Azores Sailing Trips & Tours — FAQ

“GoWhereTheWindWillTakeYou” is more than a motto. It is the way we sail.

“The answer my friend is blowing in the wind,” said Bob Dylan.

At SailZen, we respect the rhythm of the ocean, the wind and the weather. We do not force fixed routes when the sea suggests something better. Each experience is planned with care, but the final route and activities are always adapted to the conditions of the day.

This means your sailing experience may include a coastal route, time at anchor, swimming, snorkeling, island views or simply a beautiful sail — always with safety, comfort and the best possible sea conditions as our priority.

You are on holiday. We ask you to trust the ocean, trust the crew, and enjoy where the wind takes us.

A Tour is a shorter sailing experience, usually lasting a few hours. Tours can include morning, afternoon, sunset or full-day experiences around São Miguel. You enjoy the boat, the sea and the coastline, but you do not sleep onboard.

A Trip is a multi-day liveaboard sailing experience. During a trip, you sleep onboard our catamaran Explora and explore São Miguel or other islands of the Azores over several days.

In simple words:
Tours are day experiences. Trips are multi-day liveaboard adventures.

A SailZen liveaboard trip is ideal for guests who want to experience life at sea in a personal, authentic and comfortable way.

You may sail between islands, swim in deep blue water, enjoy fresh food onboard, discover local places, observe marine life naturally, and spend time surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.

Life onboard also means sharing space with other guests and crew. Respect, flexibility and good common sense are essential so everyone can enjoy a positive and relaxed atmosphere.

You do not need previous sailing experience. You only need curiosity, respect for the sea and a willingness to enjoy a different rhythm of travel.

Please note that sailing trips can be physically demanding. Guests should be able to move around the boat safely, use stairs, board and disembark, and sometimes get in and out of the dinghy. If you have physical limitations, please contact us before booking. We will always be honest and try to find the best solution with you.

On a shared tour or trip, you join other like-minded guests onboard. The experience is shared, friendly and guided by the group atmosphere.

On a private tour or trip, the boat is reserved for your group. This gives you a more personal and flexible experience, especially for families, couples, groups of friends, celebrations or small company moments.

For day tours, our VIP Experience is private for up to 8 guests, our Classic Experience can welcome up to 21 guests, and our shared tours are limited to 12 guests to maintain comfort and quality onboard.

Accommodation is available during our multi-day liveaboard sailing trips aboard catamaran Explora.

An en-suite cabin has a private toilet and shower inside the cabin.

A shared bathroom cabin means the bathroom is located in the hallway and may be shared with other guests or crew.

The double bed size is approximately 140 cm x 200 cm.

The queen-size bed is approximately 160 cm x 200 cm.

Half-board means that not every meal during the trip is served onboard.

Breakfast is normally served onboard. Depending on the sailing plan, weather conditions and island stops, some lunches or dinners may be enjoyed ashore.

This allows guests to discover local restaurants, taste island cuisine and enjoy the Azores beyond the boat. It also gives the crew more time to focus on sailing, planning, safety and activities.

When we are underway or when going ashore is not practical, meals may be prepared and served onboard according to the trip plan.

Before your sailing trip, we ask guests to share dietary requirements, allergies and food preferences. Based on this information, we do our best to prepare suitable meals onboard.

Whenever possible, we choose seasonal ingredients, local products and suppliers from the Azores. We value simple, fresh and honest food — the kind that fits life at sea.

Depending on the trip and availability, meals may include local vegetables, fruit, cheese, bread, fish, meat or other island products.

We try to be responsible consumers by choosing local suppliers, avoiding unnecessary packaging when possible, and preparing food with care and respect.

To ensure a smooth, safe and high-quality experience for everyone onboard, outside food and drinks are not permitted during SailZen tours.

Drinks are available onboard through our SailZen Floating Bar. Exceptions apply for children and guests with medical requirements.

For selected private experiences and multi-day trips, food and drinks may already be included or adapted according to the experience booked.

Extra expenses may include alcoholic drinks, unless you have booked a package that includes them.

Food and drinks consumed ashore, restaurant meals, rental cars, third-party activities, taxis, entrance fees or any personal expenses on land are not included unless clearly stated in your booking.

We always recommend checking what is included in your specific tour or trip before confirming.

Our catamaran Explora is spacious and stable, but the Azores are Atlantic islands and some boat movement is always possible.

