# How long is the ferry from Faial to Pico?
Question: How long is the ferry from Faial to Pico?

URL: https://picoisland.pt/questions/how-long-is-the-ferry-from-faial-to-pico
Status: verified
Last verified: 2026-10-03

The scheduled crossing from Horta on Faial to Madalena on Pico is 30 minutes, the shortest sea link between the two islands. Some sailings run from Horta to Cais do Pico on the north coast instead, which is scheduled at 70 minutes. Board at least 10 minutes before departure on foot, or 20 with a car.

## The short crossing

For almost everyone the answer is the Horta to Madalena boat. Horta is Faial's town and port,
Madalena is Pico's, and the channel between them is narrow enough that the operator schedules the
crossing at half an hour. You can see Pico's mountain from the Horta waterfront the whole time you
wait, and the boat lands you in the middle of Madalena, a short walk from the town's cafés and the
car hire desks.

## The longer one

Some sailings link Horta with Cais do Pico, the port at São Roque do Pico on the north coast. That
route goes round rather than across, so it is more than twice as long. It is worth it only when the
north coast is where you are staying or heading next, for example on the way to São Jorge.

## What to allow on top

The crossing time is not the whole journey. The operator asks foot passengers to be at the boat at
least ten minutes before it leaves, and cars at least twenty. In rough weather sailings are delayed,
moved or cancelled, so a tight connection with a flight is the one plan that the sea regularly
breaks.

## What this page does not tell you

Departure times and how many boats run each day change with the season, so they are not copied
here. Today's sailings are on the [ferry timetable](/getting-here/ferry/timetable), and the routes,
ports and what to know before boarding are in [ferries to Pico](/getting-here/ferry).

## Sources

- Horta to Madalena, scheduled crossing: 30 minutes (source: https://www.atlanticoline.pt/horarios)
- Horta to Cais do Pico, scheduled crossing: 70 minutes (source: https://www.atlanticoline.pt/horarios)
- Pico ports served by Atlânticoline: Madalena and Cais do Pico (source: https://www.atlanticoline.pt/horarios)
- Boarding cut-off, foot passengers: 10 minutes before departure (source: https://www.atlanticoline.pt/bagagem-e-embarque/)
- Boarding cut-off, vehicles: 20 minutes before departure (source: https://www.atlanticoline.pt/bagagem-e-embarque/)