Valadouro brings together coastal scenery, hiking and cultural history. Two very different highlights stand out when planning your visit: at the swimming area, you can choose between natural pools and the sea, while the Baleeiros Route takes seven hours. There is also distinctive vegetation, traces of earlier winemaking, and the history of the chapel and thermal baths. These themes range from time spent by the water to a longer hike and historical context.
Coast: Natural Pools, Sea and Lava
The natural pools of Varadouro are formed by black basalt rocks. At the swimming area, you can choose between swimming in the sheltered natural pool and direct access to the sea. There is also a car park at the swimming area. Along the coast, lava flowed into the sea and formed bare rock platforms. While the swimming area offers different ways to enjoy the water, the platforms illustrate how lava shaped the coastline.
Hiking Through the Volcanic Landscape
The Baleeiros PR10FAI hiking route is 26 kilometres long and takes seven hours. It is therefore a distinct focus for planning your day, not a short addition to a visit to the swimming area. The route begins near the parish church of Cedros and ends at the former whaling station in Varadouro. Along the way, it passes through the Capelinhos Volcano geosite. Its lunar-like landscape was formed by the 1957/1958 eruption. The start, finish and landscape provide different points of reference along this long route.
Vegetation and Winemaking in the Fajã
Fajã do Varadouro appeals to travellers interested in nature and historic land use. Very rare forests of Picconia azorica grow there, along with Erica azorica scrub and coastal grasslands of Festuca petreae. The Fajã was once an important winemaking area; clear traces of this culture and partly abandoned vineyards remain. Botanical features thus sit alongside evidence of earlier land use: the vegetation includes forests, scrub and coastal grasslands, while the vineyards recall the former importance of winemaking.
Chapel and Thermal Springs: Different Timelines
The chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde was built in 1720 by Father Manuel Pereira Cardoso and was originally dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Carmo. The Varadouro thermal baths building was inaugurated in 1954. The thermal springs of Varadouro were discovered after a hot-water spring erupted in the municipality of Capelo in the late 19th century; the water was later diverted to Varadouro. The spring’s eruption, the diversion of the water and the inauguration of the building are distinct events in the history of the thermal baths. They are currently closed; check their current status before your visit.
Getting There from Horta
As a general road guide, the route from Horta to Varadouro follows the regional road towards Capelinhos. After about 17 kilometres, turn left at Areeiro; the road then descends to Varadouro. Check the route before you travel.
Discover more destinations: Pedro Miguel, Cedros, Conceicao, Faial Da Terra, Capelo, Feteira, Portela, Praia Do Norte
For the overarching travel overview: Faial.
