Corvo Azores: Tips on planning your trip

If you’re planning to travel to the Azores in times of COVID-19 please refer to these official sources when planning: COVID-19 Information from the U. S. Embassy in Portugal (in English) and Official Azores Government’s Information for Passengers Traveling to the Azores (in English, Portuguese, German, French, and Spanish).

“Corvo Azores: Tips on planning your trip” is the ninth (and final) installment of a series of nine blog posts about the Azores islands. The posts are meant to give you a detailed overview of each one of them to help you plan your trip, whether you decide to visit one, two, or all nine. If you have any questions or a specific request, feel free to drop me an email and I’ll do my best to answer it or to put you in touch with the right contact.

About Corvo Island

Perfect island destination for bird watching, relaxing and experiencing true island community life.

Corvo is the smallest island of the archipelago, a lump of volcanic land discovered in 1452, at the same time as the neighboring Flores island, and that settlers didn’t bother with until the mid-16th century. At that time, a group of slaves was sent to the island to farm the land and raise cattle.

You see, historically, the island seemed bound to be no man’s land, isolated, a resource that people think of last. Not even an island, an islet that people wouldn’t bother reaching. But the local population has done a great job telling people a different story. Resilience is not even a good enough word to describe this people’s capacity to endure and survive against all odds. The bonds that hold the community together are tight; well, to be honest, it couldn’t be any other way in such a small village.

The island might not be full of vibrant blue lagoons, and crystal clear brooks, and endless luscious green pastures, but that’s not why people visit. It’s the peculiarity of the small village, an improvised fortress with narrow streets, and the everyday life of an isolated community that makes people wonder “is it really possible to live like this?”

The food tastes better in Corvo, mostly because people live off the land and they’ve mastered the art of growing things organically. The “made from scratch” way of life is not a hipster trend over here, it’s a necessity and a skill.

Summer days are humid and lazy. Winters are harsh and always seem longer than they should. But the weather is just a detail; it doesn’t really matter once you’re in that islander mood.

To better understand the peculiarities of this island, take the time to visit the Environmental and Cultural Interpretation Center of Corvo.

 

Um dos sítios que deve mesmo visitar, se vier à Ilha do Corvo • Centro de interpretação ambiental e cultural • ? #arquiteturarural #arquiteturaacoriana #arquitetura #architecture #ruralarchitecture #azoreanarchitecture #casasdepedra #architectureporn #architecturelovers #architecturephotography #instaarchitecture #centrodeinterpretacaoambientalecultural #ambient #ambienteecultura #ambiente #cultura #corvo #ilhadocorvo #corvoisland #shareazores #visitazores #iloveazores #tourism #tourismportugal #portugal_de_sonho #portugalrural #traveldestination

A photo posted by Eliana Azevedo (@elianazevedo86) on Mar 1, 2016 at 5:27am PST

Top things to do in Corvo Island

Bird watching, hiking, swimming, and diving are top of mind activities. I’m not sure if we can call it an activity, but engaging with the local community will allow for more memories than buying postcards and souvenirs. Head over to “Largo do Outeiro” and you’ll find a handful of local men sitting around and chatting; even if you don’t speak the same language, I’m almost 100% sure you’ll find a way to communicate.

Unlike the other islands, there aren’t many established tour companies available on the island. You can either plan something in Flores (the local companies there usually include activities in both islands, and I’m including them here again) or arrive in Corvo and explore on your own (if you’re willing to walk, a hike up to the only lagoon in the island, Caldeirao, will take about 2 hours. Hitching a ride with one of the locals shouldn’t be a problem, either).

• Passeios Turísticos (boat ride from Flores to Corvo) – www.facebook.com/passeiosturisticosflores
• Flores by Sea (boat ride from Flores to Corvo) – www.instagram.com/floresbysea
• Extremo Ocidente (boat ride from Flores to Corvo) – www.facebook.com/extremocidentecarlosmendes
• Experience OC (guided tours) – www.experienceoc.pt

 

A photo posted by Places wow (@placeswow) on Aug 28, 2014 at 6:05am PDT

Top cultural events in Corvo Island

It’s not my place to say that these islanders are extremely religious, but I think it’s fair to say that they are devoted to organizing successful events. It’s not just about the religious side of it; it’s also about having fun, sharing food, and community life. The most famous event is on August 15th in honor of Our Lady of Miracles. It could be just another celebration of a religious icon, but this one comes with the bonus of a real pirate story. In case you were thinking this was a dull and boring little island, nothing is ordinary in Corvo.

Azores food: what to eat in Corvo Island

Pork, fresh seafood, and locally produced cheese are the bases of Corvo’s cuisine. I feel the pork sausages are special, but I can’t quite put my finger on it – I can’t tell if it’s the spices or the technique. As in other islands in the archipelago, the perfect side dish for fried pork sausages is taro root, baked or fried. I enjoy them deep fried and crispy; when they’re boiled, they taste kind of bland to me.

Seafood tastes best when it’s cooked in a simple way. No need to add lots of spices because the fish is already rich in flavor. The local cheese is slightly spicy and salty and is produced following artisanal techniques and recipes. I like to tone it down with something sweet like a slice of “massa sovada” (sweet bread). As in Flores, “algae patties” (“erva patinha”) and limpets are also a common dish here.

Local souvenirs

Handmade wooden door locks and navy blue and white wool caps are the souvenirs that best represent the island.

The locks are a simple but effective system, and unique to Corvo – you won’t see it elsewhere in the Azores.

Where to stay in Corvo Island

Note: This is the smallest island of the archipelago, with fewer accommodation options compared to the others, therefore I am listing all places to stay on the island.

• Guesthouse Comodoro – www.comodoroazores.com
• Joe & Vera’s Place – booking.com*
• Joe & Vera’s Vintage Place – booking.com*
• The Pirate’s Nest – www.thepiratesnest.com
• Alojamento Local – Paula Dias – paula_cvu@hotmail.com

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I spent most of my childhood summers in Corvo. I got seasick, so the one-hour boat trips to get there were torture. I would pull myself together by keeping my eyes on the island, with my dad repeating to me “we’re almost there” – a little white lie that worked until I was about 12. ⁣ So the President of Portugal chose to spend New Year’s Eve here, on the smallest island in the Azores archipelago.⁣ ⁣ His New Year’s speech included compliments to the Azoreans’ courage. The 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴 in particular.⁣ ⁣ Here are some Corvo facts:⁣ ⁣ ✅ It was discovered in the 1450s but not inhabited until the 16th century⁣ ⁣ ✅ There was no electricity until the early 1960s⁣ ⁣ ✅ There were no phones until the early 1970s⁣ ⁣ ✅ The airport was only built in 1993⁣ ⁣ ✅ The nearest island (Flores) is close to 1h away by boat (when the weather is good)⁣ ⁣ ✅ Population: 430 people (give or take)⁣ ⁣ Courage you say? Yeah I think they’re more kick-ass than that.⁣ (Political stunts aside, my dad would have been proud that his island is finally getting all this attention.) ⁣ ⁣ ⁣

A post shared by Sandra Henriques Gajjar (@tripprblog) on Jan 1, 2020 at 6:29am PST

Know before you go

These are the most frequently asked questions about the Azores islands in general (and the island of Corvo in particular). If you have a question that’s not on this list, feel free to email me.