Any tour ideas for Praia da Vitoria, Azores?

[flatbushfred]

The Zuiderdam is calling there on May 18th. We have some mobility issues, so extensive walking/hiking are out.  Any suggestions?

[Izzywiz]

 

My husband and I visited Praia do Vitoria, Terceira, on a Fred Olsen cruise in April 2022. It was a very emotional visit for me as my father had been stationed on Terceira as an air traffic controller in 1944/45 at the Royal Airforce base. The islands of the Azores were used as staging posts for transatlantic flights and also had aircraft that monitored enemy submarines and sea traffic. My Dad loved the islands and he spoke often about his time there and how beautiful the islands are. Unfortunately, he never got the chance to return so my visit felt like a pilgrimage to honour his memory.

This is my diary entry for our day on Terceira which may have some information that is useful for you. I also have mobility issues so the taxi tour was perfect.

 

Day 7. Monday 25th April 2022 

Praia do Victoria, Terceira, Azores. 08.30 to 17.30 (all aboard time)

A.M. Mixed sunshine and cloud, pleasantly warm but very windy in places

P.M. As above

Sea conditions: slight swell

We were up early again so we could get organised and have breakfast before catching the shuttle bus into town.

We left the ship at 09.00 and arrived in the town at 09.25 only to find that most places were shut because it was Portugal's 'Democracy Day'. Fortunately, there was a tourist information booth in the small square close to where we had been dropped off so I went to talk to the assistant. I explained about Dad and showed him the photographs before asking if there was any way that we could get to Angra de Heroismo. He was very helpful and rang for a taxi. We negotiated a tour and had a wonderful time. 

We got back to Praia at 12.45 and went to the cafe in the square by the tourist office for coffee and the custard tarts…..a bargain for €3!!

We got the shuttle bus back to the ship at 13.45.

 

Praia de Victoria Port.

• The port is industrial and is situated a 25 minute shuttle bus ride to the town.
• The shuttle bus cost £5pp for those on the 'saver fare' and was free for the rest of us. The fare covered unlimited trips to town.
• Passengers were allowed to walk within the port and out into the local area but there wasn’t much there, basically agricultural fields and a couple of farm houses.
• Ship’s tour busses were parked at the bottom of the gangway.
• I didn’t see any independent tours being offered but it’s possible that that was because it was a public holiday.

Praia de Victoria town.

• The town is small and quite picturesque with a small marina, a beach, a few shops and some very nice cafes.
• The shuttle bus drop off point was on the upper edge of the town.
• The tourist information booth was situated in the square close to the shuttle bus stop.
• There were maps and advice available at the booth. The assistant spoke good English and was very helpful.

Our independent taxi tour - Taxi Amigo (taxiamigo 66@gmail.com)

• The information official called the taxi driver.
• His name was Hildeberto and he spoke excellent English with an American accent as he had lived in the US for over 5 years.
• He came in a 7 seater van as was very happy to take Carol and Graham as well as us for €20 pp for 3 hours.
• We negotiated a route and were taken to the viewing point overlooking the lush fields before being driven through pretty villages to Angra do Heroismo.
• 
• Our first stop was at the top of Mount Brazil where we had a great view of the town of Angra and the coastline as well as seeing the county park and the fortress.
• 
• I had shown Hildeberto the photo of Dad and he was able to take us to the exact spot where Dad stood in 1945 so I had my photo taken there too…..a very emotional experience.
• 
•  

• Hildeberto then took us back to Praia and dropped us off in the square at 12.45
• A most enjoyable experience

 

 

[a5lson]

On 2/27/2024 at 4:51 PM, flatbushfred said:

The Zuiderdam is calling there on May 18th. We have some mobility issues, so extensive walking/hiking are out.  Any suggestions?

Hi, we’re on the same ship.  My private tour just cancelled 😞 have you had any success in finding a tour? Thanks.

[Izzywiz]

Have a look at my review of our day in Terceira which I’ve posted above. You could try contacting our taxi driver as he was excellent 

Our independent taxi tour - Taxi Amigo (taxiamigo 66@gmail.com)