Faial Island is one of the smaller islands in Azores archipelago. Nonetheless very much worth visiting, here we’re answering to some frequent questions about Faial Island (and those you haven’t thought of yet). Adding some useful tips and solutions in as well.
Where is Faial island?
Faial Island is located in the Azores archipelago, and is part of its central group, together with the islands of Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico and Terceira.
In terms of dimensions, Faial is approximately 21 km long by 14 km wide, with an area of 172 km2. Its highest point is 1043 meters above sea level, in Cabeco Gordo.
When to visit Faial?
We’d say that any island in the Azores is best in the summer months or late spring (May, June, July, August or September). The visibility will be best, water temperature warmest and generally more favorable conditions for the main activities. Hydrangeas also bloom this season – and Faial isn’t called „the Blue Island“ for no reason.
- Air temperature fluctuates between 14° in winter and 26° in summer, on average.
- Water temperature varies between 16° in winter and 25° in summer, on average.
If you did not know just yet, weather in the Azores can bring a little bit of everything. Sun, clouds, wind, rain, you name it and the Azores have it. It is no fun going on a trip and not being able to take part of what you set out to do. Of course you can still visit outside of these months and have a great trip! Weather comes and goes so just be prepared for all types of conditions.
How to get to Faial Island?
There are several ways to get to Faial Island, depending on where you come from. I leave you all that information below.
By Air: Faial has an airport, close to the city of Horta. Between islands, flights to Faial are generally made on SATA propeller planes. The airport code is HOR, most airplanes fly in from Ponta Delgada (PDL).
By Ferry: There are ferries from almost all neighbouring islands to Faial. The ferry schedules can be found on the Atlanticoline website – the only ferry service of the Azores. Ferries from Pico should be running pretty consistently throughout the day. From Pico it’s a quick 30-minute ride across the sea.
Pico Day Trip option: If you are planning a day trip from Pico, that is certainly possible to complete. Since there are a bunch of ferries going back and forth each day, it should be no problem at all hopping on one at the Madalena port in the morning and then heading back at day’s end.
Just be sure to check the schedules as you do not want to end up missing the last ferry back! During a day trip (depending on what time you plan to start and end the day) you should be able to complete at least two attractions I mention in my Faial 4-day itinerary!
Useful apps on your mobile device
I recommend some mobile applications that you can install on your phone – they will be useful for your trip to Faial:
- SpotAzores: here you can see all the existing webcams in different points of the islands to see how the weather is. Because the weather is very changeable and it can be raining in one area of the island and sunny in another, this app is the fastest way to make sure and avoid unnecessary trips.
- Windy: essential app in our trips, even more so in the Azores and Madeira. It allows you to see forecasts for rain, clouds, wind, etc. to help you plan your days based on the weather. The usual forecasts are not 100% reliable. It also shows the available webcams in certain area.
- GoogleMaps: is the one we use to save / classify all the places we want to go / have gone and as GPS in rental cars. You can see other people’s opinions of the places, photos, restaurant menus, phone number of the places to contact them, etc.
- Maps.me: application similar to Google Maps but works offline (although Google Maps can also work offline) and in many cases has information that Google Maps does not have, especially trails. Useful whenever you are going to do a trail, to orient yourself, download the route from the official website of the Azores trails (click on Downloads -> GPS), etc. NOTE! When using maps.me you must downloads the maps in advance, so beforehand actually arriving to a destination, otherwise it might take you some time to download (and research) the new maps. Those maps are saved on your mobile device.
Some recommendations and warnings to enjoy Faial…
… and to make your trip a pleasant one and not a detraction from the island
- The natural lava pools almost all have freshwater showers but don’t use shampoos and soaps with chemicals in those showers. A quick shower to get the salt off and you’re done.
- Don’t allow the disturbance, pollution and destruction of seabird nesting habitats.
- Never try to touch or feed a wild animal – don’t be an accomplice to animal abuse!
