Faial Natural Park encompasses around 17% of the total area of Faial island across 13 protected areas
The Faial Natural Park encompasses around 17% of the total area of the island of Faial across 13 protected areas classified according to four categories: Natural Reserve (Caldeira do Faial, Morro de Castelo Branco and Caldeirinhas do Monte da Guia), Protected Landscape of Monte da Guia, Natural Reserve of Morro de Castelo Branco, Forest Reserve of Cabouco Velho and Forest Reserve of Recreio da Falca.
The Faial Natural Park, which excels in innovation, was distinguished by the European Commission as the destination designated to represent Portugal in the program (European Destinations of Excellence), an important award given by the European Union to the best places in Europe for sustainable tourist activities. This is the first year in which Portugal is associated (2011).
The Casa do Parque is a gateway where all the features of the Natural Park are made known, such as all the centers, trails, viewpoints and activities.
The Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Center allows you to learn about the geological and volcanic phenomena that gave rise to the Azores (with special emphasis on the island of Faial), and also discover a collection of rocks and minerals.
Opened in 2008, the center is a true hymn to engineering and contemporary architecture, it is located under an old ruin of a lighthouse inserted in a truly lunar landscape hidden in the middle of volcanic ash, it is a top science center.
The Faial Botanical Garden is a structure in the Faial Natural Park with an area of approximately 8,000 m2, located in Quinta de São Lourenço, on the outskirts of the city of Horta, Azores.
A pleasant place with unique beauty with conservation of endemic species and their propagation, recovery of habitats, arable crops used in traditional agriculture, a beautiful orchid garden with a set of three dozen species by the illustrious collector Henrique Peixoto (1917-2007) and lent by Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Horta.
The old Fábrica da Baleia where you can observe typical boats, mechanisms used to exploit sperm whales, a virtual simulator of a trip to a depth of 3000 meters and the Azores Sea Observatory.
Currently, Casa do Cantoneiro is an interpretation center for the Caldeira do Faial, a description of various aspects related to flora, fauna and geology and a model with the various trails and viewpoints belonging to the Natural Park.
The Caldeira Support House is an old house recently restored with the aim of providing the necessary support to all people who wish to go on trails in the area of this Natural Reserve (descent into the Caldeira, perimeter of the Caldeira and the 10 Volcanoes trail).
Before starting the Levada trail, it is suggested to pass through Cabeço dos Trinta, which is part of the Capelo Volcanic Complex and consists of an ancient basaltic volcanic cone.
The Levada route begins next to a secondary Bagacina road and is approximately 3 km long with a low degree of difficulty.
In addition to being able to tour this geological structure, it is possible to enter it through a tunnel and visit the center of the crater of this ancient volcano now covered by natural vegetation such as heather (Erica azorica), holly (Ilex azorica), bracel-do-mato (Festuca jubata), queiró (Daboecia azorica), polypodium (Polypodium azoricum), Tolpis azorica and tongue raptor (Rubia Augustinei).
At the beginning of the levada trail itself there is a water storage tank with a total capacity of around 1,400 m 3, the levada channels and the tanks therein belong to the former best hydroelectric engineering work in the Azores built around 1963.
The Monte da Guia Protected Landscape is located in Monte da Guia, in the parish of Angústias, in the city and municipality of Horta, on the southwestern tip of the island of Faial, in the Azores.
The Morro de Castelo Branco Natural Reserve is a volcanic formation and nature protection area classified as a special conservation zone registered in the Natura 2000 Network, located in the parish of Castelo Branco, municipality of Horta.
The Cabouco Velho Forest Reserve, also known as the Cabouco Velho Forest Park, is located in the parish of Salão, in the area of Cabouco Velho, in the municipality of Horta, on the island of Faial.
The Recreational Forest Reserve of Falca is a recreational forest space located in the parish of Flamengos, municipality of Horta, which extends over 14 hectares and features large trees such as softwoods from the conifer family, tree ferns that swarm among other species endemic to Macaronesia typical of the Laurissilva forests.