If you are sensitive to seasickness, we recommend speaking with a doctor or pharmacist before your tour or trip and preparing in advance. Eating lightly, staying hydrated and looking at the horizon can also help.

SailZen is a small local sailing company with one boat, one crew and a limited sailing season. For this reason, availability can be very limited, especially during the summer.

We recommend booking as early as possible, especially for private tours, multi-day trips, special dates, families, groups and high-season requests.

Your date is only secured once the booking is officially confirmed according to the payment conditions.

You can book directly through our website, contact form, WhatsApp or by email at booking@sailzen.net.

For standard tours, you may use the online booking calendar when available.

For private tours, corporate moments, custom requests or multi-day sailing trips, we recommend contacting us directly so we can help you choose the best option according to your dates, group size, expectations and weather window.

SailZen is not a standard boat ride. Our experiences are built around comfort, safety, local knowledge, professional crew, a spacious sailing catamaran and a more personal way to explore the Azores.

When you book with SailZen, you are not only paying for time onboard. You are paying for a carefully prepared sailing experience, a licensed local operation, experienced crew, boat maintenance, safety equipment, insurance, port costs, taxes, quality products and the flexibility required to operate at sea.

For multi-day trips, the price may also include accommodation onboard, meals, crew, sailing logistics, island-to-island planning and the experience of travelling through the Azores without changing hotels, packing every day or depending on fixed land schedules.

Our goal is not to be the cheapest option. Our goal is to offer a safe, beautiful and memorable sailing experience with real value.

Payment conditions depend on the type of experience booked.

For private day tours, SailZen normally requests full prepayment to confirm the booking.

For multi-day sailing trips, if the booking is made more than 56 days before departure, a 50% deposit is normally required to confirm the reservation, with the remaining balance due 56 days before departure.

If the booking is made within 56 days of departure, full payment is normally required to confirm the trip.

Payment may be made by bank transfer or by credit card payment link. Please note that card payment fees may apply when using a payment link.

Any bank transfer or intermediary fees are the responsibility of the client. The final amount received by SailZen must match the agreed booking value.

For shared multi-day trips, all guests should normally be at least 12 years old. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult responsible for them.

For private tours and private trips, age flexibility may be possible depending on the experience, group, weather conditions and safety considerations.

Passengers aged 70 or above may be asked to travel with a trusted companion, especially on shared multi-day trips.

If you are travelling with children, elderly guests, pregnant guests or anyone with reduced mobility, please contact us before booking so we can advise honestly and safely.

Cancellation conditions depend on the type of experience, booking channel and specific terms accepted at the time of booking.

If you need to cancel, please contact us as soon as possible at booking@sailzen.net.

For private day tours, cancellation terms are normally based on the booking conditions accepted during reservation. Late cancellations, travel delays, flight disruption or no-shows may not be refundable.

For multi-day sailing trips, deposits and payments are subject to the cancellation policy agreed at the time of booking. Because SailZen has limited availability and each confirmed trip blocks the boat, crew and operational planning, late cancellations may not be refundable.

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your booking in case of unexpected travel changes, delays, illness, personal circumstances or flight disruption.

Safety always comes first.

If SailZen decides that the weather or sea conditions are not safe or suitable for the booked experience, we will first try to reschedule, subject to availability.

If rescheduling is not possible and SailZen cancels the experience for safety reasons, the applicable refund conditions will follow the booking terms accepted at the time of reservation.

Routes, departure times, anchorages and activities may also be adapted before or during the experience according to weather, wind, swell, visibility and safety.

If you arrive late, miss the departure, cannot reach the island due to flight disruption, or do not show up for reasons outside SailZen’s control, the booking may be considered a late cancellation or no-show according to the applicable terms.

Travel disruption, missed flights, illness, personal emergencies or changes in travel plans should be covered by personal travel insurance.

We will always try to help where possible, but SailZen cannot be responsible for travel issues outside our operation.

SailZen’s vessel is insured according to Portuguese maritime requirements and our legal operation.

However, this does not replace personal travel insurance.

Guests are responsible for arranging their own personal insurance, including medical expenses, travel disruption, evacuation and repatriation, lost personal belongings, third-party liability and trip cancellation.

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance before travelling to the Azores.

We cannot choose insurance for you, but we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers cancellation, medical expenses, travel disruption, missed flights, repatriation and personal belongings.

Before purchasing, please read the policy carefully and make sure it covers sailing activities, trip cancellation and travel disruption related to your situation.