- Do not buy handicrafts made from sea animals or extracted from the sea (e.g. dolphin teeth, turtle shells, shark jaws, sperm whale ivory, …). The ivory trade, currently the only valuable product of the sperm whale, is still an argument for hunters. Buy local handicrafts made from alternative materials such as wood, stone or vegetable ivory.
- If you visit the island in summer and enjoy the sea, remember that sometimes you may encounter a jellyfish (aguaviva) or a Portuguese caravel whose sting is painful and dangerous. The good thing is that these last ones float and are easily detectable, but in case you see one, get out of the water immediately and warn other people of their presence. In case you have been stung by either of them, it is very important that you follow these official recommendations: do not scratch the area of the sting (to prevent the venom from spreading); do not clean with fresh water or alcohol, clean only with sea water and very carefully; and in case the sting is a Portuguese dogfish sting, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
- Respect other people and the island: don’t play your music loudly on the beach or natural pool (if you want to listen to music, wear headphones), don’t leave trash, don’t throw cigarette budds, etc. Leave the beach better than you found it (if you find plastic, pick it up!).
- In some areas bathing can be dangerous due to strong currents. Don’t be too brave. There’s usually a flag (red, yellow or green) indicating the level of danger at certain time and beach/lava pool. Red means ‘don’t swim’ and I highly suggest you respect that indication.
- On the trails, you will sometimes pass through closed wooden gates, which you will have to open and, very importantly, close again, as they are usually the boundaries of land with cows grazing inside.
Getting Around in Faial
Faial doesn’t have a good public transpostation system for travelers. Buses are irregular and don’t stop at interesting spots – they’re meant for locals.
But there’s a solution! You can rent a car, a scooter, or hire a taxi/guide/tour for the day.
The best way to get around the Azores is to rent a car. The process is easy – if you have a valid licence you simply walk into one of the stores and rent-a-car for the day (or two or more). Parking all around island is free of charge and parking lots are spacious and well marked. Driving around is very simple as well since the island itself doesn’t have a lot of traffic and the roads are nice.
I can recommend renting from RentalCars.com. They have multiple options and are easy to rent at.
NOTE! During the summer months (June, July, August) car prices skyrocket with limited availability. There are also scooter rentals, but oftentimes the high mountain of Faial (Caldeira) is covered in fog and has limited visibility.
If you’re staying on the island for several days then the car rental is your best choice. That way you can see the island at your pace and pick and choose which places you would like to visit during your time on Faial.
Renting a scooter
I have a great experience with stopping by at „Scooter Rental“ and renting a scooter on arrival. Expect to pay between 30€ and 40€/day.
Taxi services
There are also numerous verified taxi drivers found throughout the island. Some of the hiking trails of Faial are linear (point to point, A –> B; for example 10 Volcanoes Trail), so a taxi driver should be arranged for pick up and drop off. Taxi rentals will cost you anywhere from 80€ to 150€ per day. Note that a taxi can accomodate up to 4 people, so sharing the expense makes it very affordable.
Faial Tours for Those Not Renting a Car
There is very limited public transportation on the island of Faial. It is nearly impossible to rely on buses that run infrequently and stop at limited locations.
If you’re short on time it’s best to book a full-day tour of Faial. Here are some highly recommended tours:
- Faial Island – Van Tour – Full day
- Faial Island – Jeep or Van Tour – Half Day
- Full-Day Private Tour of Faial
- Other Tours
SIM card in Azores
Before you read this part, you may wonder if you actually need a SIM card in the Azores. Well, if you don’t mind not having internet at all times, you’ll likely find free WiFi in restaurants, shopping malls, hotels, etc. If you plan on only using maps.me app, which can be used without internet, then that should sufice.
But if you will need data to get around, to either call a taxi or translate some words into Portuguese or simply search for more information, you may want to get a SIM card for your travels in the Azores.
For traveling in the Azores I recommend using a SIM card from Meo, Vodafone, NOS, or Airalo. (I’ll get back to Airalo later on, so keep reading to learn more!)
That said, if you’re planning on visiting other countries during your trip to Europe, you might want to make sure to pick an option that offers coverage in other European countries.
