Means of transport Terceira

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.