Yes. You may choose to start or finish your sailing trip on another island of the Azores archipelago.

As SailZen is based in Vila Franca do Campo, São Miguel, a boat relocation fee applies when the trip starts or ends in another port. This fee is calculated at €10 per nautical mile, according to the required repositioning distance.

Possible start or finish locations may include, for example, Horta in Faial or Angra do Heroísmo in Terceira, depending on availability, weather conditions and the planned route.

The Azores are a Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, made up of nine volcanic islands surrounded by deep ocean, dramatic coastlines, green landscapes and rich marine life.

The islands are divided into three groups:

Eastern Group: São Miguel and Santa Maria
Central Group: Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial
Western Group: Flores and Corvo

SailZen is based in Vila Franca do Campo, on the south coast of São Miguel Island.

SailZen’s main sailing season usually runs from May to October, when conditions are generally more favourable for sailing tours and multi-day trips.

Even during the season, the Azores remain Atlantic islands. Weather, wind, swell and visibility can change quickly, so flexibility is part of every sailing experience.

No. Routes are never guaranteed in advance.

Every SailZen tour or trip depends on weather and sea conditions. The crew chooses the safest and most enjoyable route according to wind, waves, visibility, comfort and the experience booked.

Sometimes the best route is not the longest one. Sometimes it is simply the one the ocean allows.

SailZen can sail near or around the Islet of Vila Franca do Campo when conditions allow, offering beautiful views from the sea.

However, entering or anchoring inside the islet is not possible due to local regulations. Access to the inside of the islet is only available through the official ferry service.

With SailZen, the experience is different: we enjoy the islet from the perspective of a sailing catamaran, surrounded by ocean, wind and the volcanic landscape of São Miguel.

No. SailZen is not a licensed whale-watching operator, so we do not sell, advertise or promise whale or dolphin watching tours.

During sailing tours and longer trips, natural encounters with marine wildlife may sometimes happen. Dolphins, whales, turtles and seabirds can appear naturally in the Atlantic Ocean, but these encounters are unpredictable and never guaranteed.

If wildlife appears, we enjoy the moment respectfully, without chasing animals or changing the nature of the sailing experience.

Our focus is sailing, the ocean, the coastline, island discovery and life onboard.

Yes, swimming and snorkeling may be possible when sea conditions, visibility and safety allow.

The crew will decide the best and safest option on the day. In the Azores, the ocean is beautiful but powerful, so we never force an activity when conditions are not suitable.

For selected VIP or private experiences, guided snorkeling may be included or arranged according to the booking.

For day tours, we recommend bringing:

• Swimwear
• Towel, if not included in your experience
• Sunscreen
• Hat or cap
• Light jacket or windbreaker
• Comfortable shoes or sandals white non-marking soles. Boots are not acepted
• Sunglasses
• Any personal medication you may need

Boots are not accepted onboard.

For multi-day trips, we recommend packing light and using soft bags instead of hard suitcases, as storage onboard is limited.

For guests sailing from Vila Franca do Campo, staying nearby can be very convenient, especially before early departures.

There are several accommodation options in Vila Franca do Campo, Ponta Delgada and other parts of São Miguel. If you are joining a multi-day trip, we recommend booking accommodation and flights only after receiving your SailZen booking confirmation.

If needed, we can suggest local options depending on your itinerary and embarkation point.

We recommend booking your flights once your SailZen reservation is confirmed.

Flights to the Azores can become expensive when booked late, especially during high season. Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel Island, is the main airport for most SailZen guests.

There are regular connections from mainland Portugal and selected international routes, including Lisbon, Porto, Boston and Toronto, depending on the season and airline schedule.

Always allow enough time between your flight arrival and sailing departure, especially for multi-day trips. Flight delays, cancellations or travel disruption are not SailZen’s responsibility and should be covered by travel insurance.

Useful weather and sea condition tools for the Azores include:

• SpotAzores, for local webcams
• Windy
• Windguru
• IPMA / Meteo.pt

Please remember that weather forecasts are only forecasts. SailZen will always make the final operational decision based on safety, local knowledge and real sea conditions.

Useful official and local resources include:

• Visit Azores
• Regional tourism information
• Local municipality websites
• Cultural and nature tourism platforms

For sailing-related decisions, routes and timing, we recommend speaking directly with SailZen, as sea conditions and local logistics can strongly affect the best plan.

Visit Azores

DestinAzores

ByAcores

Inspirock