Trail Hikes - Discover Faial - Island of Nature & Culture

Discover the beauty of the island hiking in the nature

In Faial you will have the opportunity to go on unforgettable hikes, crossing spectacular landscapes that reveal the different facets of the island. 

The official trail network is made up of 10 routes, with different characteristics, distances and degrees of difficulty.

From the imposing beauty of the Caldeira rim trail to the picturesque Entre Montes trail in Porto Pim Bay and the challenging 19 km Dez Vulcões trail, you will find stunning trails that suit your skills and objectives.

Most of the trails can be done independently without a guide, but for a complete experience with information about the geography, geology, and flora and fauna, we recommend a guided tour with a certified company.

See more information about each of Faial’s official trails on this page and find the ideal routes to make the most of your stay.

Note: Because it is a sensitive area, of high importance for environmental conservation, the trail descending Caldeira can only be done with certified guides. (Find out more here).

Official Trail Hikes in Faial

Cabeço do Canto “From Capelo to Capelinhos” - PRC01 FAI

  • Type: Circular
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Distance: 2,6 km
  • Duration: 2h
  • Altitude: Min 253m / Máx 488m

Located on the west side of Faial, this circular trail begins and ends near the road that goes up to Cabeço Verde. With some steep ascents and descents, the trail goes through an area of great volcanic interest, passing through unique places such as Furna Ruim and Caldeirão. Along the way you can observe several species of flora endemic to the Azores and get a panoramic view of Capelo Peninsula. 

On this trail pay special attention to the colors of the trail markings because this trail intersects a Grand Route.

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Rocha da Fajã PRC2FAI

  • Type: Circular
  • Difficulty Medium
  • Distance: 5 km
  • Duration: 2h30
  • Altitude: mín 10m / máx 290m

This trail is located in the northern part of Faial and goes down the slope to Fajã da Praia do Norte passing through areas of orchards and vineyards. Among the points of interest on the trail are the viewpoints, Fajã beach (a beautiful black sand beach that is a great place to swim in summer) and the old village of Fajã, where the wine cellars still exist and wine is still produced. The return trip is via Ladeira dos Burros, which leads to the starting point through a gentler climb.

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Levada - PR3FAI

  • Type: Linear
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Distance: 7,6 km
  • Duration: 2h30
  • Altitude: mín 668m / máx 752m

Considered one of the most beautiful trails in Faial, Levada runs along the only existing levada (water channel) on the island. Although it appears to be a simple watercourse, the levada is in fact a complex work of hydraulic engineering and was considered at the time of its inauguration in 1964 to be the “greatest engineering work on the Azores”. The 8 km trail crosses pastures, streams, dense patches of cryptomeria forest and reveals beautiful examples of Laurissilva flora. It is also known for its numerous bridges and tunnels which make the trail even more special.

Since it is a linear trail, you can start at either end (the official recommended route starts at Cabeço dos Trinta and ends in Cedros).

During the walk you can also visit Cabeço dos Trinta, a picturesque volcanic cone that can be accessed through a tunnel that connects directly to the crater’s interior. 

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Caldeira - PRC4FAI

  • Type: Circular
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Distance: 7 km
  • Duration: 2h30
  • Altitude 881m / Min Máx 1024m

Have you ever imagined walking along the crater of a Volcano? This is a truly unique experience! This circular trail begins and ends at the Caldeira viewpoint, traversing the entire perimeter of the youngest volcanic crater in the Azores, formed about 1,000 years ago. 

Along the entire route you can observe the impressive landscape of the crater that reveals the “heart of the island” in its monumental scale. Inside, you can see one of the best preserved redoubts of the Laurissilva forest in Azores. Looking outside, there are panoramic views of the whole island with beautiful landscapes that extend all the way to the sea. A trail not to be missed!

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Rumo ao Morro de Castelo Branco PRC5FAI

  • Type: Circular
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Distance: 3,2km
  • Duration: 1h30
  • Altitude: mín 49m / máx 198m

This is a circular coastal trail that is of great geological interest with beautiful panoramic landscapes and the possibility of birdwatching. The highlight of the route is the Castelo Branco Hill, an imposing trachyte dome that resulted from a volcanic eruption about 30,000 years ago.

The peninsula formed by the hill, as well as its surrounding areas, are an important nesting site for some species of seabirds such as the Cory’s shearwater (Calonnectris diomedea borealis), common tern (Sterna hirundo), roseate tern (Sterna dougallii) and barolo shearwater (Puffinus baroli). 

