Travel and transport agencies Terceira

Created in 2004, this agency offers various and complete services. Here you can rent your car, scooter or bike to get around the island. You can also rent canoes and jet-skis to have fun on the Azorean waters. Finally, the agency can also organise sea trips (cetacean sightings in particular), as well as excursions all over Terceira (guided tours). Possibility to organize transfers from/to the airport. You can book all your activities online.

Connections include Lisbon and Porto, and most of the islands of the archipelago. Lajes is the former major US base, which has been somewhat sidelined in recent years, even though the "coalition" of Americans, British and Spanish met here on March 16 and 17, 2003 to discuss the "Iraq affair", just before deciding to bomb Baghdad. The best way to get to the airport from downtown Angra is by cab. You can also leave your rental car here, as there are numerous car rental agencies.

TAP Air Portugal is one of the airlines that can take you to the Azores from Paris, Lyon, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille or Nice. After a stopover in Ponta Delgada (on the island of São Miguel), you'll land in Lajes, on the island of Terceira. You can then fly to other islands with SATA Azores Airlines, which has a monopoly on inter-island flights in the archipelago. Inter-island connections are relatively good, but flights can be cancelled or delayed due to the sometimes capricious weather conditions in the Azores.

Turangra is a travel agency specializing in local tours. It organizes nature or sea excursions, and tours around each of the archipelago's islands with a variety of activities (hiking, canyoning, canoeing, bike or jeep tours...). A serious and highly recommended agency for your outings in the Azores. The practical website also lets you book hotels on all the islands (or make combinations) and rent vehicles. Requests and quotes can be made online.

Correspondent of Avis and Europcar, Ilha Verde is a serious company established on all the islands except Corvo and Graciosa. Renting with this agency is an extremely rare practice and will facilitate the process if you plan to travel to several islands in the Azores and move around by car. The A category generally corresponds to a Renault Twingo. As for the other categories, you will have the choice between Nissan Qashqai, Ford Focus, Renault Capture... Minibuses or 4x4 vehicles can also be rented. All with unlimited mileage.

Terceira is linked to the USA, Canada, Madeira, Portugal and other European countries by SATA Azores Airlines, which also has a monopoly on inter-island connections. From France, however, you can only fly to the Azores from Ponta Delgada: you'll then need to take another flight to Terceira. Terceira has direct flights to all the other islands in the archipelago, except Santa Maria and Corvo. Inter-island flights can be disrupted by the sometimes capricious weather conditions in the Azores.

Teles Travel was the first travel agency to set up in the Azores about half a century ago. Today it is a major player in tourism in the Azores. The team is committed to providing excellent service to tourists: proximity, competence, team spirit, dynamism, passion and integrity. You will be able to make various excursions and discover Terceira: visit Angra do Heroísmo, the Algar do Carvao cave, climb Monte Brasil... The options are endless! A serious and friendly agency.

The local bus company offers a range of daily routes. The tourist office will give you a leaflet with timetables and routes.

Line 2: Praia-Angra. One return trip per hour between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays.

Line 3: Raminho-Biscoitos-Praia. Six round-trips per day weekdays between 6.45 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Route 8: Praia-Porto Martins. Six round-trips weekdays between 6.50 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Route 151: Lajes (airport)-Praia. A dozen round trips a day on weekdays.

The local bus company offers various daily routes, although it's not the ideal way to get around the island. The tourist office will give you a leaflet with timetables and routes. You can also consult the timetables on the website. These include

Line 1: Biscoitos - Angra; Line 2: Angra - Praia; Line 3: Raminho - Praia; Line 5: Juncal - Angra; Line 7: Porto Judeu - Angra; Line 151: Praia - Lajes (airport).

Autatlantis is a solid car rental agency with a presence on seven islands: São Miguel, Santa Maria, Pico, Terceira, São Jorge, Faial and Flores. So if you're planning an itinerant holiday on these seven islands, you can ask for a global quote. The fleet is renewed every year to offer you the latest car models and a high level of safety and comfort. Two types of insurance packages are available. You can also rent a minibus or 4x4 vehicle.

From June to September, Atlanticoline, the Azores' main shipping company, offers a single itinerary via Angra do Heroísmo. This is the purple line: Faial (Horta) - Madalena (Pico) - Calheta (São Jorge) - Terceira (Angra do Heroísmo). There is a direct connection between Angra and Calheta, on São Jorge. For the other islands, there will be stopovers. To reach Graciosa by ferry, the route is also direct, but departure is from the port of Praia da Vitória (white line). In winter, there is no ferry from Terceira.

According to the destination, from 22 euros to 98 euros the return ticket from Faial to the other islands. Direct to Terceira, São Jorge and Pico but with connections for other islands. Hours on the site. The company operates from May 3 to October 10 only. Departures several times a week in this season.

This car rental agency is new to the island, but it's already a success! With a fleet of just two cars, Flavio provides a high-quality, professional service. Very accommodating and flexible, he can pick up and/or return the car at two locations on the island: near the fort of São Sebastião in Angra, or directly at Lajes airport. You'll be greeted with a friendly welcome and briefed on the vehicle's features, and Flavio remains available and responsive in the event of any problems. A safe bet.

Atlanticoline, the Azores' main shipping company, operates a ferry service between Praia da Vitória and Graciosa, only from June to September. This line (the white one) also passes through São Jorge, Pico and Faial. For the rest of the year, Terceira is not connected to the other islands by boat, so you'll have to fly to get between them. Note that Atlanticoline operates a second line in summer (the purple one) from Angra do Heroísmo to Calheta, on São Jorge. For travellers who have the time and inclination to travel differently.

Another very serious car rental chain, belonging to the famous Bensaude group. On Terceira, you will find a branch when you get off the plane at the airport and another one in the Mar Hotel in Angra do Heroísmo (Portões de São Pedro, n° 1; open every day from 8.30am to 7pm).

Public wifi is available free of charge at various points in the city: in the public garden, at the town hall, Rua da Palha, at Teatro Angrense, Pátio d 'Alousndega, Praça Almeida Garrett and Rua de São João. And of course, you can access WLAN free of charge in most accommodations, as well as restaurants, bars and cafés.

A very friendly, responsive and honest cab driver who speaks very good English. He covers the whole island of Terceira and will be at your service for transfers between the various towns, the airport and the tourist sites. An added bonus: he knows his island inside out, and will be able to give you lots of historical and practical information on its points of interest. Safe driving and a clean vehicle; in short, impeccable service.