Terceira cycling holiday in the Azores
Description of Terceira cycling holiday in the Azores
Ideal for the confident cyclist in search of adventure, this self-guided cycling trip around Terceira in the Azores is brimming with volcanic landscapes and memorable experiences.
Arriving into the city of Angra Heroismo, a favourite of Portuguese royalty and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll be equipped with a high-quality mountain bike, GPS and route notes, as well as a helmet (though of course you can bring your own if preferable). Then it’s off to explore the ‘Lilac Isle’ over four to six days of cycling, covering between 20km and 45km each day depending on your routes.
Following a broadly triangular route around the island, you’ll cycle through lush green forests and pastures, picturesque villages and breathtaking coastal panoramas, with frequent opportunities to get off the bike and take a refreshing dip in the sea.
In Biscoitos, you can swim in a large natural pool surrounded by black lava rocks, and also visit the nearby wine museum to try a few local specialities made from grapes that grow in this fertile volcanic terrain.
Another highlight comes as you reach the Praia de Vitoria, where you can peek into a volcanic pit, see the smoking fumaroles, or enjoy a scenic picnic overlooking a lagoon. This is also a fantastic place for a rest day, during which you can indulge in some optional activities with everything from wind surfing to sea kayaking and golf on offer. Or you may prefer to take a boat trip out into the ocean in search of whales.
Expect reasonably challenging terrain, nothing that a decent level of fitness can’t manage, and plenty of fun downhills, as well as excellent support from local agents. You’ll also be staying at locally owned accommodations, not only helping the Terceira economy, but also offering you a great taste of island culture.
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Reviews
1 Reviews of Terceira cycling holiday in the Azores
Reviewed on 09 Sep 2018 by Katy Lee
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Terceira is a lovely varied island. The cycle routes combined lots of different terrains. It’s quite hilly but there are some amazing down hill slopes to enjoy ! There are some excelllent places to swim too.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We felt pretty prepared - we were given a GPS but I like to have a map to get the bigger picture. A pannier would be a good idea too as the bikes had racks. We didn’t have one with us and used rucksacks instead. On some routes you go quite away without any refreshment stops so snacks, water bottles are essential......most of the hotels had no kettle. I would definitely take a travel
kettle next time for a cup of tea in hotel room !
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, locally employed people. Our guide Tiago was very informative of the island , places to eat, swim, visit and he really knew the routes too.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was excellent, highly recommended. Lovely rural scenery, quiet lanes for cycling.
Responsible Travel
Planet
The Azores as a destination boasts a wide diversity of opportunities for environmentally friendly leisure and recreation and received the highest sustainability score on the Global Sustainable Tourism Review conducted by Green Destinations, an international sustainability support system used to measure, monitor and improve the sustainability profile of destinations and regions.By promoting this biking tour, we guarantee that our outdoors adventures through Portugal are environmentally-friendly and provide a greener alternative in the tourism industry. Cycling is a perfect way to explore this island without pollution creating a 0% Co2 emission during your stay in Azores.
Water is one of the most precious resources on Earth. Even in countries where there is no lack of water supply, energy is consumed to treat water and in sewage systems; the excessive consumption of water can affect the groundwater causing pollution.
To face these problems we encourage our guests and ask our tour leaders to follow the following policies: wash the dishes in a container instead of leaving the water running; contaminated water should be eliminated on the ground at least 30m (100ft) from a water spring or river, and only when there is no sink available; always use biodegradable soap for hiking or biking activities and never near a lake or a river; never pour water with oil or food residues in a watercourse; reuse water bottles and avoid buying water bottles since the plastic accumulation has a strong impact on the environment (especially in remote areas).
Respect and protect the fauna and flora of the visited places: do not feed animals (giving them different or additional food from their usual diet can be harmful to their health or make them become dependent and compromising their survival in the natural feed surroundings); do not harass animals for photos that can cause them stress; do not touch animals, it can cause them stress and can be highly dangerous; do not collect flowers or leaves.
People
We have been mindful of the social and environmental consequences of our work and have consistently sought to find sustainable and innovative ways to create a positive impact.Through our sustainability policies, we support local economies and minimize the social impact of our activities by working with local guides and ensuring the needed respect for local traditions and cultures. Our itineraries visit cities, museums and restaurants and our guides will help you support local business and enterprise wherever possible.
We also support the local economy by booking directly with local accommodations. Our philosophy is to show you the most authentic details of Azores in the most sustainable way possible.
Our local agents are also committed to helping the local community. We are knowledgeable of the dire environmental and social consequences of mass tourism and thus consciously commits to only working with small groups of travelers.
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