What is this Terceira and Faial self-drive tour like?
This 7-day, 6-night Azores self-drive vacation combines Terceira's UNESCO heritage and volcanic interior with Faial's Caldeira, Capelinhos landscape and maritime capital of Horta. Explore Angra do Heroísmo, Serra do Cume and Biscoitos before flying west to Faial.
Hotels, daily breakfast, automatic cars on both islands and the Terceira–Faial flight are arranged. You return the first car at Lajes Airport and collect a separate vehicle after arriving on Faial.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1 — Arrive on Terceira; collect your rental car
Day 2 — Angra do Heroísmo and Monte Brasil
Day 3 — Serra do Cume, volcanic interior and Biscoitos
Day 4 — Fly from Terceira to Faial; collect a new car
Day 5 — Faial Caldeira, Capelinhos and western Faial
Day 6 — Horta, Monte da Guia and a flexible island drive
Day 7 — Return the car and depart Faial
Is this package right for you?
This package suits independent travelers who want two historically and geologically distinct islands in one week. Terceira adds architecture and underground volcanic sites, while Faial offers mountain, coast and maritime heritage.
Drivers should be comfortable with roundabouts, narrow streets, winding roads and changing visibility. The itinerary also involves an airport transfer day and two rental agreements.
It is not ideal for travelers seeking a private guide, one rental car for the whole trip or a slower one-island stay.
Day-by-day itinerary
These routes are suggestions rather than included tours. Adjust them for weather, visibility, road access and attraction opening times.
Day 1 — Terceira Island — Arrival
Arrive at Lajes Airport, collect your automatic rental car and drive to your hotel for three nights. Use the remainder of the day to settle in or begin exploring Angra do Heroísmo.
Day 2 — Angra do Heroísmo and Monte Brasil
Explore the UNESCO-listed city center on foot, then drive or walk onto Monte Brasil for views over Angra and its harbor. Parking may be easier outside the historic core.
Day 3 — Terceira island circuit
Drive toward Praia da Vitória and Serra do Cume, then cross the volcanic interior toward Algar do Carvão and Furnas do Enxofre if open. Continue to Biscoitos on the north coast. Admissions are not included.
Day 4 — Terceira to Faial
Return the Terceira car at Lajes Airport and fly to Faial. Collect a separate automatic car at Horta Airport and drive to your hotel for three nights.
Day 5 — Faial Caldeira and Capelinhos
Drive through the Valley of Flamengos toward Faial's Caldeira, then continue to the volcanic landscape and lighthouse at Capelinhos. Change the route if mountain fog limits visibility.
Day 6 — Horta and flexible Faial exploration
Explore Horta's marina, Monte da Guia and Porto Pim, or follow the north coast through small communities and hydrangea-lined roads. Optional museums, boat trips and activities are paid separately.
Day 7 — Faial Island — Departure
Check out, refuel and return the car at Horta Airport. Allow time for the vehicle inspection and airport check-in.
What's included
Please note
This is an independent self-drive vacation. Guided sightseeing is not included.
Separate rental cars are provided on Terceira and Faial. Cars are not transported between islands.
Flight schedules, road access and the itinerary order may change because of weather or operating conditions.
Included
6 nights' accommodation: 3 nights on Terceira and 3 on Faial
Daily breakfast
Automatic rental cars on Terceira and Faial for the scheduled periods
Unlimited kilometers
Basic collision damage waiver and theft protection, subject to the rental agreement, exclusions and applicable excess
Inter-island flight from Terceira to Faial
Applicable hotel and airport taxes, excluding municipal tourist taxes payable locally
24-hour assistance during the trip
Not included
Fuel, parking charges, traffic fines and other driving expenses
Super collision damage waiver, reduced-excess coverage and other optional insurance
Additional drivers, child seats, GPS units, upgrades and other rental extras unless quoted
Meals, admission fees, guided tours and optional activities
Municipal tourist taxes payable directly at hotel check-in
Rental-car information
Automatic transmission is included, but the exact make and model are subject to availability. The lead driver must satisfy the supplier's license, age, identification and payment-card requirements.
