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I remember first arriving in Faial island and thinking “this is such a tiny island, I’ll get bored in a second ” but it was soooooo far from the truth. The thing is that Faial, despite its size, is one of the most beautiful islands in the Azores, combining natural beauty with a vibrant bay with a huge marina.
It quickly became one of my favorite islands, because it has it all: a fantastic marina with plenty of water activities, a giant crater, a volcanic area that looks like something out of a movie filmed on Mars, some nice trails and some quirky abandoned monuments. Most activities are free of charge, and the ones that are paid are REALLY worth doing (otherwise I wouldn’t include them here!).
Enough talking. Here is my list of the…
Best things to do in Faial island
Go on a whales and dolphins Expedition!
If you are in Faial, you will have the unique opportunity to observe marine animals, namely dolphins, whales and turtles, live.
There are loads of excursions of this type on Faial, but I specifically recommend Naturalist – Tourism & Science for several reasons:
– It is GUARANTEED that you will see animals because they only leave if the land watchers find whales (and they leave 98% of the time). They work with Watchmen who are at strategic sites who, two hours before each tour, look for whales with binoculars. When they see them, they call the guides on the boats and off you go!
– The company guides are all marine biologists, so they have the technical knowledge to explain everything about the animals you will observe and the ecosystem in which they operate. I think this is awesome because if I just wanted to see animals, I’d watch the BBC channel at home 😛
– Naturalist is a start-up MARE-University of Lisbon that uses the revenue generated for research projects at the University.
By booking a whale and dolphin excursion, you are contributing to the study and conservation of nature – thus making tourism more sustainable.
– After the tour, participants receive photos of the observed animals by email.
Learn more about this activity and book your tickets as soon as possible as they sell out fast, particularly in Spring / Summer.
Price: 70€ / adult, 55€ / kid.
Have a gin tonic at Peter Café Sport
I have to start this list of the best things to do in Faial island with its most iconic activity, which is to have a gin tonic (or a beer, or a juicy steak…) at Peter Café Sport.
It may seem strange that I recommend going to a specific café, but Peter is not just a café, it is an Azorean institution whose history began over 100 years ago, when Mr. Henrique Azevedo opened this café.
Henrique’s son, José, started to help out at Café Sport while also working on the British ship HMS Lusitania II. José developed strong bonds with the ship’s crew, to the point that one of the officers, missing his son and as a way of mitigating his homesickness, asked him if he didn’t mind being called “Peter”. The name stuck. Even the locals started calling him by his new nickname, and for the rest of his life José became “Peter”.
Thus was born Café Peter, the meeting point for sailors from all over the world and, now, for travelers.
Hike to Caldeira (the famous volcanic crater at Faial island)
There are several interesting hikes to do in Faial island, but the most iconic one is descending to Caldeira do Faial, a volcanic collapse crater with unique characteristics, and hence it has been classified as a natural reserve since 1972. Caldeira of Faial is one of the last strongholds of native Azorean forest, where you will find more than 60% of the Azores endemic species and where you can experience how the Azores were before human settlement.
Precisely because it is such a unique and fragile ecosystem, Faial Natural Park controls the access to the bottom, issuing only a limited number of permits a day. In addition, a certified guide is mandatory for the Caldeira Descent, and this service usually costs €70 to €100 per person.
It’s a relatively short trail in terms of length (it’s only 4 km in total), but it’s a bit difficult because it’s very narrow and steep.
On the other hand, it’s common to find mud and flooded areas at the bottom, so do not even think of doing this hiking trail in Faial unless you have decent boots.
Price: 70€ to 100€, depending on which tour guide you hire and also on the number of people in your group.
If you don’t feel like spending 100€ on a single activity, you can also hike AROUND Caldeira do Faial, which is a free activity.
Visit an amazing craft shop
During one of my drives around the island I discovered a beautiful handicraft shop with the work of countless artisans from Faial. Each shelf was dedicated not only to a vendor but to a specific technique, such as fig tree pith sculptures, delicate pieces made with fish scales, dolls made with corn silk… a delight.
