Private Tour
Caldeira do Faial Descent - private hiking tour
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
The Caldeira of Faial has been a natural reserve since 1972 (category I – IUCN). It’s a volcanic collapse crater with unique characteristics.
Since the Caldeira of Faial Descent is such a special experience, Faial Natural Park controls the access to the bottom, issuing only a limited number of permits. For this reason, a Certified Guide is mandatory for the Caldeira Descent.
The trail is difficult because it is very narrow and steep and, sometimes, scrambling is necessary.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What To Expect
The Caldeira of Faial is a natural reserve since 1972 (category I – IUCN). It’s a volcanic colapse crater with unique characteristics. The Caldeira of Faial descent is a special experience, so Faial Natural Park controls the access to the bottom, issuing a limited number of permits. Caldeira descent requires a certified guide. The Caldeira of Faial is one of the last strongholds for the Azores native forest. We can find there more than 60% of the Azores endemic species. It’s a place where you can feel how the Azores were like before human settlement. The trail is difficult because it is very narrow and steep. Sometimes some scramble is necessary. The Caldeira bio-diversity is composed of different humid habitats. Hence it’s frequent to find mud and a flooded area at the bottom.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Hiking Poles
Certified Guide
Faial Natural Park Fee
Please bring snacks and water and sandwich for lunch
Pickup points
Azoris Faial Garden - Resort Hotel
Rua Consul Dabney, Horta Portugal
Hotel Do Canal
Largo Doutor Manuel De Arriaga, Horta Portugal
Hotel Horta
Rua Marcelino de Lima 9900 122, Horta Portugal
Options
Caldeira do Faial Descent - private hiking tour
Pickup included
Reviews
15 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great hike down the Caldeira of Faial.
W1331BAannal,,Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The hike was fantastic and we were safely escorted by our guide Pedro. Nature was beautiful and Pedro had great knowledge about the nature and the volcano.
The highlight of our trip
flatdogspot,,Jul 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A Caldeira is a remarkable natural phenomenon, difficult to capture in photographs and hard to describe adequately, at least for this first time visitor. It’s a window into the pre-ice age Azores and Europe more generally. It’s also one of those experiences that is not available unless you earn it. Our descent and return with Luís was remarkably rewarding. He tailored the experience to our interests, sharing his extensive knowledge of the natural history of the place, and his well-considered insights into the culture and history of Faial and the Azores. He has an appreciation and respect for the specialness of the place and the privilege of visiting it that is contagious. My son and I could not recommend this experience or Our Island tours more highly.
A visit to Faial's western Volcanic area
powderglut,,Oct 18, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was actually supposed to be a morning on top of the rim of the Caldeira do Faial. Our guide was Fred, as the main crew was hosting a running event that day. Fred was excellent in coming up with a plan B, as the Caldeira was completely enveloped in fog. We Hiked around the furthest volcanic western area by Ponta dos Capelinhos and checked out the museum and small port below. We also headed over to a beautiful Beach I believe was Praia da Faja. It was a very informative tour as Fred's knowledge of flora, fauna, volcanic activity and history kept us captivated by the areas we visited. My wife and I eventually went up to the Caldeira later that day on our own. The clouds and fog were still completely covering any possible view into the volcano. Good call Fred, we knew you had a good plan that morning.
A challenging and fantastic Hike
Vacation5-11,,Aug 23, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00First off, I have never done a hike of this kind. I am pushing 50 but exercise regularly to keep in shape. If you are past your best years, you may want to consider if this is for you as it was definitely a challenge for me. The descent into the caldera was amazing as it was at times grueling. Our guide, Pedro, was fantastic and he was very patient in safely guiding my family of 5 down and up again. I don't think I could have done it without him as he made sure everyone was well paced, stopped at regular intervals for breaks, water and/or snacks, and kept things very orderly and safe. Along the way he described the various flora of the landscape and how the conditions can vary. He demonstrated exactly how to handle some of the more challenging terrain as some parts of the trail require you to carefully traverse down/up and over crevices and stones. When we reached the bottom, we made our way to a beautiful clearing which was dry at this time to have a nice break, catch our breath, and hydrate. We took some great pictures and then made our way up. It was not easy but it was very rewarding to make it back to the top. If you are up for the challenge, I highly recommend it. Be sure to train for it if you have any doubts about your fitness level. The tour company did a great job telling us ahead of time what to bring so we were prepared for the conditions. Thank you again to Pedro who made this a very memorable experience.
One of the Best Hikes in the Azores!
sselleck,,Jun 29, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The Caldeira Descent hike was one of our favorite hikes on our whole trip. It is a very unique location and it was so special to be one of the few hikers to be able to travel all the way to the bottom. We loved learning about local flora and fauna as well as the history of the volcanoes of the island. Our guide set the pace perfectly and even surprised us with some local tea once we got to the bottom. We would definitely recommend this hike and this company and hope to return to Faial in the future!
One of the most emblematic places in Faial
bruderwanderlust,,Mar 21, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This gigantic caldera is about two kilometers in diameter and more or less four hundred meters deep. The entire area is part of the Azores Natural Parks, very well signposted and preserved.
Too wet to descend into the Caldeira - a lovely alternative hike with Pedro instead
Chorizofan,,Aug 31, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had seen the Caldeira do Faial from the top on the day before we were due to hike down into it, and knew it was going to be challenging. Sadly, on the morning of our trip, the clouds were low, and it was raining steadily on our arrival at the starting point. Pedro, our guide, sensibly advised us that a climb down (and up) in such wet conditions would be difficult and very probably not enjoyable, and instead suggested an alternative hike in Praia do Norte, a lovely village with climbs through the forest down to the sea. We had a great day with Pedro, who made us feel exceptionally welcome. We were able to get a closer look at Faial island life, with explanations from Pedro, and enjoy beautiful scenery throughout the walk. We finished with a refreshing swim in the sea. It was great that Pedro was able to offer us such a brilliant alternative to our original plan.
Highlight of our wonderful visit to the Azores
susanhK2169VO,,Jun 27, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A challenging but doable hike. Luis was in tune with our pace, very knowledgeable and passionate about his homeland . He spoke not only of the biology and geology, but also the culture and history. Very highly recommend!
Caldeira descent in Faial
anne dacosta6123,,Jun 9, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our descent lead by Pedro was a unique and rewarding experience. Rita communicated closely with us given pending inclement weather and we ended up descending a day earlier than originally planned. Pedro paced the descent very well and was respectful of the trail. We were grateful of his guidance as the trail is very narrow at times. This is a must-do adventure while in Faial!
great hike with good guide
invilnius,,Sep 3, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00very nice hike, and very good guide . notice it needs at least some good walking parties to do it, and yo must be ready to be muddy as some parts of the path are seriously narrow.
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