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Flores Island is one of the smallest islands in the Azores, so you might think it doesn’t matter where you stay. Quite the opposite! It’s an island full of limitations (in terms of supermarkets, access to healthcare, network coverage, etc. ) so for me the choice of where to stay in Flores Island should be strategic.
Besides, it must be noted that, precisely because it is a small island, it does not exist as a propriamente hotel. There are apartments that can be enjoyed, or quartos that can be accommodated by local thoughts. That’s it!
So, read this guide on where to stay in Flores, so you don’t end up in the wrong place.
No time for a long article? Here’s a summary
Flores island is a small island with few accommodation options. There are NO hotels, only apartments, houses and bedrooms for rent. And they get sold out with MONTHS in advance!
These are the best places to stay:
- Santa Cruz das Flores: Casas da Quinta and A Quinta das Flores – Casa do Miradouro (full houses), Casa dos Botes and Villa Cedros (bedrooms).
- Fajã Grande: Villas do Mar (fantastic, modern houses). Second options: Fontinha Terrace View House, Spot Milasmar or Casa do Pátio.
- Aldeia da Cuada, for a unique country house stay.
- Lajes das Flores: Sítio da Assumada.
These are the best places to stay in Flores Island
Santa Cruz das Flores
Santa Cruz das Flores is a municipality located in the northeastern half of the Flores island. It is bordered to the southeast by the municipality of Lajes das Flores and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean in other directions.
In my opinion, it is BY FAR the best place to stay in Flores island, not because of its natural beauty but because it is strategically located. After all, it is where you will find the Flores airport, the only health center on the island and one of its two pharmacies.
Furthermore, and despite being a tiny village, it has several supermarkets and the only butcher on the island (as I already explained in this article, it is very difficult to find fresh meat in Flores island).
In terms of tourist attractions, this is also where you will find the natural pools of Santa Cruz das Flores (they are truly beautiful) as well as several interesting museums: the Museum S. Boaventura convent and the Whaling factory.
It also has a central location, which allows you to reach any point on the island, from north to south, by car in 30 minutes.
What’s the catch?
I honestly didn’t find any. I really think it’s the best place to stay in Flores island.
Where to stay in Flores island – Santa Cruz das Flores:
There are a couple of great places where you can stay in Santa Cruz das Flores. I particularly like Casas da Quinta, which are these fantastic one-bedroom apartments located very near the airport. The apartments have a lovely porch overlooking the island, that I particularly liked :)
Another fantastic apartment is A Quinta das Flores – Casa do Miradouro.
If you don’t need a full apartment and would be happy with just a room, nothings quite beats Casa dos Botes and Villa Cedros!
Fajã Grande
Fajã Grande is a pretty village located on the western edge of Flores Island.
It is located close to many points of interest on the islands, namely its famous waterfalls (Cascata do Poço do Bacalhau and Cascata da Ribeira do Ferreiro) as well as the famous crater lakes on Flores island.
On the other hand, there is a nice café there, Café da Laura, and a restaurant that is very popular among tourists, called Papadiamandis Restaurante-Bar.
It is also the place where you can see the most beautiful sunset on the island.
What’s the catch?
Well, there are actually a few disadvantages to staying in Fajã Grande. The first has to do with logistical considerations: although Fajã Grande is reasonably pretty, there is absolutely nothing there – no supermarkets, no pharmacies, nothing at all. There are only one or two small grocery stores, and that’s it. This means that you will have to plan your trip VERY carefully if you are staying there.
On the other hand, there is no direct connection between Fajã Grande and the northern tip of the island, Ponta Delgada. In other words, if you want to visit Ponta Delgada, you will have to drive a bit to get there. This is not a big deal to me because Ponta Delgada is not exactly a must-see , but it could be a negative point for you if you fancy running around the entire island.
Where to stay in Flores island – Fajã Grande:
You should try as much as possible to stay at Villas do Mar, these fantastic, modern houses located right in front of the ocean. They are suuuper comfortable and they are BY FAR one of the best places to stay in Flores island.
If they are not available, then try Fontinha Terrace View House, Spot Milasmar or Casa do Pátio. They are not as nice or modern but they will do the trick!
Cuada Village
The village of Cuada, which dates back to the 17th century, has a curious history.
In the 1960s, the village’s inhabitants emigrated to various countries, mainly to America, leaving the village abandoned. Since then, Teotónia and Carlos Silva have been rebuilding the village, trying to never lose the connection with the past and the original building lines, preserving the stone houses, but adapting them to all the current requirements for a dream stay.
So, at the moment Aldeia da Cuada consists of a village of 16 houses, connected to each other by small stone roads, and with a restaurant with a lovely view.
It really is a cute and photogenic place, as if you had suddenly moved in with the hobbits from Lord of the Rings. :)
What’s the catch?
Aldeia da Cuada is less than 10 minutes away from Fajã Grande, so it has exactly the same kind of limitations.
Furthermore, you cannot drive into the village, which means that every day you have to walk 5 to 10 minutes (depending on the house where you are staying) until you reach your car, which is in the village car park).
The streets of the village are traditional streets, made up of huge cobblestones, so it is not the most comfortable experience in the world to carry your suitcases from the car to your house in Aldeia da Cuada.
Where to stay in Flores island – Aldeia da Cuada:
You should book your stay at Aldeia da Cuada as soon as possible, as it gets sold out almost one year in advance.
Lajes das Flores
Lajes das Flores is my last recommendation for where to stay on Flores Island. In terms of size, it is the second largest municipality in Flores, only surpassed by Santa Cruz.
Here you will find the island’s second pharmacy, as well as the only sandy beach. There is also a very beautiful lighthouse.
And, although it is not exactly close to anything , it is well connected to all the attractions on the island.
What’s the catch?
I would say that the only problem with Lajes das Flores is that a) it is an ugly place and b) the restaurants, although there are several, are all pretty poor.
Where to stay in Flores island – Lajes das Flores:
BY FAR the best place to stay in Lajes das Flores is Sítio da Assumada. It is GORGEOUS and it has a fabulous location, not quite in the centre of Lajes das Flores, in a quieter location.