On the top floor there is an area dedicated to temporary exhibitions, also by local artisans. On good weather days, you can sit and watch the sea on the terrace outside.
This handicraft shop is one of the cutest shops I’ve seen in all of the Azores, so without a doubt one of the best things to do in Faial is to go there and do some shopping.
Address: you should write on google maps Centro de Artesanato do Capelo.
Price: the entrance is free of charge.
Learn how volcanoes are born!
One of the best museums in Portugal happens to be located in Faial island and it is dedicated not only to the Capelinhos Volcano, a volcanic eruption that occurred in 1957 on the island, but also to volcanic activity around the world, with a special focus on the Azores islands. It is called Capelinhos Volcano Museum.
The entrance to the museum is simply spectacular – suddenly, it seems that we are entering a concert hall, in a futuristic world.
A series of very interesting videos follow, about volcanism, and several sensory experiences that make the visit more didactic.
I, personally, think that one of the best things to do in Faial is visiting Capelinhos Volcano Museum, not only because of the museum but because it is part of an impressive and unique natural landscape that you will not find on other islands.
Address: Farol dos Capelinhos, at Capelo.
Price: Adult (15 – 64 years old): 10€ | Seniors (+ 65 years old) and Juniors (7 – 14 years old): 5€ | Residents of the Azores islands and children up to 6 years old don’t pay.
Family (2 adults and children up to 14 years old): 20€.
Do NOT go to this museum on a windy day! I made that mistake once and it was really scary – I got sand on my eyes, inside my ears and all over my scalp. It was NOT cool!
Walk on the Moon (or so it seems!)
One of the most incredible surprises that you will get in Faial is to be driving in a deep forest and, all of a sudden, it feels like you’ve been teleported by occult forces to the surface of Mars, because all you see is black sand all around you and an abandoned lighthouse in a huge pile of dust. It’s awesome! 😀
This incredible phenomena happens because in 1957 there was a volcanic eruption on Faial that added a tongue of land at the western end of the island, which is precisely where the Capelinhos Volcano Museum is located.
In this huge protuberance of land there are two beautiful beaches, but unfortunately access to this entire area is forbidden, for security reasons. Even so, there are two very beautiful viewpoints from which you can admire the “surface of Mars”. One of the viewpoints is behind the abandoned lighthouse, called Farol da Ponta dos Capelinhos.
The other viewpoint is at the top of the hill and to access it you have to walk for five minutes along a wooden fence. The view from up there is wonderful.
Price: free of charge.
Address: the same as the Capelinhos Volcano Museum.
Check out Faial’s AMAZING viewpoints
On my third trip to Faial I rented a car on my own and drove around the island with no particular route, just following my intuition.
It was wonderful, simply wonderful :’) I ended up meeting a lot of friendly people and discovering incredible viewpoints that I probably wouldn’t have found on my own, like the one you see in the picture.
If you also love taking photos at fantastic places check my article about the best viewpoints in Faial island – I included some that are completely under the radar ;)
Price: Free of charge.
Ride a wild road (unknown to tourists!)
I can’t believe that I drove in Faial SO MANY TIMES without knowing this particular road – it makes me feel like a complete idiot, because it is one of the most lovely, romantic roads on the island, completely surrounded by beautiful vegetation and it has a couple of really incredible viewpoints.
I am talking about the dust road that starts in Varaduro Comprido and that ends in the Natural Pool of Capelinhos, always parallel to the Atlantic Ocean and very close to it. You can do the road in both directions.
So for those of you who love driving, this is THE best thing to do in Faial. Moreover, this road is completely off the beaten path.
Price: Free of charge.
Address: you can start at either Varaduro Comprido or at the Natural Pool of Capelinhos, depending on where you are driving from.
Try the best grilled fish in Faial island
One of the things that surprised me negatively about the Azores islands is that, despite being islands, it is very difficult to eat fish. True Story. It sounds ridiculous but it’s actually sad; what happens is that almost all the fish caught in the Azores is exported to richer countries. I suppose that’s the price to pay for eating mangoes from Brazil…forward.
