Share This Article
One of the things I really DON’T like about Flores island is that it rains A LOT. Therefore, if you are already in Flores and facing really shitty weather, don’t despair! Instead, read this article about what to do on a rainy day in Flores Island :)
How is the weather in Flores Island?
According to the website WeatherSpark, “In Flores Island the summers are short, warm, muggy, dry, and windy; the winters are long, cool, wet, and extremely windy; and it is partly cloudy year round”.
The problem in this Azores island is not so much the cold (it rarely gets below 50ºF (10ºC), but rather the rain and the deep fog.
The probability of days with precipitation in Flores Island varies significantly throughout the year, but is ALWAYS higher than in the other Azorean islands.
In fact, there is a period of greatest precipitation that lasts for more than 6 months, from September 23rd to April 5th, with a probability of over 26% of a given day having precipitation.
The dry season lasts 5.6 months, from April 5th to September 23rd. But I have been to Flores in April, May and September and I ALWAYS got a lot of rain because, in fact, it rains throughout the entire year in Flores Island. =/
What to do on a rainy day in Flores Island
Visit the Flores museum
There is a small museum in Santa Cruz and visiting it is, in fact, one of the best things to do on a rainy day in Flores island.
This museum is called the Museu das Flores and is housed in an old 17th-century convent of São Boaventura, combining the museum space with the old chapel.
The museum is surprisingly interesting, with records of the most significant moments in the history of Flores, from its discovery to the present day.
I would highlight the documentary about the French presence on the island, in the context of the Cold War, the explanations about corsairs and pirates and artefacts that portray the lifestyle and livelihood of the Florentines.
There is also a great informative video about a shipwreck.
In addition, when visiting the museum you can also take a look at the painted roof of the convent church, which is beautiful!
At the entrance there is a small bookstore with books about the island and Flores and by Azorean authors.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5:30pm. Closed on Mondays.
Visit the Whale Factory
Whaling was one of the most important activities in the Azores until the mid-1970s. So, one of the best things to do on a rainy day in Flores island is undoubtedly to visit the Boqueirão Whale Factory in Santa Cruz das Flores.
The museum tells the story of the Azores’ relationship with whales, from the beginning of their hunting to their current preservation. Throughout the museum, we follow each stage, from exploration, fishing, transport to the dock, to the cutting and preparation of the by-products.
You can see the machinery of the factory that was still in operation in the 1980s, as well as see a preserved whaling boat (and learn how they were built).
I had already visited several museums dedicated to the whaling industry (I think it was on Pico island, if memory serves me right), but I liked this museum in Flores the most.
Visiting it is a tough experience for animal lovers, but this place also preserves the memory of brave men who risked their lives facing sperm whales in 10m long wooden boats to support their families.
Those were very hard times, with a lot of poverty. Thank goodness they are over, and we can learn about that time at the Boqueirão Whale Factory!
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Try Monica’s crepes
If you’re a digital nomad and need to get some work done, I highly recommend Big Love by Monica’s. It’s a super cute café in Santa Cruz das Flores where you can order sandwiches, French crepes and even bagels.
I really liked the atmosphere and the internet works quite well, so I ended up spending a lot of time there.
The only problem with Big Love by Monica’s is its opening hours: it’s only open from 12pm to 6pm, and it’s closed on weekends.
Opening hours: from Monday to Friday from 12pm to 6pm. It’s closed on weekends.
Pray at the Santa Cruz das Flores church
From the terrace of Big Love by Monica’s you can see a very beautiful church, which is the largest church on the island of Flores. Built in 1859, it is, in my opinion, one of the most impressive and beautiful churches in the Azorean archipelago.
The façade surrounded by two towers stands out, and inside, the main chapel has a magnificent altar.
As a Catholic, I didn’t mind taking shelter in this magnificent church on a rainy day in Flores island :)
Try a milk queijada at Café da Laura
I discovered a small café in Fajã Grande by chance. It’s called Café da Laura and, although it’s not as welcoming as Big Love by Monica’s, it’s still a nice café, especially for those staying on the west coast of Flores Island.
Café da Laura serves sandwiches and cakes (the omelette sandwich is especially good), but what you REALLY should try there are the queijadas de leite, because they’re really delicious :) So, it’s the ideal place to have breakfast, a light lunch or simply to wait for the rain to stop.
In my opinion, Café da Laura only has one (BIG) problem: although they have internet, they don’t share it with their customers. It’s ridiculous!
Opening hours: Thursday to Tuesday, from 7am to 3pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
Admire a water mill
Right at the start of the Ribeira Grande waterfall trail, there is a mill from 1862. It is extremely rare to see mills with an ancient operating method, like this one, still in operation. On the other hand, there is usually a lady there, at the request of the city council, who will be able to answer any questions you may have about the mill. It is an incredible educational experience!
Opening hours: Sunday to Friday, 1pm to 5pm. Closed on Saturdays.
Rainy day in Flores island: final notes
If you’ve been reading my articles you should know, by now, that you shouldn’t even bother to make any plans without checking the weather on WindGuru, one of the best apps to use in the Azores.
There is an extra trick that I can teach you about the Flores island:
If it’s raining and you think it’s a good time to go by car to see the lake craters in Flores, first check if the island is covered in clouds!
How do you do this? It’s simple: go to the Spot Azores website and check the webcam installed on the island of Corvo, which is located opposite the island of Flores. If the island of Flores is covered in clouds in the image, then it’s not worth trying to go to the lake craters because you won’t see anything. You’re welcome ;)
