How to Get Ready for a Campervan Adventure in the Azores
Campervan travel is, by definition, an adventure—full of freedom, spontaneity, and discovery. To keep it stress-free, we recommend preparing in advance and making sure you have everything you need for any weather, mood, or activity that might come your way. In this article, we’ll share the essentials for a great time in the Azores. For convenience, we’ve divided it into three sections: general recommendations for the Azores, items we provide with the campervan (spoiler: everything you need), and our tips on how to get ready for your campervan adventure.
General Recommendations for the Azores
The weather on this "island of eternal spring" changes constantly—you can easily experience rain, sunshine, and rainbows all in the same day. So no matter what season you visit São Miguel, be sure to pack both a raincoat and a bikini. In fact, a swimsuit is just as essential in winter as in summer—there’s nothing better on a rainy day than soaking in a natural hot spring!
As for the rest of your clothing, the Azorean climate is mild year-round, but it can shift from cool to warm in a single afternoon. The best strategy is to pack layers. Bring a few t-shirts (short- and long-sleeved), as even in January, a sunny midday can feel like spring. Include a fleece or warm pullover for cooler mornings and evenings. Since campervan space is limited, we recommend avoiding bulky clothing. Instead, choose lightweight items that are easy to wash and quick to dry. There are plenty of self-service laundromats ("lavandarias") around Ponta Delgada and Ribeiga Grande where you can wash and dry your clothes for just a few euros.
The Azores are most famous for their scenic hiking trails, so good hiking shoes or trail sneakers are a must, along with comfortable pants or leggings. A light hat or beanie is useful for windy days, while a cap or sunhat and sunglasses will help protect you from sunburn. Water shoes or sandals come in handy at hot springs and rocky beaches. In general, it's common and totally acceptable to wear hiking clothes and shoes even in cafes and restaurants, so you don’t need to pack a separate wardrobe for going out—unless you want to!
Last but not least, we highly recommend bringing a backpack and a refillable water bottle for your day hikes and excursions. The island has many natural springs, each with unique mineral content and flavor—there are even a couple of naturally sparkling ones!
As for the rest of your clothing, the Azorean climate is mild year-round, but it can shift from cool to warm in a single afternoon. The best strategy is to pack layers. Bring a few t-shirts (short- and long-sleeved), as even in January, a sunny midday can feel like spring. Include a fleece or warm pullover for cooler mornings and evenings. Since campervan space is limited, we recommend avoiding bulky clothing. Instead, choose lightweight items that are easy to wash and quick to dry. There are plenty of self-service laundromats ("lavandarias") around Ponta Delgada and Ribeiga Grande where you can wash and dry your clothes for just a few euros.
The Azores are most famous for their scenic hiking trails, so good hiking shoes or trail sneakers are a must, along with comfortable pants or leggings. A light hat or beanie is useful for windy days, while a cap or sunhat and sunglasses will help protect you from sunburn. Water shoes or sandals come in handy at hot springs and rocky beaches. In general, it's common and totally acceptable to wear hiking clothes and shoes even in cafes and restaurants, so you don’t need to pack a separate wardrobe for going out—unless you want to!
Last but not least, we highly recommend bringing a backpack and a refillable water bottle for your day hikes and excursions. The island has many natural springs, each with unique mineral content and flavor—there are even a couple of naturally sparkling ones!
What We Provide with the Campervan
The magic of campervan travel lies in the freedom to cook, relax, and sleep in some of the most breathtaking locations. We provide everything you need—your only job is to choose the perfect spot! You can find a list of our recommended places in this blog post.
Your cooking kit includes kitchenware and cutlery, a coffee maker, salt, pepper, cooking oil, as well as local tea and coffee. At the sink, you’ll find a bottle of pure Castile liquid soap—organic, unscented, and perfect for hands, dishes, and showers due to its outstanding cleaning properties and 100% environmental safety.