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10 vulcões - PR6FAI

  • Type: Linear
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Distance: 19,3 Km
  • Duration: 7h
  • Altitude: Min 2m / Máx 934m

Have you ever thought of doing a trail that goes through not 1 but 10 volcanoes? This trail starts at Caldeira viewpoint, ends at the Visitor Center of Capelinhos and runs through 10 of the main volcanoes which formed the Capelo Peninsula. It passes several important places in terms of Faial’s geology, flora and fauna, and crosses very different landscapes, from cryptomeria forests to volcanic ash areas. Because this is a region of volcanoes, be prepared for many ups and downs. 

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Caminhos Velhos - PR7FAI

  • Type: Linear
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Distance: 17,5 Km
  • Duration: 5h
  • Altitude: Mín 3m / Máx 900m

This is definitely a trail for the hardy. Starting in the easternmost point of the island, at sea level in the parish of Ribeirinha, this trail goes all the way to Caldeira, crossing old rural paths better known as canadas. The trail passes by emblematic places such as the ruin of the Ponta da Ribeirinha Lighthouse, destroyed by the 1998 earthquake, Pedro Miguel Ponds, a place to observe migratory birds, and culminates at the imposing Caldeira.

This trail is also part of the Faial from Coast to Coast (GR01FAI) Grand Route, which crosses the island from east (Ribeirinha) to west (Capelinhos).

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Entre Montes - PR8FAI

  • Type: Circular
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Distance: 3,4 km
  • Duration: 1h30
  • Altitude: Mín 1m / Máx 85m

This is a trail with easy access from Horta that is full of beautiful scenery and a lot of history along the way. Being a relatively short trail (but with a great diversity of landscapes, viewpoints, and points of interest), this is certainly a hike not to be missed during a visit to Faial. Along the way you can see the protected area of Monte da Guia and Monte Queimado, the Lira viewpoint, the view of Caldeirinhas, Porto Pim Bay, the city of Horta and most of the southern coast of the island which extends all the way to Morro de Castelo Branco. 

This is the perfect trail to complement a walk in Horta or a visit to the Fábrica da Baleia Museum and the Dabney House, which are near the beginning/end of the trail.

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Ribeirinha PRC09 FAI

  • Type: Circular
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Distance: 8,3 km
  • Duration: 2h30
  • Altitude: min 25m / máx 377m

This trail that goes through the oldest part of the island, about 800 thousand years old, which existed prior to the eruption of the Caldeira Volcano, and that covers a significant part of its area.
The trail passes through the protected area of Lomba Grande and the Graben de Pedro Miguel, one of the main geosites on the Archipelago.
Besides the natural beauty, along the way you can also see Ribeirinha, an old village that was deeply affected by the 1998 earthquake and still has the ruins of its church visible, as well as the ruins of the Ribeirinha Lighthouse, also destroyed in the same earthquake.

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Faial from Coast to Coast GR1FAI

  • Type: Linear
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Distance: 36,7 km
  • Duration: 12h
  • Altitude: mín 0m / máx 1000m

When you walk this trail, you will be exploring the island from one coast to the other. Along the 36.7km of this Grand Route, you will have the opportunity to travel in time, crossing the various periods that shaped the island of Faial: from the area of Ribeirinha, in the far east, where the volcanic complex that originated the island arose more than 800 thousand years ago, to the Capelinhos Volcano, which emerged from the sea only 60 years ago, causing the island to grow westward. On the way, you hike through canadas, visit chimneys and caves, and climb up and around volcanic cones and craters. In the middle of the trail, at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, you are rewarded with an extraordinary view of Caldeira.

This is a very demanding trail, both for the distance and the difference in altitude along the way. You can organize this walk independently or with a certified guide for company, covering it in different stages over a period of 2 or 3 days.

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Descida à Caldeira

  • Type: Circular
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Distance: 3 km
  • Duration: 3h30
  • Altitude: min 574m / máx 908m
  • Descent with Guide Required

The descent to Caldeira is a special experience and difficult to describe. It is a unique and mystical event created by the magnificence of the surroundings and the feeling that you are entering a place virtually untouched by man.

The complex ecosystems that flourish inside Caldeira represent one of the best preserved strongholds of endemic Azorean flora. The monumental scale of the Caldeira, with its 2km diameter and depth of about 400 meters, provides a unique framework for observing these rare and sensitive species that make up the lush Laurissilva forest. 

Going down to the bottom is an opportunity to be closer to something vital – to feel the heartbeat of the island.

IMPORTANT: Because it is a sensitive area that requires careful conservation of its natural heritage, the number of daily visitors to the interior of the Caldeira is limited and is only possible with an accredited guide.

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