Faial Azores: tips on planning your trip

If you’re planning to travel to the Azores in times of COVID-19 please refer to these official sources when planning: COVID-19 Information from the U. S. Embassy in Portugal (in English) and Official Azores Government’s Information for Passengers Traveling to the Azores (in English, Portuguese, German, French, and Spanish).

“Faial Azores: tips on planning your trip” is the seventh installment of a series of nine blog posts about the Azores islands. The posts are meant to give you a detailed overview of each one of them to help you plan your trip, whether you decide to visit one, two, or all nine. If you have any questions or specific request, feel free to drop me an email and I’ll do my best to answer it or to put you in touch with the right contact.

About Faial

Perfect island destination for sailing, visiting a famous sailor’s cafe and exploring an extinct volcano.

Faial is known as the “blue island” for the abundance of hydrangeas of a very particular hue. These flowers are fairly common in all the archipelago, and they change color based on the pH level of the soil. This “hydrangea blue” is hard to get, but here, as you will notice, it happens quite naturally and effortlessly.

The scenery changes dramatically at the Capelinhos volcano, where the world seems to stand still. The volcano was active for 13 months between 1957 and 1958 and, after its eruption, the lava that slid towards the Atlantic Ocean added new land to the island’s landscape. Following this trail of destruction, people left their ruins behind, most of them migrating to nearby islands or to North America. These days, despite some plants that started to grow in the area, it’s still deserted enough to make you think about the force of Nature.

Horta, the only city in Faial, is worldwide famous amongst sailors for the almost 100-year-old cafe Peter’s (if those walls could talk… Well, they have enough embellishments pinned all over to tell part of the story, but I’m sure some secrets are very well kept) and for its Marina (decorated all over by the hands of the visitors who sailed to the island).

Top things to do in Faial island

Like the neighboring island of Pico, Faial has a very strong connection to the Ocean and to sea activities. In fact, a stroll along the Horta’s marina will show you all those who have sailed by (or stayed for a while) and left their mark on pieces of, I guess you can call it, unique street art. Lying on a black sand beach can also be called a sea activity; well, even if it can’t, we’ll say it is from now on. And, speaking of black sand, a trip to the extinct Capelinhos volcano has to be on the top things to do on your list.

Local Companies

Please note that I’m not listing ALL the local companies. These are local companies listed on Visit Azores website, with a website in English, and easy to contact from abroad (via social media or email). I do my best to update the blog, but if you notice that any of this information is outdated let me know.

• Endemic Azores (birdwatching, hiking, scuba diving) – www.endemicazores.com
• Naturalist (birdwatching, geotourism, hiking, whale watching) – www.naturalist.pt
• Tobogã Azores (canyoning, hiking) – www.azores.toboga.pt
• Azores Experiences (scuba diving, whale watching) – www.azoresexperiences.com
• Dive Azores (scuba diving, whale watching) – www.diveazores.net
• Norberto Diver (scuba diving, whale watching) – www.norbertodiver.pt
• Capelinhos Ocean Tours (yachting) – www.pureadventureazores.com
• Oceaneye (yachting) – www.oceaneye.pt
• Sail Azores Yacht Charter (yachting) – www.sailazores.pt
• SailDive Azores (scuba diving, yachting) – www.saildive.pt

Top cultural events in Faial island

As is common in all the archipelago, religious events take center stage on the island throughout the year: the Holy Ghost festivities in the Summer and the celebrations of “Nossa Senhora das Angústias” after Easter (a festivity that is as old as the Flemish settlement in the late 1400’s) are probably the best known.

But what this island does best is celebrating the Ocean around it, with a full week of events dedicated to the sea. “Semana do Mar” (“week of the sea”, roughly translated) takes place every year in August mixing music, folklore, and, of course, sea activities.

Azores food: what to eat in Faial

Like the rest of the islands, Faial’s traditional cuisine is rich in recipes for fish, beef, and pork (especially, sausages), usually flavored with pepper, cumin, and even cinnamon. So, how exactly does this island stands out from the rest in the food department? Through the local pastry called “Fofas do Faial” — small cakes with a distinct flavor of fennel seeds, stuffed with a rich egg-based cream.

Oh, and if you’re a gin and tonic enthusiast (I’m sorry I can’t vouch for this myself since I don’t enjoy the drink at all), then the folks at Peter’s make a really good one. Maybe it’s a secret recipe, maybe it’s the view that gives it the taste; I guess you have to try it and let me know later.

(Once you read all the posts about the Azores, you’ll see that we’re not really concerned with counting calories when it comes to the local cuisine. We need the energy for all the hiking we can do.)

Local souvenirs

We could all learn a lesson in reducing waste just by observing the Azores’ handicraft traditions — making works of art from what is around you is not just a talent, it’s a mastered skill (and genius, I might add). Local handicraft in Faial include works made from fig tree pith and flowers made from fish scales.

Creating art from fig tree pith is so unique, that the city’s Museum has a whole room dedicated to the local artist Euclides Rosa and his work.

Any memorabilia from Peter’s Cafe Sport is also a great souvenir to add to your “I was here” collection.

Where to stay in Faial Island

Please note that I’m not listing ALL accommodations available on the island, just the ones you can book via Booking.com* for convenience.

Booking.com

Know before you go

These are the most frequently asked questions about the Azores islands in general (and the island of Faial in particular). If you have a question that’s not on this list, feel free to email me.