What to do in Faial Island - Azores

The best way to visit the Faial, Pico and São Jorge islands is to fly in directly to Horta, on Faial. There are daily flights in from Lisbon. Convenient ferries connect the islands and crossing times are 15 minutes to Pico and around 1 hour to São Jorge. It is possible to see whales and dolphins on the boat crossings as an added attraction.

If you fly in to Terceira or Sao Miguel there are connecting flights every day to Faial. 

Located 9km from the Horta airport and 18 from the ferries harbour, Casas do Areeiro is an odd place to establish a convenient base. We offer privacy, quietness and a starting point to discover three unspoiled island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Azores is the most occidental European frontier. Come in and discover the untouched nature, walking around, diving into the sea, watching the whales, dolphins and birds, climbing volcanoes or admiring our monuments and traditions.

The so called "Triangle Islands" offer you the opportunity of all these unique experiences. 

 

Triangle Islands

Faial, Pico and São Jorge are also known as the triangle islands. All of them have a hot green vegetation, a deep blue sea and a peaceful charm.
Horta, on Faial,  being an important port of arrivals and departures, kindly receives people from all races, speaking all the languages and hosting flags from all over the world. From here starts the visit to the island of Pico with his majestic mountain, vineyards, lagoons, whale museums and impressive views over neighbouring islands.
The ferry trip to São Jorge is unforgettable. Leaving Horta at sunrise and returning at sun set some times having always birds and some times dolphins and whales as companionship.
 

Faial is one of the most cosmopolitan islands of the Azores, known internationally for its marina and the volcano of Capelinhos. Is the island where the landscape seems to embrace those who arrive and never leaves them. The green always present, the blue hydrangeas, white and black of the houses, the mountains that rise up to touch the clouds.
Faial is also the color of many yachts arriving and departing from Horta port in crossing the Atlantic, the naked landscape of the volcano of Capelinhos, the deep crater of Caldera lined by endemic vegetation and the most dazzling views of  the neighbouring island of Pico.
 

Do not miss

The volcano Capelinhos erupted on September 27, 1957. The volcanic ash covered homes and fields, changed the landscape and the living conditions of the people of Faial, forcing them to emigrate.
Today, 50 years after the eruption, the plants begin to cover parts of the volcanic cone before the silent ruins gaze of the ancient lighthouse. The value of its natural, cultural and historic heritage is undeniable and the effects of sea erosion, rain and wind make it a place of study.
Nature reserve on the island, it is obligatory stop for those visiting the Faial and want to know a little about the telluric forces that created the Azores.
 

Caldeira crater

Visit to Caldeira - from the viewpoint of Espalamaca overlooking the city of Horta, and after a walk through the typical windmills, we found a flora of cryptomeria, heathers, hydrangea, laurel, cedars of the woods. The trip ends with a tunnel giving access to the Caldeira. The first view is stunning given its splendour and grandeur. It is an enormous crater of an extinct volcano to 2,000 meters in diameter and 400 deep, lined with luxuriant vegetation.

Take the opportunity and walk the trail that goes around the full crater. On a clean day admire the Pico, Sao Jorge and Graciosa islands.
Classified as a natural reserve, this sanctuary is one of the biggest attractions of Faial.
 

Varadouro bay

Varadouro, 2km from Casas do Areeiro, is a scenic area very attractive for swimming, diving and fishing.

It has a dense vegetation of incense trees, beech-of-islands and heathers on a recent field of lava (called a "mistério" by local populations). The sea bay shore is a high escarpment cut by streams.

Natural tide pool

See also the natural tide pool, located between the rocks and from where can be seen a gorgeous sunset.

 

Marina of Horta

The marina of Horta is an international sailing centre mandatory for anyone who crosses the Atlantic Ocean. The paintings that sailors leave in the marina walls deserve a long visit.

Here on practice many disciplines related to the sea - sailing, rowing, diving, fishing, and “big game fishing."


The whole island is gorgeous. Do not stay only in the main roads and squares. Stroll through small town’s streets, villages, visit the monuments, museums, crafts, the Botanical Garden, panoramic points and do not forget sunsets by the sea.
 

Emotions

Whale in the Faial sea

Watching whales and dolphins is an exciting and unforgettable experience. Land of whales and dolphins, the Azores are a real paradise for their observation. In its seas can find more than 12 species of whales and 5 of dolphins.

