Gallery Itinerary Prices Accommodation Activities Location

Overview

Explore the highways and byways of the Azores’ largest island on our Self-Guided Sao Miguel Cycling Holiday.

The main island of Sao Miguel is celebrated for its beautiful and varied landscapes, from the secluded bays and seaside villages of the south, via its grand central mountains to the remote, windswept northern coast.

Dividing your time between two locations is one of the best ways to explore the island on two wheels. Your week begins Ponta Delgada: capital of the Azores and the perfect introduction to Azorean culture, history and cuisine. It’s also an excellent base from which to explore the west of the island, which is dominated by the magnificent Sete Cidades caldera. You’ll also head coast to coast, from your base in the south to the old city of Ribeira Grande in the north.

Leaving Ponta Delgada, you’ll head east for a stay in the semi-tropical Furnas Valley, famous for its hot springs and geothermal swimming pools. The east is a more-sparsely populated region which is often overlooked by visitors to the island, and cycling its cliff-top roads and peaceful port villages are a true pleasure.

Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1

You’ll begin your holiday with a flight to Sao Miguel. You’ll be collected on arrival by our driver for your transfer into Ponta Delgada (a ten-minute drive).

Day 2

Your first day’s free to explore Ponta Delgada, capital of the Azores and the main town on the island. With its narrow, cobbled streets, mosaic pavements and interesting mix of traditional and modern architecture, Ponta Delgada’s a nicely compact city which is easy to explore on foot.

Day 3

You’ll collect your bikes from the shop on Rua do Mercado. For your first ride, you’ll head west out of Ponta Delgada, via famous viewpoint at Vista do Rei and down into the great crater at Sete Cidade. After lunch, you’ll meet the west coast road which brings you home via Mosteiros and Ponta da Ferraria.

Day 4

You’ll ride north, via the Forest Reserve at Pinhal da Paz, picking up the old coast road through Rabo de Peixe and Santa Barbara, before arriving in the north coast town of Ribeira Grande. In the afternoon, you’ll climb the high mountain pass which dissects the island in two – from Ribeira Grande in the north to Lagoa in the south, via the high summit of Pico da Barrosa.

Day 5

You’ll leave Ponta Delgada today, riding east to your new accommodation in Furnas and we’ll arrange for your luggage to be transferred during your ride. Enroute, you’ll pass through the south coast towns of Agua de Pau and Vila Franca do Campo, before cresting the southern wall of the caldera at Lagoa das Furnas.

Day 6

You’ll have a free day to explore on foot and by bike. Furnas is the most easterly volcano on Sao Miguel and is the area where the island’s volcanic nature is most on display, and hotel’s Terra Nostra botanical gardens are home to the Azores’ most famous geothermal swimming pool.

Day 7

Back on two wheels, you might like to explore the remote east coast of the island, following a long loop through the towns of Povoacao, Faial da Terra and Nordeste, the Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Natural Park and the Gorreana tea plantation.

Day 8

The team from the bike shop in Ponta Delgada will collect your bikes, and our driver will transfer you to the airport for your journey home.

From £1900 per person

We can create a tailor-made holiday to suit your budget.

INCLUDED: international flights to the Azores, accommodation in twin/double ensuite rooms on a B&B basis, airport transfers and six day’s bike hire.

Accommodation

Convento Sao Francisco Caloura Hotel Resort
Hotel do Colegio Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

Activities

Cycling The Azores are the undiscovered gem of European cycling destinations. The Azorean…

Location

Sao Miguel

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