Faial Island Trail

(20km, +800m, -700m, 4-5 h riding time)

Today you will learn a lot about whales and their history on the island of Faial.

You will get to know your horse and your equipment.

We start on gently rising meadow paths. After a short time, we begin the first trot and canter. We reach a whale watching point. With a little luck and calm sea, we can observe whales and dolphins. We come back to the lodge along the steep cliff coast.

A delicious lunch is waiting for you.

In the afternoon we ride to two small whaling harbors. The horse resting place for the night is in a small hamlet.

We drive back to the lodge. The first day of the trail might end with a drink at the bar and a dinner of our kitchen chef.

(20km, +550m, -450m, 4 h riding time)

Today you will learn about the impact of the 1998s earthquake on Faial.

Drive to the horses in the morning. We continue riding along the coast through blue hydrangea hedges, to the island's former lighthouse, which was destroyed in the earthquake. The nearby village still has a crumbling church that testifies the power of the earthquake.

At noon we will appreciate our saddlebag-picnic right at the seaside. Time to go for a swim or to wet your feet.

After this nice break we will continue our ride. Wonderful views to the sea and the neighborhood islands São Jorge, Pico and Graciosa.

After a while we reach our paddock for the night. The transfer team is bringing you back to the Ecolodge. Enjoy and relax at the pool. Dinner is waiting for you.

(15 km, +400m, -500m, 3h riding time)

Today enjoy a ½ day free of riding.

On your free half-day you can join a Whale Watching Tour on the ocean to observe whales and dolphins (extra). Or join a guided Horta Tour to visit the cosmopolitan sailing, harbor and whalers town and visit the huge Volcano Crater “Caldeira of Faial” (extra) or simply relax at the Ecolodge.

Your lunch will be served at the Ecolodge.

On the second part of the day you will ride from the horses paddock to the forest park “Cabouco”. Nice canters and views are waiting for you. Sometimes we meet farmers on their way to their cattle. The heather trees along our route look like giant broccoli. The Atlantic Ocean glitters in the sun.

Our trail lead us through country roads down to the village of Cedros.

Dinner at the Ecolodge.

(22km, +500m, -550m, 4-5 h riding time)

After your breakfast we will drive to our Jungle Camp. You will prepare your horse. We ride up to the Green Volcano called “Cabeço Verde”. From the top of this volcano we can admire spectacular views over an amazing landscape and the volcano of Capelinhos. On our way down we pass the unique vineyards of Faial Island. A wine growing area which, thanks to the ashes of the last eruption and the special way of growing the grapes, is creating a wonderful homemade wine.

Lunch will be a saddlebag picnic.

At the end of the trail you will ride through a small adventurous jungle path.

At night you will experience once more the culinary world of the Azores in the Ecolodge.

(20km, +670m, -670m, 4-5 h riding time)

Today the trail leads us through a mystical jungle landscape. We enjoy fantastic gallops close to the coastline. Extensive vineyards, but also small “Adegas” lay on our way. Over narrow tracks close to the shore, we reach another top highlight of the Azores, the Volcano of Capelinhos, which erupted in 1957.

Desert-like solitude awaits us. An old whaling village covered with the ashes of the volcano. Hidden under the buried lighthouse is the modern interpretation center that reports on the volcanism of the Azores and the eruption of the volcano. We combine a saddlebag picnic with a visit to this attraction.

Riding over parts of the volcano, we reach the Jungle Camp in the late afternoon.

The transfer back to the lodge is already waiting here. Dinner.

(25km, +550m, -700m, 4-5 h riding time)

Today is the last day of the trail. Fajã Bay is a hidden bay where islanders have been growing wine and fruits for 500 years. On the way, we pass small “Adegas”, wine houses with their vineyards.

Riding through dense jungle we reach the black lava beach of Fajã Bay. A magical, romantic world of its own. Small lava stone houses, well-kept gardens and a wild sea await us.

We cross the island from the dry south to the green north. Magnificent views over terraced pastures down to the blue ocean. Extended gallops lead to the highest village on the island - Ribeira Funda, located directly above a 300 m deep canyon. We allow ourselves to be warmed by the sun, listen to the wind and the wild cries of the buzzards circling over the deep gorge. A nice picnic is waiting for us whilst you enjoy overlooking the majestic canyon and the ocean.

In the afternoon the route takes us along yam fields through a small, wild and romantic valley after 6 days of riding back to the Lodge.

A farewell dinner at the lodge closes the fascinating week of trails.

We take guests who do not individually extend their stay with us to the airport or the ferry port on the island of Faial after breakfast.