The geographical location which, once attracted to the archipelago the North American whalers, gave origin to many islets hunters of whales. Today, the whaling boats no longer go out to hunt. The long struggles at sea are just stories that the old whalers still narrate.

But the whales did not leave the islands. They still are in the water waiting for those who want to “catch” them. Bring your camera and become a "hunter" of whales and dolphins.
 

Presently Faial has 4 operational hiking trails. Designed by technical people from the Azorean Tourism Agency, are wholly or partially in protected areas of nature.
All circuits are properly locally identified. Get ready and discover the luxuriant flora, birds and scenic landscapes.

Two of the circuits are near by Casas do Areeiro. We have detailed maps at your disposal.

For more information about the trails click here .
 

Festivities in Faial

Festa do mar (The sea festival) - Starting the first sunday in August, is the main festivity of Faial and the Azores nautical festival par excellence. Has its origins in the Portsmouth-Horta Sailing Race held in 1975. The festival that has been growing and getting the sympathy of national and international sailors, spill over into the street where enriched with a cultural, sporting and profane component.

Espírito Santo

Festivity of Espírito Santo - There are in all the parishes of the island from the month of May. With component religious and profane is celebrated since the time of settlement of the islands.
 

Festivity of São João - Is celebrated along the road to Caldeira near the chapel of S. João and is a popular party that meets annually the island's population.

The Pico with the imposing mountain, vineyards growing from volcanic rocks, lakes, whale museums and a landscape of various shades of green covering valleys and hills, attracts us. Although the best views of Pico island is from Faial, your visit is an imperative.
To visit Pico is entering into a small world built during centuries by whalers, farmers and fishermen, with extraordinary view points and welcoming villages overlooking the sea.

Whaling boats

Lajes, São Roque, Madalena are three old towns where time has left testimonies of art and history. They deserve a visit.
Some places to visit are mandatory:

Arco do Cachorro (Arc of the Dog) rock formation that is reminiscent of a muzzle a dog.

Museum of the Whalers: important site of preservation of tradition and culture of these people, located in Lajes do Pico. Here is held in major pieces of whale bone and tooth, as well as the utensils used in hunting the whale.

 

Hight and deep emotions

Pico fromFaial

With 2351 meters of altitude, the Pico island mountain is the highest elevation of Portugal, a real challenge for anyone who likes adventure. The climb to the mountain is unforgettable; however it is advised to take a guide and to get informed in suitable places of the risks from a climb up to this altitude.
From the ridge sighted the other islands of the Azores Central Group - Faial, Sao Jorge, Terceira and Graciosa.

Gruta das Torres is a cave with more than 5 km long. Discovered in 1990. Was built by old volcanic eruptions and inside we can see stalactites, stalagmites and lava balls.
 

Festivities in Pico
The Whalers Festival, arise in Lajes do Pico, the last week of August, in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. Also this week, are conducted music shows, regattas of whaling boats, exhibitions and other cultural activities.

In Madalena takes place in the second week of September the grapes harvest festivities, with various activities, with emphasis on the regatta "Route of Verdelho." The landscape of the culture of vineyards on the island of Pico is a World Heritage since 2004.
 

Port of Velas

The trip by ferry to São Jorge is unforgettable. We see islands shoving off, islands approaching, islets and with a bit of luck dolphins and whales for company.

São Jorge extends itself over the ocean like a dragon resting. The grass is of pale green and the dark green bushes covering the cliffs that plunge vertically into the Atlantic. This predominance of green makes the charm of the island and called on the trips by a landscape that maintains the original beauty. Climb to the Serra do Topo where we have a magnificent panorama of the other islands in the central group (Faial, Pico, Graciosa and Terceira).
 

Fajãs of São Jorge

São Jorge is notable for its unusual "fajãs" at the bottom of high cliffs, among which we suggest a visit to Fajã de Santo Cristo, piece of land snatched away from high cliffs, with a small pond beside the sea.
Have the pleasure to walk by paths even travelled by farmers who grow the fajãs and pasture cows in green fields.

In São Jorge prove the genuine taste of their cheese. Small factories, many of them in traditional manufacturing, produce big cheeses that are a good beginning for a delicious meal.
 

Festivities in São Jorge
The Cultural Week of Velas, is the greatest exponent of event on the island, and takes place in the first week of July. This week, there is a taurine fair and the whaling boats race Horta - Velas - Horta.

The July Festival is held in July in the town of Calheta. During a week are a multitude of music shows, theatrical representations, exhibitions and sport events.