Making the most of Santa Cruz das Flores
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The port is near the town.
Take a printable map with you.
Cruise schedule: choose Cruises and the port.
Santa Cruz has ancient streets and manor houses, as well as a beautiful mother-church from the 16th-18th centuries, Santo Cristo Church from the 16th century, Cruz da Barra (Manueline) and the Ethnographic House. Furna do Enxofre offers dazzling sights and a vaulted cave over an underground lake, where sunlight filters in between 11am and 2pm. Also visit Guadalupe and its Baroque church, Luz and Praia with their typical windmills.
Food and shopping
Tap water is not always suitable to drink, though it can be used for brushing teeth. Cheap mineral-water bottles are available in every supermarket. Do not drink from rivers or lakes.
Money
As part of Portugal, the Azores uses the Euro. Most restaurants, hotels and car-renting companies take common credit-cards, but smaller restaurants and residencias may not accept them. Carry small bills, as changing bigger notes can be a problem in some places.
Most banks take Visa/MasterCard's, and their employees often speak English or French.
Staying connected
Portuguese is the national language, and Azoreans use a special dialect. Inhabitants, particularly younger people, may also understand English or French.