The Ponta dos Capelinhos, at the far western end of the island, is one of the main tourist attractions due to its unusual landscape in comparison with the lush green vegetation of the rest of the island.

The whole of the archipelago is of volcanic origin and the Ponta dos Capelinhos is one of the places where we can see what was left after the last great moments of volcanic activity on Faial.

The Capelinhos volcano entered into activity in 1957/58, adding a whole new part to the island, formed by the sedimentation of its ashes.

Somewhere in this arid landscape, frequently compared to the view that we might have of a lunar landscape, stands the old lighthouse, now buried amidst the ashes. The history of the volcano’s eruption and its consequences for the region is expertly shown in a small exhibition of photographs.

In the middle of Faial’s exuberant vegetation, let yourself be pleasantly surprised by a landscape that is both desert-like and yet magical at the same time.