Things to do in

Angra do Heroísmo

The Azores are considered one of the best places for whale watching in the world. 28 species of whales and dolphins have been spotted there over the years. This unique 2.5-hour tour is the ideal situation for spotting whales and dolphins. The vessel has the capacity for 28 people, a glass bottom, and two 300 horsepower engines. With a 90% sighting success rate, the tour is assisted by a whale spotter located at the top of Monte Brasil. With long-range binoculars, they'll be able to guide the Skipper via radio, helping you to find the whereabouts of cetaceans (the animal family that these marine mammals belong to).

Get back to nature and visit the extraordinary lava tube of Algar do Carvão inside the caldera of the Guilherme Moniz volcano, 12 kilometers from Angra do Heroísmo. Travel back in time to when a basalt eruption tore a pre-existing lava flow to begin the process that would lead to the formation of a Strombolian volcano with 2 cones. Observe different geological features, including ferrous deposits and silicate stalactites, and appreciate formations that date back to the origins of the cave. Discover a small pond of rare beauty, and gaze in awe as smoke emerges from the ground. Encounter the unique flora and fauna, including birds that seek refuge inside the cave, and diverse plant life that includes species of molds, arthropods, and other groups.

Start the tour by visiting Monte Brasil, where you can see the Fortress of São João Baptista, built by the Spanish during their conquest of the Azores. Enjoy fantastic views of the UNESCO World Heritage City of Angra do Heroísmo. Proceed along the southeast of Terceira Island towards the villages of Ribeirinha, Feteira, and São Sebastião. See beautiful natural landmarks such as Serra da Ribeirinha and the Ilhéus das Cabras, culminating in a visit to the island's oldest church. Next, stop at Serra do Cume, a viewpoint located in Terceira's largest "caldeira". Observe the vast expanse of agricultural fields spread out the island. Enjoy some free time in the charming town of Praia da Vitória. Continue along the northern coast of the island and visit the Biscoitos Natural Swimming Pools. Have an optional visit to Algar do Carvão, an empty volcanic chimney, and Gruta do Natal (lava tube) which take about 30-40 minutes each. The tour is concluded by visiting the Queijo Vaquinha Cheese Factory and São Mateus Fishing Port with drop-off back at your accommodation.

Discover the best of Terceira Island on a guided full-day trip from Angra do Heroísmo. Get picked up and dropped off from your hotel in Angra. The first stop is Monte Brasil, where you can see Angra do Heroísmo from above. Go for a short drive through the city, and then along the southeast coast to the village of Ribeirinha where you can admire panoramic views. Go offroad as you explore the villages of Agualva and Biscoitos, and observe wild bulls in their natural habitat as well as a diverse array of native flora. Have a short break for lunch, then continue on to discover inactive volcanic tubes and chimneys including Algar do Carvao and Christmas cave, which you can see from the inside. Finish the tour with a visit to Queijo Vaquinha Cheese Factory and the Fishing Port of São Mateus village, before being dropped back off at your hotel.

Meet your driver at your accommodation in Angra do Heroísmo, Praia da Vitoria, or Lajes, and start your half-day tour in an air-conditioned minivan. Explore Algar do Carvão, an empty volcano and its caves with remarkable unique mineralogical characteristics. The 90-meter-deep volcanic chimney formed approximately 3,200 years ago after the magma drained from the main chimney receding to the magma chamber. Next up is Furnas do Enxofre. Walk around a fumaroles field and see sulfur gas coming out from the ground. Contemplate the beautiful natural swimming pool at Biscoitos, surrounded by black lava and with a few colorful fishing boats anchored alongside. Stop for a photo opportunity in Miradouro do Raminho and see 3 islands. Finish a wonderful day with a handmade delicious cheese tasting.

Discover the West zone of Terceira Island. Admire beautiful landscapes provided by viewpoints spread in several parishes and explore wonderful recreational areas. Start in Angra do Heroísmo, travelling in a comfortable air-conditioned van, passing by and visiting many places along the way. Explore Monte Brasil, bathing area of the Negrito, Church of São Mateus and enjoy cheese tasting in Queijo Vaquinha, from the oldest and most famous cheese factory on the island. Visit Porto das Cinco Ribeiras, Church of Santa Bárbara, Império das Doze Ribeiras, Miradouro da Ponta do Queimado, Mata da Serreta, Mata da Serreta Viewpoint and Biscoitos Bathing Area.

At the selected time, we will meet at Jardim José Agostinho, our (kiosque) to start our guided tour of approximately 3 hours through the capital city of Terceira. Will we take a walking route through the main attractions of this Azorean city, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco? From the kiosk (Jardim José Agostinho) we go up towards the entrance of the city, we will arrive at Alto das covas, then we go in the Duke of Bragança market, we visit the inside of Capitães Generais Palace, which was the former Jesuit college and today houses valuable works of art. We will continue our visit to go inside the Igreja da Misericórdia, which will welcome us with its striking white and blue façade. We will get to know the history of the Paços do Concelho building from the outside and, of course, we go inside the famous church of the Santíssimo Salvador da Sé, the cathedral of Angra do Heroísmo. Stop at a pastry shop where you will have 25 minutes of free time to have a coffee and taste a typical sweet. With our energies recharged, we'll follow the path to the Teatro Angrense, a 19th-century building that houses the island's theater groups and major representations nationwide. Finally, we will visit the Jardim Botanico (Duque da Terceira garden) where we ascend to Alto da Memoria (Memory of D. Pedro IV) A real spectacle.

Fasten your seatbelt and begin your adventure through the interior of the island of Terceira. On this trip, you will be riding in Jeeps suitably equipped for this purpose and able to take you to places you did not even imagine existed. It is intended for those who want to see unusual perspectives and scenarios. You will travel to the interior of the Island in muddy terrain at times and see untouched nature. Sometimes the Jeep might get stuck in the mud at which point you can volunteer to help free the Jeeps from the mud. Have an outdoor lunch (traditional food and Portuguese wine). Then stroll through the interior of the island for some breathtaking views. 

Start the tour with a pickup from your hotel and drive to either Monte Brasil volcano or the UNESCO-listed High Memory Memorial for the starting point of the tour. Get an overview of the city’s historical past from your expert guide. Continue to the heart of the city and walk the streets filled with monuments significant to the history of the Azores Islands. See the Cathedral of Angra do Heroísmo, one of the most controversial catholic cathedrals, and Palacio dos Capitaes Generais, pivotal in the establishment of the first general government of the Azores. Proceed to the city hall and finish up walking by the Rua Direita, the first main street that culminates in Pátio da Alfândega, the oldest wharf in Angra do Heroísmo. From here you’ll see Angra Bay, where Vasco da Gama disembarked in 1499, establishing the island as a mandatory stop for routes passing through the Atlantic.

Start with pickup from your hotel Praia da Vitória or Angra do Heroísmo. Travel with your guide towards the reserve of Monte Brasil, passing by the historic Fortress of São João Baptista at the entrance.   Ride up to the Peak of the Crosses and ride inside secret spots where only the guide knows about. Get panoramic views of the island, seeing the highest point of the island, the inactive volcano of Santa Bárbara. See the town of Angra do Heroísmo below, and on clear days, the São Jorge and Pico islands off the coast.