Driving preparation
Bring the original driver's license, accepted identification and a payment card in the lead driver's name. Expect narrow historic streets, winding roads, steep grades and changing mountain visibility.
Dates & rates
Understanding the rates
Package Type
Some packages offer a choice of hotel categories. The category selected affects the hotels and per-person price.
Superior/Premier Hotel Package — First-class 4-star lodging in standard rooms.
Comfort/Standard Hotel Package — Tourist-class 4-star lodging in standard rooms. On smaller islands, the package may use selected first-class 3-star properties.
Hotel Notes
Each package includes a summary of the proposed hotels. For complete property details, consult the hotel's official website.
Named hotels are subject to availability. If a listed hotel is unavailable, a comparable property of the same or a better rating may be offered.
If you prefer a specific hotel, ocean-view room or other room feature, tell us when submitting your booking request. Requests cannot be guaranteed, and additional charges may apply.
Room and Car Occupancy
Self-drive prices are per person and vary according to the number of travelers sharing the room and rental car.
Solo — One person traveling alone, occupying a private room and using the rental car alone.
Single — One person occupying a private room while sharing the rental car and package arrangements with others in the travel party.
Double — Two people sharing one room and the rental car.
Triple — Three people sharing one room and the rental car.
Note: Hotels shown are for reference only. We reserve the right to change hotels based on availability, group size or other factors. Should an alternate hotel be required, it will be of the same or a better rating.
Comfort Hotels
Angra do Heroismo - Hotel Cruzeiro
Hotel Cruzeiro, a 4 star Hotel, is the latest hotel unit to open in Angra do Heroísmo, Unesco World Heritage city, located 5-minute walk from various points of interest, such as the Angra bay, Sé Church, Old Town Square (Praça Velha), Museum, Pico da Memória, among others.
Wi-Fi access is available in all areas of the hotel.
The hotel has a restaurant and a bar, where lunches, dinners and snacks are served and private parking.
Horta - Hotel Horta
Located in the old Azorean town of Horta, the newly-renovated Hotel Horta offers views of Pico Island. It features rooms with balconies, a large garden and an outdoor pool.
Horta’s rooms are decorated in neutral colors, and have wooden furniture. Each of the air-conditioned rooms has a cable TV and a private bathroom with a hairdryer.
The hotel’s panoramic restaurant offers international and regional dishes. The bar and the lounge offer views of the outdoor pool, the pool bar and the garden.
Guests can rent a bicycle to explore the surrounding area. Horta is famous for the whale watching and the volcanoes of Capelinhos and Caldeira.
Horta Airport is 4.3 mi away, and the hotel provides free private parking on site.
Superior Hotels
Angra do Heroísmo - Pousada Castelo de S. Sebastiao
Pousada Castelo de S. Sebastiao is a 8-minute walk from the beach. Set on top of a cliff, Pousada de Angra do Heroismo Castelo de S. Sebastiao is a modern hotel housed in a 16th century Fortress known as Saint Sebastian's Little Castle.
The Pousada offer rooms and one suite with modern décor and furnishing. The suite and some rooms include terraces with views over the sea and the Monte Brasil. All living units contain LCD TV and internet connection.
There are 2 swimming pools: one for adults and the other for children. Guests can enjoy the regional cuisine while taking in views of the sea and pool area.
The Pousada is located in the village centre of Angra do Heroísmo was classified World Heritage by UNESCO. Angra do Heroísmo also offers many activitiy options, such as marine hunting, diving, sport fishing and boat tours.
Pousada de Angra do Heroismo Castelo de S. Sebastiao is located at a 23-minute drive from the Lajes International Airport.
Horta - Pousada Forte da Horta
Just an 8 minute walk from the beach, The Pousada Forte da Horta is set in a 16th century fortress with a view of Horta Bay and Pico island. This Pousada features air conditioned rooms, a swimming pool, and a regional restaurant. Most of the rooms offer a view of the marina.