How to Buy a SIM Card in the Azores
You can buy an Azores prepaid SIM card in person in some international airports, mobile provider stores, convenience stores, or online beforehand.
Airport providers will usually have higher costs and lower data offers, so that’s not your best option. NOTE! Not every airport will have SIM card shops (especially smaller airports), so keep it in mind! Faial airport doesn’t have that option.
Therefore I’d recommend buying a SIM card directly from the mobile provider store. You might need your passport to buy one.
Also, this means you won’t have data right upon your arrival. So, if you prefer to be connected at all times, you could use an eSIM.
Let’s see about some data plans offered by Meo, Vodafone, and NOS.
Meo SIM Cards
Meo is a Portuguese phone network, offers a tourist plan that covers the Azores and Madeira:
- 5 GB data, calls and texts to Portugal, valid for 7 days = from 3€
Vodafone Portugal SIM Cards
Vodafone Portugal covers the Azores and Madeira and has 2 different prepaid plans available. It also has the best coverage:
- Unlimited data, valid for 15 days = 20€
- Unlimited data, valid for 30 days = 35€
NOS SIM Cards
NOS offers lots of Portuguese plans that also cover the Azores and Madeira:
- Unlimited data, valid for 8 days = 15€
- Unlimited data, valid for 1 month = 35€
Relatively new concept – eSIM: virtual SIM card inside your phone
If your mobile phone supports eSIM cards then that’s definitely one of the best options to get data in the Azores. If you’re new to this and would like to know more, read about it on eSIM Roamers.
I started using eSIM as soon as my mobile phone supported it. To buy eSIMs, I usually use Airalo, a reliable and widely spread eSIM provider.
Airalo on Azores has many different options available, some of them listed below:
- Pico: 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $5
- Pico: 2 GB, valid for 15 days for $9
- Pico: 3 GB, valid for 30 days for $11.50
- Pico: 5 GB, valid for 30 days for $17
- Pico: 10 GB, valid for 30 days for $29
- Pico: 20 GB, valid for 30 days for $48
You simply download their app and follow the instructions to instal the eSIM to your mobile device.
Where to eat on Faial?
Although there aren’t as many options as one’d like, there are still some very good restaurants you can stop at.
As for what to eat on Faial Island, seafood and fish are naturally good options. Be sure to try cracas and lapas, for example, or octopus. You will find also good meat from the cows grazing on the island. It’s always wise to make a reservation in advance.
- Aldina restaurant
- Canto da Doca restaurant
- Pasquinha restaurant
- Atlitico
- Genuino Restaurant
- Restaurante Rumar
Other useful information
- booking your flight: It was never cheap getting to Azores, but still, your best saving advice is flexibility. The more flexible you are, the cheaper you can get your flight. I use Skyscanner for purchasing tickets and Google Flights for the best date-comparisons.
- booking your accomodation: Faial is definitely worth staying overnight. There are plenty of accommodation and restaurant options in the main town of Horta, and Horta happens to be one of the livelier towns in the Azores. Depending on what you’re looking for there are various websites that provide accomodation of all types. The comfort of home can be found on Vrbo, the luxury of a hotel on Booking.com, best affordable option for solo travelers is Hostelworld. If you’re really on a budget, but have spare time, check out Worldpackers – they offer accomodation for FREE in exchange for work.
Some great accomodations:
- Hotel do Canal
- Azoris Faial Garden Resort Hotel
- Pousada Forte da Horta
- Hotel Horta
- H18
- do you need visa?: check all the latest information on iVisa (https://www.ivisa.com/) – the website is super easy to use (and apply for a visa too, if you’re required to have one!). It goes for all countries around the world, so mark that one down for your next travel!
- pack the essentials: powerbank, waterproof jacket, adapter, passport, backpack… check out the ultimate packing list for Azores.
To summarize everything… I believe that’s it! If you think there’s another topic that I didn’t cover, please let me know in the comments.
If you need assistance with planning your trip (either that be information, reservations and booking, flights, other tips) don’t hesitate to contact us and get yourself personalised travel advice.
