West Coast Terceira Island tour: Cheese tasting, volcanic pools

Viewpoints, a fishing village, fresh cheese and volcanic pools in one afternoon

A half-day van tour of Terceira Island's western coast, departing from your hotel with a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese. The route takes in Monte Brasil's four peaks above Angra do Heroísmo, the fishing port and church at São Mateus, a working cheese factory where you taste local cheese, and the natural swimming pools at Biscoitos set into volcanic rock. Pickup and drop-off are included. The tour runs three hours and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore western Terceira Island highlights

• Visit Monte Brasil caldera and peaks
• Stop at São Mateus fishing parish
• Cheese factory visit and tasting
• See natural pools of Biscoitos

The experience

You start from your hotel in the morning or afternoon and head west into the parishes that make up Terceira's most photographed landscape. Monte Brasil comes first: a caldera ringed by four peaks on the south coast, each one a separate vantage point over the Atlantic. From there the van moves to São Mateus, a working fishing village where you walk through the church and down to the port to see the boats and the ocean view the locals have built their lives around.

The cheese factory is the centerpiece. Terceira's first cheese maker still operates here, and you taste the regional cheese fresh: the kind tourists usually buy in the gift shop but rarely taste the way it's made. After that comes Biscoitos, a natural pool complex carved into volcanic rock where the water stays crystalline and the views stay open to the sea. You don't swim here unless you choose to. The pools are a stop to walk, look and photograph, and the van waits while you do.

The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese depending on the group. The van is air-conditioned and pickup happens from your hotel. Drop-off is the same place. Three hours total, which is why this works if you have a free afternoon or a morning before a flight.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from your hotel.
• three-hour guided tour in an air-conditioned van.
• a cheese tasting at the island's first cheese factory.
• personal accident insurance.
• and access to all four stops on the west coast route.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 14:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 13 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Azores Nature Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided route with set stops and pacing. Choose a rental car instead if you need flexibility to linger at viewpoints or explore on your own schedule.

Traveler reviews

4.98★★★★★★★★★★

52 verified traveler reviews

5 ★51

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is Monte Brasil and why does the tour stop there?

Monte Brasil is a caldera on Terceira's south coast near Angra do Heroísmo, surrounded by four separate peaks (Pico das Cruzinhas, Pico do Facho, Pico da Quebrada and Pico do Zimbreiro) each offering a different view of the Atlantic. The tour uses these viewpoints to show the scale of the volcanic landscape.

Is the cheese tasting the only food included on this tour?

Yes, the cheese tasting at the factory is the only food included. You have the option to buy other regional products there if you want, but nothing else is provided during the three hours.

Can I swim in the pools at Biscoitos?

The natural pools at Biscoitos are open for swimming if you bring a swimsuit and want to go in, but it's not required. The stop is designed to let you walk the volcanic rock, see the water and the sea views, and take photographs. The van waits while you explore at your own pace.

Does the tour include time in São Mateus village?

Yes, you stop at São Mateus, a fishing parish on the north coast, where the tour includes a brief walk through the church and a visit to the working fishing port so you can see how the village operates.