Faial Itinerary (Azores Island): Things to Do in 2 to 3 days

Faial Island is not as famous as Terceira or São Miguel, or even Pico (where the highest point in Portugal is), but I can identify several places that make it unique and special, places that make Faial Island a fantastic place to visit on a trip to the Azores.

What are the best things to do in Faial Island, Azores? In this travel itinerary I will share with you all the main sights and attractions that for me are essential in a visit there, of which I highlight:

Visit Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo (volcano crater) located right in the center of the island: it is magnificent.
Visit Capelinhos Volcano on Faial Island, the most recent piece of land in the Azores and Portugal, originated by an eruption in 1957.
Visit Horta marina located in the city of Horta, opened in 1986. It is one of the busiest in the world, given its strategic location in the center of the Atlantic. Have you heard of Peter Café Sport?
The view of Pico Mountain (on another island) from Faial.

106 ilha do pico vista do faial 2 — Pico Mountain seen from Horta, Faial Azores

Ilha do Pico quando vista do Faial perto da marina — Pico Mountain seen from Horta, Faial Azores

More reasons to visit Faial island? See what I have in store for you in this 2 or 3 day travel itinerary in the Azores.

Note that: in this travel blog you can find information about other islands in the Azores:

- São Miguel Itinerary and Things to do in Ponta Delgada
- Terceira Itinerary and Things to do in Angra do Heroísmo
- Pico Itinerary

You also have an itinerary to visit Madeira Island here, in case you are planning a trip there. And also an article with Things to do in Funchal.

Article Content

Location and Geography of Faial Island

Faial Island is located in the Azores archipelago, and is part of its central group, together with the islands of Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Terceira.

In terms of dimensions, Faial Island is approximately 21 km long by 14 km wide, with an area of 172 km2. Its highest point is 1043 meters above sea level, in Cabeço Gordo.

Faial Itinerary | Useful tips

1. When to visit Faial Island?

I would say that any island in the Azores is best in the summer months or late spring (May, June, July, August or September). You will have better visibility, better water temperature and generally more favorable conditions for the main activities. Hydrangeas also bloom this season.

Air temperature fluctuates between 14º in winter and 23º in summer, on average.
Water temperature varies between 16º in winter and 25º in summer, on average.

Did you know that Faial is the BLUE island of the Azores, and its hydrangeas are mostly this color?

Extra tip: the Sea Week, main summer festivities on the island, takes place in the first week of August.

Eu, com o vulcão dos capelinhos na rectaguarda, pedaço de terra mais novo de portugal. — Me, next to Capelinhos Volcano – Faial Itinerary

2. How to get to Faial Island?

There are several ways to get to Faial Island, depending on where you come from. I leave you all that information below! 😉

Option 1 – By plane

Faial Island has an airport, next to the city of Horta. Between islands, flights to Faial are generally made on SATA propeller planes.

>>> Check possible flights with Skyscanner

Option 2 – By boat, from another Azores Island

Faial Island is one of the 5 islands belonging to the central group of the Azores, so you will probably have to travel between them by boat. It’s very easy, as there are regular Atlânticoline boats between them. I, for example, took the ferry boat to cross from Faial to Pico. Here you have the link for the official website where you can order a ticket or even a travel pass.

barco entre ilhas dos açores — The boat I took to cross from Faial to Pico

3. Take out Travel Insurance to visit Faial Island

I also recommend that you take out travel insurance for your stay in Faial Island, as it is a nature destination where you will certainly want to go hiking. Shit happens, and you should always opt for prevention.

>>> Travel Insurance with World Nomads

4. How to visit Faial Island, in the Azores?

As for how to visit Faial Island in 2 or 3 days, my recommendation is to use a car. However, there are other possibilities, such as organized tours.

Option 1 – Rent a Car to visit Faial Island

If you haven’t thought about renting a car yet, start thinking. The island of Faial is to be visited by car so you can easily access the most incredible places, and above all, you can stop as often and wherever you want along the ride. I recommend that you use Discover Cars to handle your reservations and compare prices between the different companies available.

Note that: For a trip between several islands in the Azores, it is usually not advantageous to transfer the car by boat, although it is possible. It's easier, simpler and more convenient to rent a different car on each island.

Option 2 – Go on organized tours to visit Faial Island

I do not recommend visiting Faial Island without a car, as I have already mentioned. However, even if you have a car, there are tours you can do anyway: I leave it up to you.

Excursions to visit Faial Island with Get Your Guide:
1 - Guided visit to Faial Island
2 - Horseback riding on Faial Island

Excursions to visit Faial Island with Viator:
1 - Private half a day Faial, a first impression

Excursions to visit Faial Island with Civitatis:
1 - Faial Island Full day Tour
2 - Faial Island Half day Tour
3 - Pico Island Day Trip from Horta

The important thing is that you always look at the comments of those who have already taken each tour, and at their ratings. Likewise, book those that allow free cancellations, in case you change your mind latter on.