The cooking stove runs on gas, as does the heating system, which you can use on chilly nights.. It’s easy to turn on and off as needed. The bedding kit includes linens, a cozy king-size duvet, an extra single duvet, and towels for each person.
While parked, you can enjoy outdoor time in comfort. We provide foldable chairs and a table as well as cozy lights that you can hang outdoors to make your dinner truly romantic. We’ve also thought about your comfort inside of the car: São Miguel is full of hills, so we include drive-up wedges to help you level the campervan when parking.
For charging your devices, our campervans are equipped with USB ports in the back and Type-C and wireless charging stations in the front. While it may be a bit slower than a regular 220V socket, you’ll be able to charge your phone, camera, and even a laptop. Just be sure to charge larger devices with Type-C only while the car is running to avoid draining the battery.
Your cooking kit includes kitchenware and cutlery, a coffee maker, salt, pepper, cooking oil, as well as local tea and coffee. At the sink, you’ll find a bottle of pure Castile liquid soap—organic, unscented, and perfect for hands, dishes, and showers due to its outstanding cleaning properties and 100% environmental safety.
The cooking stove runs on gas, as does the heating system, which you can use on chilly nights.. It’s easy to turn on and off as needed. The bedding kit includes linens, a cozy king-size duvet, an extra single duvet, and towels for each person.
While parked, you can enjoy outdoor time in comfort. We provide foldable chairs and a table as well as cozy lights that you can hang outdoors to make your dinner truly romantic. We’ve also thought about your comfort inside of the car: São Miguel is full of hills, so we include drive-up wedges to help you level the campervan when parking.
For charging your devices, our campervans are equipped with USB ports in the back and Type-C and wireless charging stations in the front. While it may be a bit slower than a regular 220V socket, you’ll be able to charge your phone, camera, and even a laptop. Just be sure to charge larger devices with Type-C only while the car is running to avoid draining the battery.
Get Ready for the Campervan Adventure
Your island road trip will be even smoother if you download a few helpful apps in advance:
✅ Park4Night – Discover top camper spots, from wild campsites to hidden gems.
✅ Wikiloc – Explore trails recorded by other travelers for unforgettable hikes.
✅ Strava – Track your hikes, bike rides, or runs, and share your adventures.
✅ ToiletFinder – Quickly locate the nearest facilities for your next stop.
✅ Park4Night – Discover top camper spots, from wild campsites to hidden gems.
✅ Wikiloc – Explore trails recorded by other travelers for unforgettable hikes.
✅ Strava – Track your hikes, bike rides, or runs, and share your adventures.
✅ ToiletFinder – Quickly locate the nearest facilities for your next stop.
One of the most reliable ways to forecast the weather in the Azores is by checking the webcam. This is especially important for hikes to the volcanoes, such as Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo — it’s only worth going when the weather is clear. To check the weather online, we use SpotAzores, which streams 19 webcams located around the island.
Since the campervan doesn’t come with Wi-Fi, we recommend either picking up a local SIM card in a store or using an eSIM with a Portugal data plan—services like Airalo are a good option.
Depending on your interests, you might want to bring snorkeling gear or binoculars for birdwatching or whale spotting. If you prefer a slower pace, pack a good book or a travel journal for relaxing by the sea. And to make the most of your drives, prepare a few playlists to match different moods—or different types of weather!
Ready to hit the road? Book your campervan now or drop us a message if you have any questions about the adventure on wheels in São Miguel!
Since the campervan doesn’t come with Wi-Fi, we recommend either picking up a local SIM card in a store or using an eSIM with a Portugal data plan—services like Airalo are a good option.
Depending on your interests, you might want to bring snorkeling gear or binoculars for birdwatching or whale spotting. If you prefer a slower pace, pack a good book or a travel journal for relaxing by the sea. And to make the most of your drives, prepare a few playlists to match different moods—or different types of weather!
Ready to hit the road? Book your campervan now or drop us a message if you have any questions about the adventure on wheels in São Miguel!
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