Flores measures over 12 km long and about 10 km wide as the crow flies. However, it is very hilly and therefore you will have to use public transport, taxis or travel by rental car.
Travelling by car
Many of the natural attractions, or more accurately most of them, can only be reached by car or by day hikes.
Therefore, renting a car is the most common option for getting around Flores.
We've compiled a detailed section on prices, traffic rules and attractions - read Car rental on Flores.
Bus
Public bus services are provided by UTC. Bus stops are only in the villages and never outside the villages, so you won't be able to take a bus to any of the areas of the central plateau, for example.
Buses only run from Monday to Friday. There are no buses at all on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (even if they fall on a day between Monday and Friday).
Timetables, routes and stops
There are a total of 5 bus routes on the island.
- Route 1: Santa Cruz (incl. airport) - Monte - Fazenda Santa Cruz - Cedros - Ponta Ruiva - Ponta Delgada
- The whole route 2 times a day (3 times a day on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays)
- Santa Cruz - Fazenda up to 5 times a day
- Timetable for the direction Ponta Delgada: iputc.beware.pt/Horario.GO
- Timetable for Santa Cruz: iputc.beware.pt/Horario.RETURN
- Route 2: Santa Cruz - Ribeira dos Barqueiros - Boavista - Cavenda - Lomba - Fazenda - Lajes
- The entire route 4 times a day
- On the Lomba - Lajes section up to 6 times a day
- Timetable for Lajes direction: iputc.beware.pt/Horario.GO
- Timetable for Santa Cruz: iputc.beware.pt/Horario.RETURN
- Route 3: Lajes - Costa Lajedo - Lajedo - Mosteiro - Fajãzinha - Fajã Grande
- Entire route 2x daily
- On the Lajedo - Lajes section up to 3 times a day
- Timetable for the direction of Faja Grande: iputc.beware.pt/Horario.GO
- Timetable for Lajes: iputc.beware.pt/Horario.RETURN
- Route 4: Santa Cruz - Mosteiro - Fajãzinha - Fajã Grande
- Entire route 1x per day
- Timetable for the direction Faja Grande: iputc.beware.pt/Horario.GO
- Timetable for the direction Santa Cruz: iputc.beware.pt/Horario.RETURN
- Route 5: Santa Cruz - Fajã Grande (non-stop)
- Entire route 2x daily (runs only in July and August)
- Timetable for the direction Faja Grande: iputc.beware.pt/Horario.GO
- Timetable for Santa Cruz direction: iputc.beware.pt/Horario.RETURN
The stops are always marked with a blue sign with the bus symbol. At the bus stops in the centres of the largest municipalities, the timetable of all the lines on the island is also posted in the same form as it is on the official website: utc.pt/horario-flores.
The different routes have are marked with different letters to indicate the following:
- A = runs Monday-Friday all year round, including non-school days (except public holidays when it does not run)
- A1 = runs Monday-Friday all year round only on non-school days (except public holidays when it does not run)
- B = runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday including days when school is not in session (except public holidays when it does not run)
- C = runs only on Tuesdays and Thursdays all year round, including days when school is not in session (except public holidays when it does not run)
- E = runs only on school days
- V = runs Monday-Friday only in July and August
- M.C. = extra bus in Santa Cruz runs through the school and church stops
Fares and tickets
Tickets can only be purchased from the driver, where you can only pay with cash.
Ticket prices are low and are calculated according to distance. The price ranges between 1,20 eur and 5 eur.
Taxi
The island of Flores has too few residents and tourists for taxis to wait at designated places for their passengers.
Taxis here operate by telephone appointment only, which is most easily arranged through your accommodation.
Taxis can also be booked through some tourist agencies, such as Noya Tours.
