Trip to Terceira

My husband was finally able to talk me into traveling with him this summer and I am so glad he did.  We chose to go to Terceira which is an Azorean Island.  The Azores are a Portuguese island chain in the Atlantic Ocean.  We decided to go to the Azores because we had military friends stationed there that we could stay with.  We were also able to get a free military flight to the Azores which helped cut down our costs.  After visiting this beautiful island I would like to share my experience so others will want to visit also.

View out to the ocean from a park on the island.

The Azores are made up of nine major islands but our travels only allowed us to see the island of Terceira so that is what I will focus on.  I would like to discuss a few criteria travelers can use to judge if they would like to visit Terceira.  I believe accessibility to the island would be a good consideration.  Other criteria to consider might be what activities are there to do on the island, what are the dining options on the island, and will there be a language barrier people might encounter while visiting the island.  Another consideration might be the accommodations available on the island. 

Starting with accessibility to the island I believe this island has good accessibility but it could be better.  There is an airport on the island so you do not have to travel to the island by boat however it is a smaller airport.  So you can travel by plane to the island but there are very few direct flights from the United States so you may have several plane changes and layovers.  There are usually only one or two flights to and from the island each day so you need to plan your trip in advance to be sure that you are able to travel on the exact days you would like.  Affordability is similar to any other trip. If you start your search soon enough you will be able to find great deals, but if you wait until the last minute the price will be greatly increased. 

Next let’s address the language barrier question.  They do speak Portuguese on the island as their main language.  On the positive side there is a United States Air Force base on the island so there are many locals who speak English because they work on base.  Most of the restaurants also have employees who speak English who will assist you if you need help with the menu.  Most of the restaurants also have menus with English and Portuguese so you will know what you are eating.  Something that might also be helpful is that there are similarities between Portuguese and Spanish so if you speak Spanish you might be able to understand enough Portuguese to get by.  

Polvo Frito (Fried Squid Appetizer)

Turning to dining options on the island there are many.  There are local restaurants and then close to the Air Force base there are restaurants that cater to the Americans on the island.  I believe though that if you are visiting a foreign country you should try the local food.  The restaurants serve a lot of beef and fish you can also find pork and chicken if you prefer those choices.  The Azores produce a lot of cheese so there are usually local cheeses for you to sample on the table at restaurants.  They also serve bread and butter with every meal.  It is like artisan bread I am not sure what makes it so great but I could not stop eating it.  For those travelers who enjoy sitting and sipping on hot drinks there are cafes all over the island you can find one anywhere you go. 

Volcanic rock beach near the house we stayed in.

View up the stairs of the old volcano

 Now to my favorite topic what activities are there to do on the island?  Of course there are beaches it is and island after all.  There are a few sandy beaches but for the most part the beaches are made up of volcanic rock.  The beaches with volcanic rock have concrete walkways to make the water more accessible.  As you probably guessed from above the island is an old dormant volcano so it rises in the middle of the island.  You can go up to the top of the rim and take beautiful pictures of the island and also see some of the other islands nearby (on a clear day).  You can also tour the caves that the volcano made when it tried to erupt.  There are also many parks throughout the island where you can walk trails and locals love to have large family picnics. 

Continuing with the activities to do there is a local tradition known as touradas a corda.  This translates to bullfights by rope which is exactly what they are.  A bull is tied to a rope and there are eight men who control the bull to make sure it does not leave the specified area.  People run up and down the street being chased by a bull it is nice though because the bull does not get hurt.  When the bull gets tired they put it back in the cage and release a new bull to continue the fun there are usually four bulls each night of the event.  Anyone can participate in this event it is similar to the running of the bulls in Spain.  It was an interesting event to attend that I would not have otherwise known about.  Another interesting part of the touradas was the fact that they decorate the truck carrying the bulls with wild hydrangeas.  There are huge bushes of wild hydrangeas all over the island that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful.

Local running in a traditional street bullfight

Wild hydrangeas bloom all over the island

I cannot personally account for the accommodations on the island because we stayed at a friend’s house but this is where what I could find with a little research.  There are several hotel options in the city Praia Da Vitoria which seems to be the closest to the airport.  Many of these hotels are along the beach and the room rates seem reasonable at around $100 a night.  Again just like flights the earlier you book the less expensive it will be.  
 Now after telling a little about all the criteria I would recommend a visit to anyone interested in a relaxing island getaway.  It is a beautiful and quiet island.  It is not over crowded with visitors and there are many wonderful activities to do.  I had never even heard of the Azores before we went but it is a must see location if you are fond of old world feeling and wonderful locals.  

Ruins of an old home on the island

Photos provided by the author.