Azores Bike + Adventure Tour

Our guides will greet you at the pre-tour hotel in Ponta Delgada and conduct a bike fitting and safety review before our first ride: head out of the city on a bike path that follows the shoreline to Vila Franca do Campo. The town of Vila Franca was the original capital of São Miguel until it was destroyed by an earthquake (and subsequent landslide) in 1522—today, it’s prospering once again thanks to banana plantations and the fishing industry. After lunch, continue cycling or catch a lift in the van to our first hotel nestled in the volcanic village of Furnas. Settle into your room and take a dip in the pool, which is naturally heated by thermal waters. Tonight we’ll gather for cocktails before dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Ponta Delgada, Vila Franca do Campo, Furnas
Accomplished: 16 miles / 26 km, elevation gain: 1,253 feet / 382 meters
Longer Option: 29 miles / 47 km, elevation gain: 3,044 feet / 928 meters
Accommodations: Octant Furnas or Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

Our adventure today begins at our friend Paulo’s family restaurant in the heart of Furnas. Joining him in the kitchen, we’ll watch as he prepares tonight’s dinner: cozido das Furnas, a traditional Azorean stew slow-cooked underground using the town’s natural geothermal heat. Leaving the stew to simmer, transfer to Faial da Terra, where towering emerald cliffs frame whitewashed houses—a view so picturesque it earned the village its nickname, “O Presépio da Ilha,” the island’s nativity scene. From there, we’ll hike past the mystical Salto do Prego waterfall to the Lost Village of Sanguinho, a beautifully restored hamlet hidden in the hills above the valley, where the village caretakers will treat us to a wonderful lunch. Back at the hotel, the afternoon is yours. Relax by the pool or indulge in a treatment at the spa. Later, we’ll regather and make our way to Paulo’s grandparents’ house, where he’ll serve our steaming cozido alongside local wines.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Furnas, Faial da Terra
Accomplished: 3-4 hours hiking
Accommodations: Octant Furnas or Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

This morning, begin riding from the hotel or transfer to a starting point further down the road—either way, we’re embarking on an epic loop ride along the island’s eastern coastline. Described by DuViners as one of the most beautiful rides of their lives, the roads are lined with subtropical forests, blooming azaleas, blue hydrangeas, and fragrant Belladonna lilies. We’ll pass the waterfalls at Caldeirões Natural Park and pause at lookout points over the Atlantic, imagining the 15th-century sailors who also gazed eastward towards mainland Portugal. Break for a picnic lunch then choose to hop in the van or continue cycling right to the mouth of the volcano and into the caldera before completing the loop back to the hotel. Tonight, dine on your own in the village of Furnas—our guides can readily recommend a few favorite restaurants.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Furnas, Achadinha, Nordeste, Povoação
Accomplished: 28 miles / 45 km, elevation gain: 2,696 feet / 822 meters
Longer Option: 56 miles / 90 km, elevation gain: 6,485 feet / 1,977 meters
Accommodations: Octant Furnas or Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

After a breakfast of island-grown fruit, Azorean tea, and bolo levedo (an airy Azorean muffin), we’ll be properly fueled for today’s hike to Lagoa do Fogo, a shimmering crater lake within the Água de Pau Massif stratovolcano. Weather permitting, we’ll ascend through a jungle-like landscape of lush ferns and cedar forest to a wild, volcanic plateau with views over the lake. A short transfer brings us to the Porto Formoso Tea Factory—one of only two commercial tea plantations in Europe—for a look into São Miguel’s agricultural history. First planted in the 16th century, oranges were the island’s principal export until an 1842 blight wiped out the industry, sparking economic reinvention: dairy farming became a new mainstay, alongside crops like pineapples, passionfruit, tobacco, and tea. After a fascinating history lesson, sip a refreshing cup of tea on the veranda overlooking the tea fields, the Atlantic Ocean stretching into the distance. Our next hotel is a boutique eco-resort set on a bluff above the island’s best volcanic beach, where a seasonal seaside lunch awaits. This afternoon there’s time to swim in the ocean or stroll along the black sands of Praia de Santa Bárbara. Tonight we’ll meet our friend and sommelier João for a masterclass in Azorean wines followed by a memorable organic feast.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Lagoa do Fogo, Porto Formoso, Ribeira Grande
Accomplished: 2-3 hours hiking
Accommodations: Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort

Today’s route is all about Sete Cidades, the island’s enigmatic volcano, which derives its name from a folk story about star-crossed lovers. A short transfer brings us to the starting point for our ride, where we begin with a steady climb up the volcano’s southern slope. Our destination is Vista do Rei—a lookout point with magnificent views of the caldera’s twin lakes, Lagoa Azul (Blue Lake) and Lagoa Verde (Green Lake). Descend into the village of Sete Cidades for a coffee break, then climb to the top of the crater, soaking up a spectacular island panorama followed by a glorious downhill along the coastal road. This picture-perfect ride finishes back at our hotel, where you can spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing by the pool or head to the beach for a refreshing swim. Tonight, we meet for an apéritif before a memorable final dinner at our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Sete Cidades, Bretanha
Accomplished: 39 miles / 63 km, elevation gain: 3,228 feet / 984 meters
Longer Option: 54 miles / 87 km, elevation gain: 4,447 / 1,499 meters
Accommodations: Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort

Your guides will transfer you back to the island capital of Ponta Delgada. You may wish to stay a little longer in order to experience São Miguel a few other ways—perhaps diving, hiking, or golfing.

Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Ponta Delgada