Here are some of the best locations on Faial:
This is the beach we walked to in a couple of minutes from our rental home in Almoxarife. There is a sandy beach, campsite and a few restaurants on the village square.
Horta was first settled by Flemings in the 15th century. Many of the town buildings, churches and manor houses date from the 17th and 18th century. Over the years, fires, earthquakes, and fierce winter storms have resulted in much rebuilding though.
We were returning from our whale and dolphin watching boat trip that day.
Varadouro, a small town on the western coast, has turned its rough and rocky beach into a smooth and natural swimming pool by laying cement ways to guide you safely through the lava boulders. But the waters are still rough there – you need strong arms to swim against those waves. Great place though for relaxing, sunbathing, and eating at one of the restaurants.
Hedgerows, green fields (corn and meadows), warm winds, ever-moving clouds, and lots of animals. Some of them end up as road pizza made up mostly by dead birds, which are not used to cars on the roads. Birds sit on the road and play and we often had to break slightly to give them time to fly away. The same with dogs, rabbits, and cats – they like to lie on the road and take it easy.
Black cliffs or big rocks line much of Faial’s shores with sandy beaches only in a few spots.
The islands of Faial and Pico are only 6 km (4 miles) apart. There is a good ferry service (€ 3,50 per adult) between Faial and Pico, which takes about 30 minutes.