The best hikes in São Jorge island

I am madly in love with São Jorge island and, besides São Miguel, it is the Azores islands where I spend most time. I have done dozens of hikes there which is why I feel equipped to write about the best hikes in São Jorge island.

And talking about hiking in São Jorge island is talking about its iconic fajãs.

What is a Fajã?

Fajã is a Portuguese word to define a “tongue” of flat land located by the sea, caused by either landslides of the nearby cliffs or by lava flows, from previous volcanic activity. There is a Canarian expression that describes fajãs as islas bajas, meaning “low islands”, and once you see one you’ll understand the term: it is as if the island ended by the cliffs and yet some forgotten flat lands survived by the ocean. It is very poetic 🙂

Why are Fajãs so special?

Fajãs are very unique to the Azores islands, Madeira and also Canary islands, but personally I have never seen as many of them as in São Jorge island.

What makes the fajãs of São Jorge island so special is not only their number – there are more than 80 fajãs in the island, although only 20 can be visited by land -, but also the fact that each fajã actually has its own “personality” that distinguishes them from the rest.

Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo, for example, is home to a surfer community and, in addition, it is the place where the famous clams of the island, a local delicacy, are caught.

Fajã dos Vimes famous for its coffee production, which is a rare thing to find in Europe.

Fajã do Ouvidor, on the other hand, has the famous Poça de Simão Dias, a huge natural pool of salt water.

Each one of them is wonderful and unique in its own way, which is why exploring them on foot is one of the best activities to do on São Jorge island in the Azores!

Can I walk to the Fajãs in São Jorge island?

Practically all of the best hikes in São Jorge island take place on its fajãs. Here is the list of the fajãs that you can reach by foot (I think it is complete, but I may be missing one or two!):

• Fajã das Almas
• Fajã da Fragueira
• Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo
• Fajã dos Cubres
• Fajã do Belo
• Fajã do Além 
• Fajã do Ouvidor
• Fajã dos Vimes
• Fajã de João Dias

Here is a detailed list of the best hikes in São Jorge island:

The best hikes in São Jorge island

Hike to Fajã João Dias

Why hike to Fajã João Dias in São Jorge island?

João Dias is a fajã that I am particularly fond of because, although it is an uninhabited fajã (there is not even electricity – each house has its own generator), it has a very beautiful community of people who live in other parts of the island and who gather there on weekends.

It was there that I met Mr. Albano, a really nice old man who not only invited me to have lunch with him but also showed me around.

Fajã de João Dias has about 60 renovated houses, equipped changing rooms for those who want to take a bath, and even a small black sand beach, perfect for a summer swim.

All you need to know about hiking in Fajã João Dias

There are two ways to do this hike on São Jorge island in the Azores:

• You can do the new trail, which opened a year ago, and which starts at the swing in the fajã of João Dias. It is a wide trail, on beaten earth (in some areas it even has cement), with beautiful views to the fajã. Both jeeps and quad bikes can circulate on this trail, which can be annoying for hikers. 

• You can also do the old trail, which has the advantage of not having any kind of vehicle. However, it is really the only advantage, because it is a steeper trail and the vegetation is very deep, so you can’t see shit.

Practical information about hiking to Fajã de João Dias

Hike from Fajã de São João to Fajã dos Vimes

Why is this one of the best hikes in São Jorge island?

I was told by a local friend that this was the toughest hikes in São Jorge island but honestly, for me it was quite pleasant 😅

It’s a relatively long walk (at least for the parameters of the island), but the landscape varies a lot along the way and in some parts it’s very beautiful, so I didn’t even notice the time going by..

The part I liked the most of the trail was right at the beginning, as soon as I left Fajã de São João, because the view over the bay is really beautiful.

On the other hand, I really liked the vegetation that I found along the way: fayatrees, Australian cheesewoods, wild monsteras deliciosas, cactus… it was wonderful 🙂

All you need to know about this hike

The trail is well marked. The floor varies along the route – sometimes it’s dirt, other times it’s stone stairs and in the worst areas it’s an immensity of vegetation on a very steep floor. In this part you have to be very careful not to slip!

Starting point: ponta de São João – at the very end of the village. There is a small car park and a sign saying “Baía da Areia”. You should start there.

How to do the trail: There is a small car park and a sign saying “Baía da Areia”. You should start there.

Beforehand, you should arrange with a taxi driver to pick you up from the church of Fajã dos Vimes and take you back to your car. The ride costs around 20 / 25€.

Practical information about hiking from Fajã de São João to Fajã dos Vimes

Hike from Serra do Topo – Caldeira de Santo Cristo to Fajã dos Cubres

Why is this one of the best hikes in São Jorge island?

The most iconic hiking trail in São Jorge island is the one connecting Serra do Topo (a viewpoint located at a high point) to Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo and then from there to Fajã dos Cubres. I am usually quite skeptical of famous things to do but honestly, if you only have time to do ONE hike in São Jorge, you should definitely do this one. It is magical!🥲

I particularly liked the first section of the trail, between Serra do Topo and Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo: the native vegetation is beautiful, you can hear hundreds of birds and we are presented with fabulous views of the fajã.

But even if it’s a misty day, the mountain range is enveloped in a mystical fog that is also very beautiful.

When you arrive at Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo you’ll be immediately amazed – the houses have all been restored, with small gardens surrounded by flowers. There’s even a small restaurant and a nice church.

It is, in my opinion, the second most beautiful fajã in São Jorge island, so if you have the opportunity, spend a night there 🙂

However, I didn’t like the second part of the trail at all, that is, the walk between Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo and Fajã dos Cubres.

The trail is on dirt, next to the sea, and there are A LOT of quads (it’s the only way to transport people and materials between the two fajãs), which raises a lot of dust and makes for a very noisy, 1h hiking trail. No bueno!

All you need to know about this hike in São Jorge island

Starting point: Serra do Topo’s viewpoint. There is a small car park there. 

How to do the trail: park your car at Serra do Topo – make sure to get there early as this is one of the most popular hikes in São Jorge!

Beforehand, you should arrange with a taxi driver to pick you up from the church of Fajã dos Cubres and take you back to your car. The ride costs around 20 / 25€.

Practical information about hiking from Serra do Topo – Caldeira de Santo Cristo to Fajã dos Cubres

Can I drive to the Fajãs in São Jorge island?

You can drive to some of the fajãs in São Jorge island, not to all of them. Here are some of the fajãs that are accessible by car:

• Fajã de São João
• Fajã dos Bodes
• Fajã dos Vimes
• Fajã das Almas
• Fajã do Ouvidor
• Fajã Grande
• Fajã dos Cubres
• Fajã da Penedia
• Fajã da Ribeira da Areia