Its location at 400 meters above sea level gives it a cool climate, a fact that makes it very popular especially in the summer when the heat is more intense and which is also combined with the existence of picnic facilities.
The Faial Natural Park, which excels in innovation, was distinguished by the European Commission as the destination designated to represent Portugal in the program (European Destinations of Excellence), an important award given by the European Union to the best places in Europe for sustainable tourist activities. This is the first year in which Portugal is associated (2011).
The Casa do Parque is a gateway where all the features of the Natural Park are made known, such as all the centers, trails, viewpoints and activities.
The Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Center allows you to learn about the geological and volcanic phenomena that gave rise to the Azores (with special emphasis on the island of Faial), and also discover a collection of rocks and minerals.
Opened in 2008, the center is a true hymn to engineering and contemporary architecture, it is located under an old ruin of a lighthouse inserted in a truly lunar landscape hidden in the middle of volcanic ash, it is a top science center.
The Faial Botanical Garden is a structure in the Faial Natural Park with an area of approximately 8,000 m2, located in Quinta de São Lourenço, on the outskirts of the city of Horta, Azores.
A pleasant place with unique beauty with conservation of endemic species and their propagation, recovery of habitats, arable crops used in traditional agriculture, a beautiful orchid garden with a set of three dozen species by the illustrious collector Henrique Peixoto (1917-2007) and lent by Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Horta.
The old Fábrica da Baleia where you can observe typical boats, mechanisms used to exploit sperm whales, a virtual simulator of a trip to a depth of 3000 meters and the Azores Sea Observatory.
Currently, Casa do Cantoneiro is an interpretation center for the Caldeira do Faial, a description of various aspects related to flora, fauna and geology and a model with the various trails and viewpoints belonging to the Natural Park.
The Caldeira Support House is an old house recently restored with the aim of providing the necessary support to all people who wish to go on trails in the area of this Natural Reserve (descent into the Caldeira, perimeter of the Caldeira and the 10 Volcanoes trail).
Before starting the Levada trail, it is suggested to pass through Cabeço dos Trinta, which is part of the Capelo Volcanic Complex and consists of an ancient basaltic volcanic cone.
The Levada route begins next to a secondary Bagacina road and is approximately 3 km long with a low degree of difficulty.
In addition to being able to tour this geological structure, it is possible to enter it through a tunnel and visit the center of the crater of this ancient volcano now covered by natural vegetation such as heather (Erica azorica), holly (Ilex azorica), bracel-do-mato (Festuca jubata), queiró (Daboecia azorica), polypodium (Polypodium azoricum), Tolpis azorica and tongue raptor (Rubia Augustinei).
At the beginning of the levada trail itself there is a water storage tank with a total capacity of around 1,400 m 3, the levada channels and the tanks therein belong to the former best hydroelectric engineering work in the Azores built around 1963.
The Monte da Guia Protected Landscape is located in Monte da Guia, in the parish of Angústias, in the city and municipality of Horta, on the southwestern tip of the island of Faial, in the Azores.
The Morro de Castelo Branco Natural Reserve is a volcanic formation and nature protection area classified as a special conservation zone registered in the Natura 2000 Network, located in the parish of Castelo Branco, municipality of Horta.
The Cabouco Velho Forest Reserve, also known as the Cabouco Velho Forest Park, is located in the parish of Salão, in the area of Cabouco Velho, in the municipality of Horta, on the island of Faial.
The Recreational Forest Reserve of Falca is a recreational forest space located in the parish of Flamengos, municipality of Horta, which extends over 14 hectares and features large trees such as softwoods from the conifer family, tree ferns that swarm among other species endemic to Macaronesia typical of the Laurissilva forests.
Its location at 400 meters above sea level gives it a cool climate, a fact that makes it very popular especially in the summer when the heat is more intense and which is also combined with the existence of picnic facilities.
