Gratis gids 10 verborgen natuurplekken in Europa. Meld je aan voor onze nieuwsbrief en ontvang inspirerende reistips en routes voor je volgende groene reis.
Faial: The Most Beautiful Spots and Practical Tips
The beautiful island of Faial in the Azores is nicknamed Ilha Azul (the Blue Island) because of the vast number of blue hydrangeas that bloom there. It lies west of Pico, and on clear days, you can see the Azores’ highest mountain on Pico from almost anywhere on Faial. This volcanic island, with the “caldeira”—a crater about 2 km wide and a staggering 500 meters deep—at its center, offers excellent hiking opportunities.
How do you get to Faial in the Azores?
Faial Airport is about a 10-minute drive from the capital, Horta. Here you’ll also find the harbor where many sailors stock up on supplies before crossing the Atlantic Ocean. You can take an inter-island flight from SATA from Terceira to Horta on Faial, but you can also easily reach Faial by ferry from locations such as Porta Delgado on São Miguel. Click here for more information about ferry routes and schedules. You can also easily take the ferry from Pico Island to Faial. To explore Faial at your leisure, a stay of 2 to 3 full days is recommended.
Caldeira do Faial, trail along the large crater
The views during the drive to Caldeiro do Faial are breathtaking, especially when the island of Pico is clear of clouds. In good weather, you can even see the islands of Santa Cruz de Graciosa and São Jorge. It can get quite windy at this altitude (about 1,000 meters), so layering your clothing is recommended, as are sturdy hiking boots. The trail is mostly narrow and, on both sides, sometimes runs right along the edge of the crater. Plan on a hike of about 3 hours before you return to the starting point. Caldeira – Faial PRC04 FAI can be found on Azores Trails.
Farol da Ponta dos Capelinhos and Vulcão dos Capelinhos, the new land
The Peninsula do Capelo is impressive; it was formed in 1957 by the eruption of Vulcão dos Capelinhos. The material spewed out formed a small island that has since become attached to Faial. The 20-meter-high lighthouse, Farol da Ponta dos Capelinhos, built in 1894, has been pushed significantly inland by the volcanic eruption and no longer serves any real purpose for shipping, but it can still be visited. The Centro de Interpretação, which focuses on the eruption and volcanism, is located underground here and provides a good picture of what happened some 66 years ago. The place is surreal, and the views alone make it worth the visit.
Peter’s Café Sport, a household name among offshore sailors
In the harbor of the capital city, Horta , you’ll find Peter’s Café Sport, a true institution among ocean sailors. Every sailor crossing the Atlantic between America and Europe stops in Horta to enjoy a meal or at least a famous gin do mar at this bar on the edge of the harbor. The bar is decked out with flags and other sailing memorabilia and is bustling from opening to closing time. Before stepping inside the bar, take a stroll along the harbor’s quay. Sailors are welcome to leave their own drawings or paintings here, and some of them are true works of art.
Entre Montes Trail and the Porto Pim Whaling Factory Museum
If you’re staying in Horta, the Entre Montes – Faial PRC08 FAItrail by Azores Trails. As the name suggests, you’ll hike over and between the two mountains, Queimado and da Guia. At the official starting point of this trail, you can visit the Museu da Fábrica da Baleia de Porto Pim. Here you’ll also find Dabney House. This family lived here from 1806 to 1894, and the house offers a fascinating glimpse into life back then. The museum is beautifully laid out and well worth a visit if you want to learn more about the history of whaling in this region. This Entre Montes trail also consists of ups and downs, but you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Horta Bay, Forte de São Sebastião, Praia do Porto Pim, and the surrounding islands. On the final stretch back to Horta, you could take a dip in Porto Pim Bay.
Praia do Almoxarife, the most beautiful beach in the Azores
Just north of Horta lies Praia do Almoxarife, which many consider to be the most beautiful beach in the Azores. The long, black-sand beach is surrounded by green mountains and bordered by a pier with a concrete platform where locals and tourists spread out their towels before heading down the stairs into the water. In addition to a parking lot, you can use the changing rooms and showers here, and there’s also a restaurant. On clear days, you can enjoy the view of Pico.
Ribeirinha, a trail in the northeast
Relatively recently, in 1998, Faial and Pico were struck by a major earthquake. On Faial in particular, this is still clearly visible at the Farol da Ponta da Ribeirinha, the lighthouse right on the coast, and at the Igreja de São Mateus, the church in Espalhafatos in the northern part of Ribeirinha. Both buildings were destroyed at the time but are still standing. The trail Ribeirinha – Faial PRC09 FAI by Azores Trails starts in the center of the village, where you can easily park your rental car. In wet weather, it’s definitely advisable to wear good hiking shoes.
Practical Tips for Faial:
The distance to Pico Island is only 6 km, and it’s easy to get there by ferry
The ferry between Faial and Pico takes about half an hour and runs several times a day
Depending on the weather, itineraries are subject to change
The best way to explore the island is to rent a car
The island is 21 km long and 14 km wide and has a population of approximately 15,000
The island is conveniently located between the United States and Europe
With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.
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A really beautiful six-day hike from Bologna to Florence. Communication with NatureTravelLab and the local agent was excellent. The information packet was waiting for us at the hotel in Bologna, and the app with the route worked great. Luggage transport was well organized every day, and our bags were waiting for us each time we arrived at our new room! We covered more than 1,400 meters of elevation gain, but unfortunately didn’t always get the views we’d hoped for due to cloud cover and some drizzle. Most days had great hiking weather. It was wonderful to walk into Florence on foot and stay there an extra day.
We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.
We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
Thanks to a great tip from Nature Travel Lab, we had a wonderful week in Italy. Fattoria di Maiano, just outside Florence, was a beautiful and peaceful place. And the suggested road trips were a great guide for exploring the region. We’ll definitely check here for tips for our next vacation, too. Highly recommended!
We spent a divine week in Italy: we walked the Path of the Gods, from Bologna to Florence—about 135 km spread over 6 days of hiking. Challenging distances and climbs, amazing views, nature, and a warm welcome every time we arrived at the agriturismo or albergo/hotel. All of this was perfectly organized by the Italian company Slow Active Tours, entirely in line with Nature Travel Lab’s itinerary proposal: upon arrival in Bologna, an information packet was waiting for us, complete with a hiking map, a booklet, and passports for the stamps. And the hiking app was very practical for along the way! Our luggage was transported every day and was always waiting for us when we arrived at the next location. Communication was smooth and clear. In short, highly recommended, well worth it, and well-organized.
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We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well organized. Due to an unfortunate fall, I ended up traveling with my luggage for a day, but that was handled well, too. We really liked all the accommodations. Only the Hotel Hebe in St. Piero a Sieve was a little less impressive, but it was still okay.
Looks fantastic! I'm definitely going to book a trip with this company... they're committed to sustainability and personalized advice. Definitely worth it.
Madelon and her team are true experts. Thanks to their years of experience and passion for travel, they manage to surprise us time and time again.
Beautiful hikes, the most picturesque spots—it’s a real treat.
I highly recommend them!
Nature Travel Lab provided us with very helpful and honest assistance!
If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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