So, if you like fish, one of the best things to do in Faial is to eat grilled fish at the Atlético restaurant, one of the restaurants I recommend you to visit in the island. There, the staff will be happy to explain the different fish available on the day, displayed in a display case right at the entrance. They also have great meat dishes but why on earth would you eat them in the BEST restaurant in Faial to eat fish. Huh?
The restaurant itself is beautiful and very popular with the locals, so I recommend going early.
Price: average meal 30 / 35€ per person. Yes it is expensive and yes it is worth it.
Address: R. das Angústias S/N, Faial.
Go to the beach of Fajã
One of the beautiful things is that Faial has sandy beaches (and this sounds trivial but it is not, my friends. Go to Pico island to sunbathe among the pebbles and you will understand what I mean!).
There are not many beaches in the island, but the ones that exist are very very cute and my favorite one is Praia da Fajã, a black sand beach surrounded by dramatic cliffs.
This beach has plenty of parking spots but, unfortunately, no support structure, such as spas, cafes or restaurants. But maybe that adds to its natural charm.
Price: free of charge.
Address: Ramal da Fajã, at Praia do Norte.
Say your prayers at an abandoned church
One of the weirdest places on this list of the best things to do in Faial is definitely to take a photo of the old church of São Mateus. It is an old church, which was abandoned after the second earthquake that destroyed it, in 1998. It is interesting because it goes to show that the whims of the planet Earth still prevail over the technologies of the human race, and for me that is a wonderful thing.
There is not much to do there other than taking a photo, but it is just 15 minutes driving distance from Horta and it is near a lot of beautiful viewpoints as well as the famous beach of Almoxarife.
Address: Rua da Igreja, at Espalhafatos.
Price: free of charge.
Go for a walk in Marina da Horta
One of the best things to do in Faial island, at least for me, is definitely to walk by the waterfront in Horta, the main city (and where pretty much everyone lives).
You can start pretty much anywhere in the main avenue, called Avenida 25 de Abril, and then head south in the direction of the marina, where you can find an open-air exhibition of colorful paintings made on the pier by all the sailors who visit the island. It is pretty cool to check them and a lovely activity to do on a sunny day.
Price: free of charge.
Watch the sunset from the Capelinhos whaling lookout
If you feel like doing something romantic, then grab a bottle of wine or a couple of beers and go watch the sunset at the “Vigia da Baleia dos Capelinhos” (not to be confused with the old Capelinhos Lighthouse!).
Located on the western tip of the island and at a higher point, from there you have an absolutely privileged view to watch the sunset and it is definitely one of the best things to do in Faial island.
Price: free of charge.
Address: H5XJ+HP, Norte Pequeno.
Whatever snacks you bring with you, don’t leave your rubbish behind – don’t behave like an idiot!
Bathe in a natural pool
Even though this island is not as strong on natural pools as other Azores islands, it still has some decent ones and bathing there is one of the Best things to do in Faial island.
I personally like the natural pool in Porto Comprido, close to the Capelinhos Volcano, because it’s perfect for snorkeling.
Price: free of charge.
Fall in love at the romantic Falca park
If I had to choose ONE place in Faial where I could go back one last time before the island disappeared into the ocean it would definitely be going for a walk at the Falca park. It is a beautiful park, with huge cryptomerias and other large trees, where the sunlight barely penetrates.
Located at an altitude of 400 meters, Falca park offers a cool environment and is therefore highly sought after, especially in summer, by families who have a picnic there.
It also has a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Pico island and several benches where you can sit reading a book, contemplating the park or thinking about life. All excellent options for introvert people like me :)
Address: write “Reserva Florestal da Falca” on google maps and you’ll get there.
Price: free of charge.
Try Azores wines at O Cantinho das Provas
I still think that the best way to explore Azorean wines is to visit one of the best wineries in Pico island, which is literally just 1h away from Faial island, by boat.
However, if you are feeling lazy or if you simply don’t have the time, I highly recommend you to stop by Cantinho das Provas, in Horta, to have a glass of Azorean wine and have a chat with the owners, as they are lovely people who can teach you a lot about local wines.
Address: Rua Conselheiro Medeiros, 38, at Horta.
Price: free of charge.
