If you are planning a trip to the beautiful Azores and want to head to Santa Maria, the most southerly and sunniest of this lovely Portuguese archipelago, one option is to fly into the island’s Santa Maria Airport. This is one of three international airports across the chain of nine Portuguese islands and it welcomes daily flights from the Portuguese capital Lisbon as well as connecting international flights from John Paul II Airport on São Miguel, the main island of the Azores.

Santa Maria is known as the sunshine island for its arid, dry climate and pristine white sandy beaches. You’ll land on the western side of the island where the landscape is flat and open but as you head east, the countryside is green and mountainous and the varied scenery makes driving around the island a pleasure.

Our friendly Avis team members at Santa Maria Airport are experts on the local area and ready to welcome you with the perfect rental car for your trip.

You’ll find our Avis counter inside the arrival hall of the small terminal building at Sainta Maria Airport. You’ll be collecting your hire car from the Avis rental car park a short walk from the terminal entrance.

Santa Maria Airport is located 3.1 miles west northwest of the island’s main town of Vila do Porto. From the Avis car park at Santa Maria Airport, the drive into the centre of Vila do Porto takes about 5min. Turn right out of the airport and head south on Avenue de São Miguel, turning onto Avenue Santa Maria to reach the town centre.

Santa Maria’s attractive undulating landscape, pretty villages with whitewashed houses and terracotta roofs, leading down to open sandy beaches, make for the perfect island road trip.

First explore the island’s capital Vila do Porto on a stroll through the old town to the 17th century São Bras Fortress with its canons reputedly used to protect the island from pirates, take pictures in Largo de Nossa Senhora de Conceição Square, the town’s impressive main square restored in 2020 and dine in one of the restaurants popular with locals.

Head east from Vila do Porto to the famous waterfalls at Aveiro. A 20km drive of around 30min via the EN1-2A gets you to one of the island’s most popular destinations, Cascata do Aveiro which at 100m high, is among the highest waterfalls in Portugal.

For heights of a different kind, take the short drive inland to the slopes of Pico Alto. At 590 metres, it’s the highest point on the island and there are hiking trails to the summit near an old military building which gives views across Santa Maria.

Hiring a car at Santa Maria Airport gives you the flexibility and freedom to explore this lovely Azores island at your own pace.

The Avis team at Santa Maria Airport is ready to offer advice on the best places to go and to help make your car rental run smoothly from the moment you touch down.

Blessed with good roads over most of the island, routes in more mountainous parts can be narrow with passing places. Be aware that as in mainland Europe, you’ll be driving on the right-hand side of the road as you leave the airport.