Classified as a National Monument since 1947, the Pousada Forte da Horta offers modern rooms with cable TV and a minibar. Each private bathroom is stocked with a hairdryer and bathrobe.
A breakfast buffet is served daily on the poolside veranda terrace. Guests may taste fried pork, tuna and passion fruit pie in Pousada Forte da Horta’s restaurant.
The swimming pool area is furnished with sun beds, tables and parasols. Indoors, there is a lounge with various seating areas and a bar with a piano.
The 24-hour reception offers car rentals and free on-site parking. The Horta Airport is just 5.4 miles from the Pousada Forte da Horta.
Booking & policies
Booking Your Trip
While prices are shown in USA dollars, we can also charge in Euros at the prevailing currency conversion daily rate.
Early booking is advised. Availability of accommodations
and
inter-island flight is limited especially in summer months.
If hotels named in itinerary are not available at time of booking, alternate similar
same rating properties will be confirmed, and subject to new quote.
Order of islands visited may need to be altered due to
flight schedule changes.
Unless otherwise indicated, rental car is included for all islands.
Quotations with different hotels have a non refundable deposit
of $50. Deposit will be credited towards final booking price.
Booking Your Trip With Air
International airfare for this package is additional to
price shown on Rates table. Departure cities are limited to those serviced
by SATA International (Azores Airlines).
If you want a quote for airfare to be included make sure to
check yes when prompted during the booking/reservation
request process.
Booking Conditions
A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $350 per
person per vacation is required to book and hold both land and air for you.
Final payment is due 50 days before departure.
Option to pay full price up front is available.
Cancellation Policy - Land Portion
$350 per person if canceled up to 50 days prior departure.
25% of total reservation if cancelled 49-39 days prior departure plus any other additional fee.
50% of total reservation if canceled 38-31 days prior departure plus any other additional fee.
No refunds if canceled less than 30 days prior departure.
Cancellation Policy - Airfare
Airfare cancellation terms and conditions will be provided to you before ticket is booked.
Refund Fees
A 3.9% credit card assessed fee will be subtracted from any refunded payment, including deposits refunded due to services requested not available for date of booking.
I Want To Book. What Do I Do Next?
Click on the Request pricing button to send your reservation request.
No payment will be collected at this time.
Our travel Associate will contact you via email to answer any questions and book your Package
If you don't plan to book at this time please click here to contact us with any questions or concerns about your trip or your holiday
.
Booking Changes
A fee of $35 per person, per transaction, will be charged
for any revision or alteration made to a reservation after the booking
is confirmed.
If the change increases the value of the booking, the $35
per person fee will be waived.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase travel/cancellation
insurance.
Common questions about this package
Are rental cars included on both islands?
Yes. Separate automatic cars are included on Terceira and Faial for the scheduled periods.
Do I take the Terceira car on the flight?
No. Return it at Lajes Airport and collect another vehicle after arriving on Faial.
Is the inter-island flight included?
Yes. The Terceira–Faial flight is included. Flights to Terceira and home from Faial are not included unless quoted.
What rental-car insurance is included?
Basic collision damage waiver and theft protection are included, subject to each supplier's agreement, exclusions and excess.
Are fuel, parking and admissions included?
No. These and other personal expenses are paid locally.
Can I visit Pico from Faial?
A Pico day trip may be added separately, subject to ferry schedules and availability. The Faial rental car does not travel to Pico under this package.
What documents are required for the cars?
The lead driver generally needs an original valid license, accepted identification and a payment card in the lead driver's name. Confirm whether an International Driving Permit is required.
Can I add extra nights?
Yes. Extra nights may be added subject to hotel, flight and rental-car availability and a revised quotation.
What happens if the island flight changes?
Weather can affect Azores flights. The local team will advise about available arrangements, and hotel or car bookings may require adjustment.
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To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
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Required for the website to work properly and cannot be switched off.
Preferences
Allows the website to remember choices and settings that improve your experience.
Statistics
Helps us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve its performance and content.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
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