Eu, no Miradouro da Espalamaca com vista para a cidade da horta e monte da guia — Me, visiting Espalamaca Viewpoint | Faial Itinerary

Option 3 – Visit Faial on foot, hiking

You can also discover Faial Island on foot. Actually, I’m going to recommend a full day hike on this itinerary. You can find info about other available possibilities clicking in this link.

5. What to eat and where to eat when visiting Faial?

As for what to eat on Faial Island, seafood and fish are naturally good options. Be sure to try Cracas and Lapas, for example, or octopus. You will find also good meat from the cows grazing on the island.

My restaurant recommendations are as follows:

Aldina restaurant
Canto da Doca restaurant
Pasquinha restaurant
Atlético
Genuíno Restaurant

6. Where to sleep when visiting Faial Island?

The island of Faial is small in size, so you should stay in the city of Horta. Hotel Horta has an extraordinary view from the pool to Pico Island. Other recommendations? See the tips below:

Accommodation	Score	Highlights
Porto Pim Guest House	9.1	Beach
Apartamentos São João	9.0	Garden
Casa da Baía	9.3	Sea view
Casa BuonVento	9.5	Sea view

Faial Itinerary | Things to do and see in 2 to 3 days

In this itinerary to visit Faial, I start with the following map. It has the 4 islands I already know in the Azores, so you’ll need to open it in a new page and zoom in on Faial to access all the things I recommend you do there.

Faial Itinerary | Map with things to do in the island

Day 1 | Faial Itinerary: 10 Volcanoes Hike

I didn’t do this hike, but if I go back to the Azores, it will be one of the first things I’ll do! The 10 Volcanoes Trail of Faial Island is about 20km long, but it is almost always going downhill, as you can see on this wikiloc map.

1. What does the 10 Volcanoes trail on Faial island consist of?

The 10 Volcanoes trail runs through 10 of the main volcanoes responsible for the formation of the Capelo Peninsula, starting at Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo. If you want to go to the base of the caldera, pay attention that you will need to request authorization and a guide, as it has its own regulations. Most people just circle the caldera and on the 10 volcanoes trail this is what you will do.

Along the walk you will pass through segments of other famous trails on the island, such as PR 03 FAI – Levada and PRC1FAI Capelo-Capelinhos. You can also take a detour to Cabeço dos Trinta, passing by the viewpoint of Cabeço do Fogo, and also by Furna Ruim and Algar do Caldeirão, ending at Capelinhos Volcano.

2. Preparation for the 10 Volcanoes Trail in Faial

I advise you to do this hike hiring an agency and a guide, as it is a full day hike, and will help, or even compensate, in terms of transport to the Faial caldera and back from Capelinhos Volcano. Don’t forget it is linear, not circular!

After a brief search, I found this agency that organizes several guided trails on the island of Faial: Our Island.

If you don’t want to do the hike, the two main attractions are very accessible by car: Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo, and the Capelinhos Volcano. You won’t get to know the interior of the island so well, but you’ll have time to enjoy its coast, and Faial has a beautiful coast!

3. Visit Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo in the center of Faial Island

Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo is undoubtedly an impressive and immense volcano crater. The blue colored hydrangeas around the place make it even more magnificent, and if you don’t want to do the 10 volcanoes trail, at least do the walk around the crater.

Eu na Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo, completamente verde e no centro da ilha — Me, visiting Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo on my Faial Itinerary

Túnel de acesso à Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo — Tunnel to access Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo viewpoint | Azores

Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo, uma das mais bonitas dos Açores — Caldeira do Cabeço Gordo | Faial Itinerary

4. Visit Capelinhos Volcano – Planet Mars on Faial Island

Walking on the volcanic ash of Capelinhos Volcano will make you believe that you are actually visiting planet Mars, or at least the Moon, and not planet Earth: the landscape contrasts drastically with the rest of the island of Faial, despite having so many other volcanic formations all over the island. Visiting Capelinhos Volcano is a unique experience, something you cannot miss on a visit to Faial.

Don’t forget to stop at the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Center and climb to the top of the Lighthouse.

Capelinhos Volcano trail map

108 vulcao dos capelinhos 2 — Visit the lunar landscape of Capelinhos Volcano – Azores

Capelinhos Volcano Eruption in 1957 – Impact on Faial Island

Capelinhos lighthouse already existed before the eruption, and was partially buried when the volcano erupted in September 1957, a volcano that only went extinct in October 1958.

This eruption marked the Azores a lot, but especially the population of the island of Faial. Firstly, because of the constant earthquakes that lasted more than a year and that clearly disturbed the daily life of the island’s population; second, because agriculture was drastically affected by the ash and also because many people were left homeless when their houses collapsed. As a result, under the US-issued Azores Refugee Law, nearly half of the island’s population emigrated to the US.

5. Relax in the Varadouro and Porto Comprido Natural Pools, in Faial

Very close to the Capelinhos Volcano there are fantastic natural pools that, in my opinion, are among the best you can find on Faial Island. Enjoy these waters with an extraordinary landscape around you.

