Panoramic view of green volcanic hills with a radio tower, coastal town, ocean and distant conical island in the Azores, Portugal

Faial: lunar landscape and maritime history

Bite-sized trip

  • Travelife
  • ABTOT
  • ATOL
    • Itinerary:
      Faial
    • Duration:
      3 days / 2 nights
    • Price:
      From £289 per person (excluding flights)
    • Transport:
      One way ferry from Pico to Faial (or v.v)

    Discover the island of Faial on this bite-sized trip. Faial is well-known for the blue hydrangeas that grow across the island - giving it the nickname of the 'blue island'. It also boasts a rich maritime history and is a welcoming stopover for sailors before they make the crossing to America.

    Elevated view of a coastal town with a harbour, green hills and a distant island in the Azores, Portugal

    White ferry boat on blue water in front of a coastal town with colourful buildings, a church tower and green hills in the Azores, Portugal

    Day 1 - Arrival on Faial

    Most travellers arrive onto Faial by ferry from nearby Pico, but you can also reach the island on a short flight from Terceira or Ponta Delgada. This laidback island is a well-known destination for sailors and its maritime history is ever present, particularly around Horta’s colourful harbour, which is well worth a stroll around. During your stay make sure you pop into Peter Café Sport, a cosy pub where visiting sailors meet for a drink. Depending on availability, you will stay overnight in Horta or near the airport, a 10-minute drive away.

    Day 2 - Explore the lunar landscape

    We recommend renting a car to explore the blue island, and can include car hire in your itinerary. The west of Faial expanded by three square kilometres in 1957 following a volcano eruption and now this dramatic moonscape is a popular place to hike. Drive to the Capelinhos lighthouse and follow the paths to impressive viewpoints over the crashing ocean. If you still have energy left, drive to the enormous Caldeira, where you can walk around the deep volcanic crater in two hours.

    Man standing on a rocky layered ridge overlooking the deep blue ocean under a partly cloudy sky in the Azores, Portugal
    Sailboats in a harbour at sunset with a large dark mountain beneath a purple, pink and orange sky in the Azores, Portugal

    Day 3 - Continue to island hop

    It's time to visit the other islands of the Azores. It's easy to reach the nearby islands of Pico and São Jorge by ferry. Infact, Pico is so close that on a clear day, you can see the summit of Mount Pico from the harbour at Horta.

    Accommodation

    For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options

    Exterior of Hotel do Caniço at twilight with illuminated windows, large trees and flags along the street in Madeira, Portugal
    Bright indoor lounge with a glass roof, striped armchairs and large windows overlooking a patio with palm trees in Madeira, Portugal
    Long glass-enclosed balcony with wooden flooring and chairs overlooking a marina with boats and city lights at dusk in Madeira, Portugal
    Wooden table with beers, sandwiches, chips and a fish dish overlooking a harbour with boats and a large green cliff in Madeira, Portugal
    Hotel room with a large bed, dark wooden furniture, a desk with a television, red armchair and patterned rug in Madeira, Portugal
    1Add to my trip

    Faial: lunar landscape and maritime history - In Style accommodation

    • Price:
      From £189 per person (excluding flights)
    • Included:
      In Style accommodation, excursions, transport and meals as described above

    If you're looking for a unique experience during your stay in Faial, consider our In Style option. Our In Style option is a little more special and unique, but still full of local character! We found a cosy boutique hotel in the center of Horta with a swimmingpool. After a day in nature, hanging out by the water or having a drink on the terrace is a welcome treat. If you're interested in upgrading to our In Style accommodation for this bite-sized trip, you can select this option below.

    Faial: lunar landscape and maritime history

    This bite-sized trip combines well with