island and enjoying the miles of hydrangeas lining the roads is another not-to-miss experience on Terceira in the spring/summer.