top of page
Program
Get
ULTRA BLUE ISLAND®: FAIAL ISLAND, AZORES
Ultra Blue Island® PROGRAM
Ultra Blue Island® 2023 – PROGRAM
                                        

May 4th (Thursday)

08 pm to 10 pm. - Race Bib Collection at Teatro Faialense

               

May 5th (Friday)

10 am to 8 pm. - Race Bib Collection at Teatro Faialense

9:00 pm - Bus departs from António José D'Ávila School (Horta) to WGR118 start line

10:00 pm – Start of the Whalers Great Route® (WGR118)  – Location: Porto do Salão

May 6th (Saturday)

05.30 am – Start of the Ultra Blue Island at Porto Pim Gate

7:30 am - Bus departs from António José D'Ávila School (Horta) to MFCC start line

08.30 am – Start of the Marathon Faial Coast to Coast (MFCC) in front of Ribeirinha Parish Council

10 am - Bus departs from António José D'Ávila School (Horta) to TTV start line

11.00 am – Start of the Trail Ten Volcanoes at Cabouco Park

1 pm Bus departs from António José D'Ávila School (Horta)to MFT start line

3 p.m.  – Start of the Family Race at Parque do Capelo

May 7th (Sunday)

10h30 – Awards Ceremony at Mercado Municipal da Horta

DON'T FORGET YOUR MANDATORY EQUIPMENT!

You won't find many sports shops on Faial Island, so don't forget to bring everything you need from home. For more information about mandatory equipment, check out the rules of the event.

Material Obrigatório-01.png

BUS TRANSFERS

 

Azores Trail Run® will provide a bus for the athletes to the Start Lines and back from the Finish Line.

The buses are for athletes only, and they will depart and arrive from Horta City.

 So, if you are going to stay far from Horta or if you have someone following you, we recommend that you plan and book transportation in advance because the organization will not provide that.

mapa (3).jpg
HOW TO GET TO FAIAL ISLAND

DESTINATION AIRPORT FOR Ultra Blue Island®: HORTA AIRPORT (HOR)

You can reach Faial Island from Lisboa, Ponta Delgada (Island of São Miguel), and Terceira Island.

>> From Lisbon, there are daily flights to Faial Island by Azores Airlines (www.azoresairlines.pt)

 

>> From São Miguel and Terceira Islands, both in the Azores, there are daily flights to Faial Island by Azores Airlines (www.azoresairlines.pt).

You can reach São Miguel Island ou Terceira Island by Azores Airlines from:

 

  • Portugal, there are direct flights from Lisbon, Porto, and Funchal (Madeira Island)

  • North America, there are direct flights from Boston, Providence, and Oakland (USA) and Toronto and Montreal (Canada)

  • Other European countries, there are direct flights from London, Frankfurt, and Gran Canaria.

  • Cape Verde, there are direct flights from Santiago Island.

OPTION: Fly to Pico Island airport. At the airport, take a taxi to Madalena do Pico and a boat to Horta, on Faial Island (a 30-minute journey along the Atlantico Line).

Where
WHERE TO STAY

DESTINATION AIRPORT FOR Ultra Blue Island®: HORTA AIRPORT (HOR)

You can reach Faial Island from Lisboa, Ponta Delgada (Island of São Miguel), and Terceira Island.

>> From Lisbon, there are daily flights to Faial Island by Azores Airlines (www.azoresairlines.pt)

 

>> From São Miguel and Terceira Islands, both in the Azores, there are daily flights to Faial Island by Azores Airlines (www.azoresairlines.pt).

You can reach São Miguel Island ou Terceira Island by Azores Airlines from:

 

  • Portugal, there are direct flights from Lisbon, Porto, and Funchal (Madeira Island)

  • In North America, there are direct flights from Boston, Providence, and Oakland (USA) and Toronto and Montreal (Canada)

  • In other European countries, there are direct flights from London, Frankfurt, and Gran Canaria.

  • Cape Verde, there are direct flights from Santiago Island.

OPTION: Fly to Pico Island airport. At the airport, take a taxi to Madalena do Pico and a boat to Horta, on Faial Island (a 30-minute journey along the Atlantico Line).

Mobility
MOBILITY ON THE ISLAND

Faial Island doesn't have a large public transportation service. If you want to visit the island, we recommend renting a car in advance or booking jeep tours with local operators. 

You can also rent a moto, a bike or even plan a horse ride, but be aware that all that services are limited so we strongly suggest that you make reservations in advance.

FOR THE RACE: Azores Trail Run® will provide bus for the runners for the start lines and back from the finishing line. The buses are for athletes only and they will depart and arrive in Horta City only. So, if you are going to stay far from Horta or if you have someone following you, we recommend that you plan and book transportation and advance because the organization will not provide that.

ABOUT FAIAL ISLAND
About Faial

Faial Island is one of the 9 Islands of the Azores Archipelago, Portugal, located in the North Atlantic Ocean. All the islands have a volcanic origin that defines their unique landscapes, marked by the contrast between the dark color of their stones and sandy beaches, the deep blue of the high seas, and the varied green of their forests and fields.

 

It's in the Azores that you can find the largest mountain in Portugal, Pico Island, with 2,351 m. If measured from their base at the bottom of the ocean to their peaks, which thrust high above the surface of the Atlantic, Pico is one of the tallest mountains on the planet.

Faial Island is located in the Central Group of Azores. It is the fourth-largest island but the third-largest in population. From Faial, it's possible to see the Pico and São Jorge Islands and, on clear days, the Graciosa Island.

From Faial Island, it's possible to travel all year round to Pico and São Jorge Islands by boat. 

The climate of Faial is temperate, with average temperatures of 13 ° C in winter and 24 ° C in summer. The relatively close Gulf Stream maintains sea water at an average temperature between 17 ° C and 23 ° C. The air is moist, with an average relative humidity of about 75%.

We recommend that you enjoy the trip to know to get to know more about Faial Island and its lush nature. There are several activities on the Islands, such as:

 - Whale and Dolphin Watching

- Beaches and Lots of Natural Swimming Pools

- Caldeira: you can visit or walk around the crater of this huge Volcano that originated the island

- VisitingNatural Parks and Forest Reserves

- Visiting the Interpretation Center of the Capelinhos Volcano: the newest territory in Portugal formed after Capelinhos Volcano Eruption in 1957/ 1958

- Walk through the Botanical Garden

- Birdwatching

- Diving and Sailing

- Visiting Horta and the Marina

- Lots of Trails and Sightseeing

- Biking and Horse Riding

- Visiting by boat the neighbor islands (Pico and São Jorge) 

WHAT TO DO
bottom of page