I prepared a small road book in PDF format with all the information in the site and more details about each route.
The complete Azores by Bicycle road book contains the following routes:
- Flores
- Faial
- Pico
- São Jorge
- Graciosa
- Terceira
- Santa Maria
- São Miguel
Flores | 64.4km
Lajes das Flores > Fajã Grande: 54.6km
Fajã Grande > Lajes das Flores: 19.8km
Flores is the Portuguese word for flowers but in this case that could be for water too. This is island is the most western piece of land that belongs to Europe and its lagoons and cascades are breath-taking.
Overview – Flores – Elevation Profile
Day 1 – Lajes das Flores > Fajã Grande | 54.6km
Assuming you decided to travel by ship between the islands, you will mostly arrive in Lajes das Flores (the main harbour in the island) very early. This is a short stage but if you get a windy day, and that is not difficult in Flores, this small 54km will make you feel you ride 100km.
Lajes das Flores – Santa Cruz das Flores – 19.5km
Leaving the harbour you should follow the road signs to Santa Cruz / Airport.
In Lajes das Flores you have a ATM in the main square, close to the city hall. There are several coffeshops in the village and also restaurants. Leaving the harbour you will find Beira Mar restaurant where they have a menu plenty of options from pizzas to seafood.
Lajes das Flores – Santa Cruz das Flores | 19.5km
Santa Cruz das Flores – Fajã Grande – 35.1km
Follow the main road as you head North, in the top of airport’s runway you will find “Miradouro dos Caimbros”, here take the direction to Lagoa / Cedros, just following the main road. About 12km after Santa Cruz there is the junction to Ponta Ruiva, do not go down, keep following the main road and turn left on the next junction to Lagoa Seca / Lagoa Branca. This is section will be your day’s challenge and if you get luck there will be no wind. You will ascend to 700 meter. You will ride around 8km in this road and after that you will find the main road again. Turn right to Lajes and follow the indications to Fajã Grande / Fajãzinha. Consider here the turn-off to Lagoa Negra and Lagoa Comprida.
In Fajã Grande, look for the camping site close to the village’s harbour. There is a small coffe/bar and a restaurant and the owner offers the bathroom (cold water shower) and space for your tent and asks you kindly to consume something at his bar. It’s a perfect deal considering the view you will have in this forgotten place where the time goes slowly. Poço do Bacalhau and Ponta da Fajã are well worth visits.
Santa Cruz das Flores – Fajã Grande | 35.1km
Day 2 – Fajã Grande > Lajes das Flores | 19.8km
This is a short stage. You may consider during this day to visit Poço das Patas, a beautiful lagoon between Ribeira do Ferreiro and Ribeira Grande. You will find the walking trail about 3,5km after leaving the camping site, just follow the main road. You will need to leave your bicycle in the beginning of the trail.
After winning the ascent to leave Fajã Grande, follow the indications to Lajes, once in the main road, 2km after this junction you find the Rocha dos Bordões, a impressive columnar basalt formation. Now you just have more 3km ascending and then all way descending to Lajes das Flores. Close to the harbour you should have free wifi internet access. It is also nice to observe the life over the harbour, in small islands, during the summer this is the place where people meet to chat, ride your bike, fishing, etc.
Fajã Grande – Lajes das Flores | 19.8km
Flores Bicycle Routes – Download
.GPX and .KML files | ZIP file download
The Complete Azores by Bicycle Road Book
Soon will be available a complete PDF guide to download.