Porto Comprido Natural Pools
And Varadouro Natural Pools

Piscinas naturais do Varadouro com a sua água azul e rodeadas por rocha vulcânica — Visit Faial Natural Pools

Piscinas Naturais do Varadouro — Visit Faial Natural Pools

Days 2 and 3 | Faial Itinerary: City of Horta, Monte da Guia and other places on the island coast

1. Difference between 2 and 3 days itinerary to visit Faial Island

If you have 3 days on Faial Island, you will use one of them to explore the coast of the Island, excluding the city of Horta and Monte da Guia. If you happen to have only 2 days, then you will have to do it all in one, and take a quicker car trip around the island, in one morning, without stopping for baths in the natural pools that you find along the way, and other activities. As you can see, the ideal is to have 3 days to visit Faial. In this section, I’ll assume you have all the time you need, so adjust the next tips to your own situation.

2. Visit the coast of Faial by car

The drive along the coast of Faial will be worth it in itself: below you can find a short list of places where you should stop, and all of them are also marked on the article map.

List of places to visit on a road trip along the coast of Faial

Lajinha and Poça da Rainha Natural Pools
Ponta Furada viewpoint
Ponta de Castelo Branco
Quejaria do Morro (cheese shop)
Ribeira das Cabras viewpoint
Praia da Fajã (beach)
Ribeira Funda viewpoint
Visit to some wooden mills in the Cedros area
Porto do Salão (and the natural pools)
Lighthouse of Ponta da Ribeirinha
Boca da Ribeira
Ribeiro Seco viewpoint
Almoxarife beach
Faial Botanical Garden

Nossa Senhora da Conceição Viewpoint (or Espalamaca Viewpoint) and Monte Carneiro Viewpoint

You should really go to these viewpoints even if you only have 2 days in Faial Island. They allow fantastic views over the city of Horta and Monte da Guia.

109 miradouro da espalamaca — Espalamaca viewpoint | Faial Itinerary

Vista para o Pico, do Miradouro da Espalamaca ou de Nossa Senhora da Conceição — Espalamaca viewpoint | Faial Itinerary

109 miradouro da espalamaca 4 — Espalamaca viewpoint | Faial Itinerary

3. Visit Monte da Guia: Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Guia and Caldeira do Inferno

Monte da Guia, on the island of Faial, has a beautiful view from the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Guia to both Caldeira do Inferno (“Crater of Hell”) and the fantastic Porto Pim Beach and the city of Horta. I visited it on a sunny day and loved the walk there, although you can go by car. Monte da Guia is the result of a volcanic eruption in the sea, but it is connected to the rest of the island.

Vista do miradouro do Monte Guia para a praia de Porto Pim e cidade da horta — View from Monte da Guia viewpoint to Porto Pim beach and city of Horta – Azores

Miradouro do Monte da Guia — View from Monte da Guia viewpoint to Porto Pim beach and city of Horta – Azores

Miradouro do Monte da Guia para a Cidade da Horta — View from Monte da Guia

Caldeia do Inferno - Monte da Guia na Horta - Faial — Caldeira do Inferno

Vista do miradouro do Monte Guia para a praia de Porto Pim — View from Monte da Guia viewpoint to Porto Pim beach and city of Horta – Azores

4. Visit Porto Pim Beach and Conceição Beach

Although Porto Pim beach is beautiful (see photos above from Monte da Guia Viewpoint), Conceição beach wins by the grandiose view of Pico island, which was one of the most striking images of Faial that stayed with me.

I liked both beaches, but I especially loved the slightly rougher sea at Conceição beach and its small waves. They are both in the city of Horta, and you should enjoy both, which is doable, as they are each located at one end of the city, with the seafront promenade separating them.

Eu, na praia da Conceição, Faial, com vista extraordinária para a ilha do Pico — Me, at Conceição Beach (Azores)

Baía da Praia de Porto Pim, com as suas águas calmas e areia escura. — Visit Porto Pim Bay and Beach in Azores

Areal de Porto Pim, das melhores praias do Faial e dos Açores. — Visit Porto Pim Bay and Beach in Azores

Praia de Porto Pim — Visit Porto Pim Bay and Beach in Azores

Praia de Porto Pim, Faial — Visit Porto Pim Bay and Beach in Azores

5. Visit Horta Marina and Peter Café Sport

I was told a legend related to the Marina of Horta and the murals with colorful paintings that cover it. It is said that any sailor who docks his boat at this marina in the Azores has to do two things before continuing his travels: one of them is to leave a painting on the walls alluding to his vessel; another is that he has to drink a gin at Peter Café Sport. Well, the marina really is an outdoor art gallery as you will see!

Another saying is that if you go to the city of Horta and don’t visit Peter Café Sport, it’s as if you haven’t been to the island of Faial. This is the reputation of the place. 😀

I actually expected more from the famous gin, but it wasn’t bad, and you should try it! Today Peter Café Sport is famous among yachtsmen around the world and a symbol of friendship for those who love the sea. They have their own brand, and you can buy t-shirts and other products from their shop on the island. Isn’t it a nice souvenir?