8 days, 7 nights, 5 cycling days - on Terceira island in the Azores.

Come for a week of visiting the stunning coastline and the dramatic interior of Terceira

island in the Azores. This is a cycling program around the island with time to enjoy the

landscape, discover bays and hidden places, visit small museums, take photos and take a bath

in natural swimming pools.

Your cycling program begins in the historic town of Angra do Heorismo, which is the first settlement in the Azores to be granted city status due to its significance as a maritime hub for ships sailing between Europe, the West Indies and the Americas, classifed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1983.

You stay in the main town for the first two nights, cycling during the days and exploring off-bike in the town full of history, charming restaurants and cafés.

This is a circular tour, mainly through secondary asphalt and gravel roads, in which you only

have to worry about enjoying the ride without heavy loads because we will carry your luggage

to the next accommodation on each day.

On the final day back in Angra, you can spend the day to relax, walk around town, or we are happy to organise a dolphin/whale/or snorkling with dolphins sea safari to enjoy views to the island by boat or trekking tour for you to get the most out of your time in the Azores.

• Angra do Heorismo, the beautiful city that is recognises as UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Cycle between fields and sky as you pedal by MTB through green fields surrounded by Nature and on quiet roads.

• 20-40 km / 18.6-25 miles per day and with average gradients of 3-5%.

• Visit Natural Park Interpretation Center and the Lava Tube "Christmas Cave".

• Swim in natural swimming pools, visit a wine museum and try local produce.

• Stay in good quality hotels and lodging with B&B services.

Your arrival day to Terceira.

You will be picked up at the airport and transfer to the hotel in Angra do Heroismo.

You stay at the 4* Terceira Mar for the first 2 nights, a warm and comfortable hotel where you can enjoy spacious rooms with a stunning view to a bay, spacious indoor and outdoor pools, health-club in the hotel. (Twin beds or Single room available).

There is a welcome meeting by our local English and French speaking guide, where you get a briefing of the program and a fitting and introduction to the bikes. You have time to explore the town by foot and settle in to the mellow rhythm of the Azores during the rest of this first day. There are many small streets to explore in Angra, good cafés and fortress built by the Spanish hundreds of years ago.

Distance 43,1 km / 26.7 miles

Elevation gain 995m/ 3.284 feet

Average gradient 4,3 %

First day of cycling. Today you do a circular route to Santa Bárbara, where you will visit the Natural Park Interpretation Center and the lava tube "Christmas Cave".

You cycle through the green fields up to one of the highest points of Terceira. So prepare for a lot of cycling uphill in the first part of the day.

You arrive to a visitor's center where you can learn about the geomorphological process of the island’s formation and evolution and its relation to areas of high interest in terms of biodiversity and geodiversity. There is much information for the curious mind, and a small picnique area outside including bathrooms.

From here you continue through a lush forest to downhill - and further on to the unique cave that was made by lava streams a loooong time ago. If you would like to visit the cave, then prepare time for some queuing as it is one of the main attractions on the island, which attracts a lot of visitors. You pay entrance ticket (10€ per person) before entering the magnificent cave.

We continue exploring natural wonders of fumarolic fields of Furnas do Enxofre. In this geothermal area you walk through protected land from which damp steams out of the ground. You literally see and feel damp that comes from the warm center of the Earth. It is a special natural spot.

The fumarolic fields were created by geological processes related to the region’s volcanic activity. Comprising several fissures and cavities that emit sulfurous gases and vapors, the Furnas do Enxofre evolved from a rare ecosystem with extremophiles — microorganisms capable of surviving in extreme environments.

The fumaroles consist of volcanic gas vents that emit gases at varying temperatures, some of which are incredibly high. The emissions of hot, chemically aggressive gases constantly alter the surrounding rocks into clay materials. These are associated with secondary minerals such as yellow sulfur masses and crystals, reddish iron oxides, and whitish aluminum oxides.

After the visit, you cycle back to Praia da Vitória to stay the night.

Overnight: Angra do Heroismo

Distance 36,8 km / 22.9 miles

Elevation gain 711 m/ 2.333 feet

Average gradient 5,2 %

Today we cycle from Angra do Heorismo to Altares in a linear route.

Altares is the island’s northernmost settlement, perched above the sea and backed by a small hill, where an old whale lookout, providing extensive views across endless pastures is located.

This agricultural village boasts a luxuriantly decorated ‘império’, featuring a façade covered with glazed tiles, dating from 1903 and a parish church, rebuilt in the beginning of the 20th century to replace the old church in the same spot, which had decayed after severe damages suffered through earthquakes and storms during the 19th century.

We stay in a B&B in Altares and enjoy the silence.

Distance 38,2 km / 23.7 miles

Elevation gain 1249 m / 4.098 feet

Average gradient 5,2%

We continue our journey around Terceira by heading towards Praia da Vitória.

On this day we can dive into natural baths in natural swimming pools that we pass in Biscoitos and we can also have a sea bath.

There is a wine museum, which is worth a visit to try the local wine.

You stay overnight in Praia da Vitória, a small town with a relaxed atmosphere, small beaches and surfspots. You stay here 2 nights in a good hotel.

Distance 29,3 km / 18.2 miles

Elevation gain 1009 m / 3.310 feet

Average gradient 4,3 %

Today we go by a circular route to discover the spectacular centre of Terceira.

It is a circular route, where you cycle through small villages and many fields with grassing cows, areas with rich plantation and colourful flowers.

You will continuously rise to one of the most magnificent viewpoint of Terceira island. Serra do Cume. Getting up to the viewpoint, you cycle on a long steady climb. The climbing is much rewarded when you reach the top.

We come to a view that you may remember for the rest of you life as you look into the vulanic landscape from above. On the others side you get to look down on Praia and the vast sea.

After the visit, you cycle back to Praia da Vitória to stay the night.

Distance 29 km / 18 miles

Elevation gain 580 m / 1902 feet

Average gradient 3,3 %

After a good breakfast, we cycle a beautiful stretch along the coast and of the island back to Angra do Heroism. The cycling takes you through fields, impressive volcanic formations and you get some extraordinary views of the island close to the sea.

There are not many cars on your road and you cycle through small villages.

Overnight in hotel Terceira Mar, the same hotel as in the beginning of the trip.

No cycling

This is a final day, where you have time to explore Angra do Heroismo on your own by walking around the town, or you can join a dolphin/whale safari, a boat trip where you can swim with dolphins or perhaps a hiking tour.

As weather is changeable on the Azores, a tour that we organise in advance may change due to the weather.

Overnight in Angra do Heorismo.

Today we say goodbye! We make sure to transfer you from Angra do Heorismo to the airport in time for your flight.

So if your flight is later in the day, you have some time in the morning to take an easy day.