THE ISLANDS
The Azores are a group of
Portuguese islands in the Atlantic
Ocean. They are composed of
nine larger and several smaller
islands about 1,369km west of the
European mainland and 4,382km
east from North America. The
Pico with its 2,351m is the highest
mountain on the island with the
same name. It is also the highest
mountain in Portugal. Sao Miguel
and Santa Maria offer the best
infrastructure and selection for
lovers of singletrack. There are
bike shops, shuttle services and
guides on both islands.
GETTING THERE
The easiest way to get there is to
take a plane to Sao Miguel (Ponta
Delgada, PDL). Azores Airlines
will transport bikes.
BEST TIME FOR RIDING
The ideal months are May,
June, September, and October.
Temperatures are around 22-24
degrees and humidity is lowest.
It’s also the quietest time on the
islands.
ON-SITE SERVICE
smatur.pt organises shuttles,
guiding, and other outdoor
activities on Santa Maria.
azoresadventureislands.com
offers entire trips as well as
individual tours and shuttles.
All guides are top-notch enduro
riders.
TRAIL MAPS
Trailforks offers all trails you
can fi nd on the islands. Perfectly
administered database with GPS
tracks and up-to-date reports on
condition and state of trails.
AZORES
which is cared for by the community and which is
constantly enlarged. All trails have been equipped
with signs over the past years that mark their
beginning for better orientation.We make the best of the stormy weather the next
morning and take a walk along the beach. The
spray of the breaking waves is huge and the wind
pulls at us. I fi nd it fascinating over and over to
feel the power of nature this close.
Sun, rain, wind, and fog constantly take turns
here on the Azores. It’s possible for fog to spread
over the plains in the morning, to have the
sunshine in the afternoon, and to experience a
short downpour in the evening. These changes
aren’t unusual in the middle of the Atlantic,
close to the equator though. Nature profi ts from
the consistent climate and the warm rain and it
makes the unique fl ora and fauna of the Azores
possible - year round. There are no heat waves
or cold snaps. Snow only falls on the highest
mountain of the Azores, the Pico. The forecast
promises warm temperatures, blue skies, and dry
weather when a high-pressure system from the
Azores is on its way to Central Europe. There is no
such thing on the Azores themselves, though. It’s
only called that because warm air spreads from
close to the equator to Central Europe.The shuttle arrives on time at 11am. Today we want
to visit the town Furnas and its lake with the same
name. Hot sulphur springs bubble from the ground- something we’ve usually only seen from pictures
from the USA or from Rotorua. Right next to it lies a
highlight for mountain bikers: the ‘16 Seconds Trail’,
which is the scene of various downhill races. Banked
curves, doubles, and tables are perfectly built into
the compact ground in different lines, while the 550
vertical metres pass through a jungle-like forest and
guarantee a rollercoaster feeling. There’s another
trail parallel to it and a third is being planned. We’re
so enthusiastic that we have to ride down through the
huge ferns a second time.
We fi nd the perfect ending to the day in truly magical
surroundings. The Caldeira Velha are natural thermal
springs with several pools. A waterfall feeds the top
pool and serves as a shower. The temperature is 34
degrees! A little lower, a smaller pool with about 38
degrees invites you to linger - so we lie on our backs,
look into the thick jungle surrounding the thermal
springs, and feel like we’re in a different world.
We let the memories of the last couple of days on the
two islands wash over us as we lay in the warm spring
water - tired but also captivated by the scenery. We
bathed our senses not only in warm water but also
in impressions, smells, and tastes. The affectionate
people of the diverse islands have impressed us
greatly. The possibilities for mountain bikers, no
matter if race bike, cross country, or enduro, are so
varied that we’ve already booked our next trip to the
Azores in our heads.http://www.ambmag.com.au - 49