There are a number of hiking trails around the island of Flores. Route information and downloadable maps can be found on the following website.
At The Cão & Calf we also provide a guide to local walks around Fajã Grande. None of these walks require any specialist equipment other than “sensible shoes”. Some can be also combined with each other.
Always take great care to stay well away from cliff edges as these can be unstable, especially after rain.
Around the village (I) – 45 minutes
Walk up the road about 175m/190yds and turn right between the yellow house and the pink house. Carry on down to the sea and turn right along the seafront. (You can turn left but it’s a dead end after about 100m/110yds). When you get back to the main road, turn left. Go past the sign pointing right to Ponta da Fajã and walk on to the pier and then right around the head of the slipway (the swimming area) and on to the track along the shore. About 100m/110yds after this, you’ll get back to the road and go straight ahead (up the hill). This will take you back to the main street through Fajã Grande where you turn right, down the hill back to Casa Via d’Agua.
Around the village (II) – 45 minutes
Walk up to the village square and turn left. Keep going up the hill till you’re just getting out of the village and then turn left down towards the sea. At the bridge at the bottom, either turn left along the road or go along the grass path between the stone walls in front of you to get back to the village. From the bridge you could also go to the Poço do Bacalhau described below.
Miradouro da Cruz – 20 minutes
Walk up to the village square and turn left and you’ll see the signpost to the Miradouro da Cruz which is a quick scramble up the hill to a cross overlooking the village for good views.
Poço do Bacalhau & Ponta da Fajã – 1.0 – 1.5 hours
Walk all the way down through the village, towards the sea, and turn right where signposted to Ponta da Fajã. Just follow the road all the way to Fajã Grande’s satellite village, Ponta da Fajã. Either on the way there or back (same route), take the detour where signposted to the Poço do Bacalhau (“Cod-fish pool”) which is an easy 250m/270yds up to the foot of a waterfall where you can swim in the pool.
Aldeia da Cuada – 1 or 2 hours
Walk up the hill out the village along the main road until you come to the little chapel on the right after about a kilometre. Turn right on to the path at the chapel. 600m/650yds along this path, you’ll come to Aldeia da Cuada. This was a village which had been abandoned by emigration but the houses have been restored to form holiday accommodation. Walk through Cuada and, when you get to the main road (through the car park), either turn left to return to Fajã Grande by the main road or (to add an extra 45-60 mins or so to the walk) turn right and then first left after 400m/440yds. Go up the hill and round past the gravel crushing plant and this road will eventually bring you out above the village with good views of the sea. When you reach the junction, you can either turn left to get back to the village square (quick route) or carry on down to the sea and then left.
Walk around Fajãzinha – 45 minutes
Drive to Fajãzinha and park in the parking spaces at the beginning of the village (above the concrete sports pitch before you get to the village square). Turn back up the hill and follow the blue sign to the left to the Queijaria Tradicional (QT – Cheese factory). Follow the road around the village and then follow the next blue sign to the QT on the right. Go past the QT – you’ll likely see a red minibus parked on the path and you’ll think you’re going into a private garden. But bare left past the house and you’re on a public path. Keep going and you’ll come out at the Por do Sol restaurant. Turn left back up the hill into the village centre.
Poço do Ribeiro do Ferreiro (formerly known as Poço da Alagoinha and also known locally as Lagoa das Patas)
This is one of the most famous beauty spots in the whole of the Azores – when you get there, you’ll say “Oh, this is the place in the … magazine/brochure/!” It’s 600m/550yds off the road, clearly signposted, about 3km/2miles out of Fajã Grande back in the direction of Santa Cruz, between the two bridges.
Please follow the official trails marked with a red and yellow line. If for any reason you stop seeing these marks after a while, just walk back. It is generally pretty straight forward to find your way on the official trails, but we know some guests who once got lost because they missed the mark where they had to turn right, and went the wrong way for hours and then called us for help to navigate home. Just be careful navigating.
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