A long thin island 56ks long and only 8ks wide São Jorge can be the subject of a day trip from Faial or Pico but with the recent completion of the Estalagem das Velas it now has some accommodation. It is famous for the São Jorge cheese.

Owing to the historical collapse of cliffs, flat areas are formed which are called "fajas" and there are many of them along the coast. All of them have been converted into fertile orchards and fields where yams, maze and vegetables are grown. Due to micro climates it is possible to grow coffee, tea, tropical fruits and the beautiful dragon trees in some of them.

From the high points of the Island one can see four Islands, Graçiosa, Faial, Pico and on a really clear day Terçeira.

It is interesting to visit the village of Urselina where a volcanic eruption in 1808 destroyed the village and buried the church in lava so that only the bell tower is now visible.

The Island is a haven of tranquility; it is covered in small fields, inhabited by hundreds of cows, with few cars and only a handful of taxis, the local traffic consisting largely of farmers sitting on the backs of their long suffering donkeys bringing the milk home in churns carried in panniers.

In short there is very little to do in the Island except to walk the hills, appreciate the peaceful scenery, watch the fish from the old harbour wall in Velas and to relax.

The town of Velas is a small and very photogenic fishing port and has great charm. A natural swimming pool on the outskirts is well equipped with facilities for bathing.

The port of Calhetas is an alternative terminal for the inter-island boats and is about 45 minutes drive from Velas.

Try "O Tava" near the airport for local dishes and seafood (run by an Azorean couple who have spent years in Canada) or Restaurant "Beira-Mar" in the centre of Velas where lulas (baby squid) are a delicacy and incidentally incredibly inexpensive.

Approximate distance from Airport to Velas = 15 minutes drive.