BICYCLE TOURS & MOUNTAIN BIKING

Biking in Portugal: The Azores

The terrain is mountainous, but well-graded coastal roads make for smooth cycling. In addition, a hardpack forest road provides an exciting route across the interior. Spend two full days exploring the Vale das Furnas, a luxuriant green valley of geysers and steam vents, healing mineral waters, and a botanical park with flora from around the world. Swim in thermally-warmed ocean waters and soak under a hot waterfall! A dramatic ride along the rim of a huge volcanic crater overlooks the twin green- and blue-tinted lakes of Sete Cidades. The tour concludes in the sophisticated capital of Ponta Delgada, where Gothic and Manueline architecture recall the days of the Portuguese empire.

Four-star accommodations include a beachfront resort and an Art Deco-era hotel with its own thermal swimming pond and 30-acre botanical garden. Like the Azoreans themselves, the cuisine is colorful and hearty. You’ll sample spiced sausages with water yams, seafood casseroles, local wines and cheeses, and island-grown pineapples, guaranteed to be the sweetest you’ll ever taste. In Furnas, you’ll savor a cozido feast — a mélange of chicken, sausage, and vegetables simmered to perfection in a volcanic steam vent. But your most memorable meal may be a farewell luncheon with the Soares family, highlighted by a choreographed performance by their dancing Lusitanian horses!

Tour Details

Day 1:
Morning transfer from Ponta Delgada airport to the seaside village of Caloura, where your hotel overlooks the rugged cliffs of the south coast. A warm-up loop leads through the vineyards to Caloura harbor and a volcanic black sand beach. (0 or 5 mi.)

Day 2:
Follow the coast to Vila Franca for a swim in an ocean lagoon formed by an extinct volcano. A spectacular climb leads over Pizões Pass en route to Furnas. Three-night stay at Hotel Terra Nostra, a lovely resort reflecting the architecture and romantic spirit of the 1930s. Relax with a stroll through the adjacent botanical park, a 200-year-old refuge of winding paths, lily ponds, and exotic trees and flowers. (20 or 32 mi.)

Day 3:
Panoramic views along a secluded forest track as you traverse the rugged interior to Nordeste. Afternoon return option visits coastal miradouros and Povoação, the village of the Azores’ first settlers. Reward yourself in a mineral-laden hot spring said to be curative for the legs! Traditional cozido dinner cooked in the “natural ovens” at Furnas Lake. (29, 42, or 50 mi.)

Day 4:
Free day to explore the Furnas geyser basin area and swim at Ribeira Quente, whose waters are naturally warmed by a steam vent hidden beneath the sea. An optional ride or hike follows a hydrangea-lined ridge with views to both sides of the island. (0, 11, 21, or 28 mi.)

Day 5:
Spin past picturesque fishing villages, beaches, and windmills along the north coast. Along the way, visit Europe’s only tea plantation and pedal to a blissful soak under a hot waterfall! A challenging option climbs to the miradouro at Lagoa do Fogo (“Lake of Fire”). Two-night stay in the capital city of Ponta Delgada, where your stylish hotel fronts the new marina. (25, 31, or 43 mi.)

Day 6:
The grand finale leads to the remote lakeside village of Sete Cidades, then along the volcanic rim to Portal do Vento (“Windy Pass”) for a downhill sail back to Ponta Delgada. (38 or 43 mi.)

Day 7:
Free morning to visit Ponta Delgada’s colorful market, beautiful parks, or outstanding museum of native folk and fine art. A farewell lunch at the Quinta Pico da Cruz is followed by a dressage demonstration of their purebred Lusitano horses. Late afternoon transfer to Ponta Delgada airport.