NOTE: All trails itineraries are general guidelines and in order to offer our guests the best-riding holiday experience we may change these. Depending on the number of trails running, the season, the weather and national holidays, we may make alterations to itineraries at short notice. All changes are at the operator's discretion.
Your package includes 10 activity units that be exchanged for riding and non-riding activities.
Create your personal program to your liking and choose among the following activities (we need to know which activities you want to do in advance in order to make sure we have enough guides).
It is also possible to purchase more activity units in case you want to do more.
Riding activities
Riding lesson - 45 min. (2 activity units)
Improve your riding seat, become a safer rider, learn to ride in the open terrain, learn to lead a hand horse, and much more. Determine your personal workload with your guide / trainer.
Lusitano Trail - 1.5 h (from 3.5 activity units)
Join our Lusitano trail ride to start learning the basics or to get back into riding after a break from the saddle. Steady paced ride in the countryside with instruction.
Half Day Ride * - 3h (from 4.5 activity units)
Ride our excellent Lusitano and Cruzado Portuguese horses out on trails (2 different itineraries available) through the beautiful island landscape.
Full Day Ride * - 5h (from 7.5 activity units)
Choose between 6 itineraries and ride to some of Faial's most popular attractions. Your trail guide will introduce you to the island. Wild nature and fascinating views await!
*: You must have previous riding experience (intermediate level recommended) to join these activities.
Non-riding activities
Whale watching - 4h (3.5 activity units)
Learn about the huge marine mammals with a team of marine biologists that will accompany you on this exciting tour on the ocean.
Dolphin swim - 4h (3.5 activity units)
Swim with dolphins in their natural element. These gentle animals will approach you within a meter. Marine biologist will accompany you.
Hiking into the volcano crater - 4h (4 activity units)
Explore the deep bottom of the huge island crater, lying at a depth of 400 meters. With your guide you descend and discover the silence.
Half-day hiking tour - 3h (1.5 to 2.5 activity units)
Choose between one of the 3 following trails: Levada Trail (Monday & Thursday), Caldeira Trail (Tuesday & Friday) or Capelinhos Trail (Wednesday & Saturday).
Full day hiking tour - 7h (4 to 4.5 activity units)
Choose between one of the 2 following trails: Lighthouse Trail (Monday, Wednesday & Friday) or Volcano Trail (Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday).
Horta town walk - 3h (2 activity units)
Starting at the Marina you will cross the beach of Porto Pim and visit the whalers museum. Back to town we will show you the old telegraph stations and the Parliament of the Azores. You will visit old gardens, see the marine biology University, the theatre, the market place and old squares and streets. You see the old fortress protecting Horta against pirates and can listen to anecdotes of the colourful Marina and its sailors.
Half-day island tour - 4h (4.5 activity units)
Choose to explore Faial by jeep or bus and visit the island's many attractions: craters, volcano, sea pools and the port city of Horta.
Full day island tour - 8h (4.5 activity units)
Choose to explore Faial by jeep or bus.
We will reach the 1.100m summit of Faial Island to enjoy awesome views to Pico, São Jorge and Graciosa Islands. A small tunnel leads us to the rim of the 400m deep Caldeira. An unbelievable 2.500m wide crater of a "sleeping volcano".
We drive over lonely roads to the beautiful subtropical Bay of Varadouro with its famous rock pools.
Along the Mystery Zone we reach the Volcano of Capelinhos. Time to visit the Interpretation Center of Capelinhos and to climb the old lighthouse (entrance incl.).
On our way back to Horta we will pass the North Coast of the Island and will enjoy a picnic stop at the Lusitano Horse Farm.
Later we pass a traditional whale spotter point and visit the old whalers harbour Salão. You will get in touch with the whale hunting history.
Driving along the North Coast, we head to the old Lighthouse where you still can observe the consequences of the 1998 earthquake.
The great finish will be the volcano Monte da Guia with an unforgettable view to the picturesque town of Horta and Faial Island.
