DISCOVER: AZORES
Experience ‘the Hawaii of the Atlantic’
ABOUT THIS TRIP
Marooned 1,360km west of the Portuguese coast and 1,925km southeast of Newfoundland, Canada, the archipelago of Açores shelters a world of lush subtropical gorges, dazzling crater lakes and towering volcanic ridges, adrift in the crashing waves of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Tales of pirate attacks and mythical princesses are interwoven in the folklore of the islands, but the stories of visiting cyclists are only just beginning to be written. Revered as ‘the Hawaii of the Atlantic’ for its lavish beauty, the Azores is a cluster of nine volcanic islands that exists as an autonomous region of Portugal.
But the Azores isn’t a destination where cyclists come to retrace the training rides of pro cyclists – it’s a spectacular island arena that beckons you to uncover new adventures of your own. To cycle around its shipwreck-riddled coastline and jagged crater ridges feels like exploring a forgotten island paradise.
- All lodging*†
- All food and beverages**
- Pinarello Dogma F Disk with SRAM RED eTap AXS
- Daily Bike Wash
- Custom Q36.5 × inGamba cycling kit
- Daily post-ride massage from a professional soigneur
- Laundry service for cycling clothing
*Pre/post-trip lodging is not included
†Flights are not included
**Beverages ordered by guests beyond normal amounts and away from group activities will incur additional charges
MEET THE GUIDES
Sérgio Paulinho
The World Tour veteran
After an impressive pro career that started back in 2003, Sérgio Paulinho joined the inGamba team at the start of 2022 after his retirement. But we’ve known him for a long time, as not only did he race against our founder João Correia, but he was also a teammate of our star guide Manuel Cardoso back in the day. A two-time national champion in Portugal, Sérgio has also won stages at the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, and in 2004, he won a silver medal in the road race at the Athens Olympics. So it’s fair to say the man has pedigree! It isn’t the racing victories that impress us most about Sérgio though, it’s his personality, his friendly nature on and off the bike, and the fact that he’s always ready with a smile. That said, if you find yourself running out of gas on a big climb, it certainly helps to have someone like him beside you!
THE TRIP AT A GLANCE
START LOCATION:
FINISH LOCATION:
TOTAL ELEVATION:
TOTAL DISTANCE:
DAYS RIDING:
6
GROUP SIZE:
8-14
LONGEST DAY:
Day 3 – 87km
Furnas — Nordeste
BIGGEST CLIMBING DAY:
Day 2 – 2,185m
Furnas — Lagoa do Fogo