Hike Toledo's Fajãs: Waterfalls, Cliffs & Restored Trail

Walk down to abandoned fajãs and swim at Poço da Airoses waterfall

This 7 km circular hike starts near the 19th-century Chapel of São José in Toledo and descends steep terrain to four remote fajãs (Manuel Martins, Rasa, and Vasco Martins), where landslides created fertile coastal platforms now marked by restored stone houses, wine cellars and terraced fields. The trail passes through diverse microclimates with endemic vegetation, freshwater springs and the Poço da Airoses waterfall, where you can swim. A live English-speaking guide leads the hike, which takes around 4 hours and includes bottled water and snacks.

The experience

Toledo sits on the north coast at altitude, overlooking the tectonic cliffs that drop to the fajãs below. The official trail (PRC08SJ) is protected within the Natura 2000 Network, São Jorge Natural Park and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, so what you're walking through is both ecologically significant and legally safeguarded. The route is difficult and circular, about 7 km total, and the steep descent reveals panoramic views over the north coast as you make your way down to the remote platforms where communities once lived seasonally.

The fajãs themselves are the draw. After the 1980 earthquake, these coastal platforms were progressively abandoned, and the trail lay unused for decades until it was recently restored. Now you walk past vernacular architecture frozen in time: stone houses, wine cellars, agricultural structures and terraced fields that follow the mountain slopes and meet the sea. The landscape shifts as you move through different ecological niches: each with its own microclimate, permanent watercourses and freshwater springs. Poço da Airoses is the largest waterfall on the route and the most emblematic. It's where eels were traditionally caught, and it's deep enough to swim in if you want to cool off during the hike.

The guide speaks English and leads the group through the entire 4 hours. Bottled water and snacks are provided, so you don't need to carry your own supplies for the day.

What’s included

• Bottled water and snacks.
• live English-speaking guide for the full 4 hours.
• pickup included.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Jul 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Under 14: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Azimuth Azores

Is this one for you?This is a guided group hike on a restored official trail, so you follow the guide's pace and route rather than choosing your own. It suits hikers who want the safety and knowledge of a local guide navigating steep terrain and the history of the fajãs, and who can manage a difficult 7 km circular route with a moderate fitness level.

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Poço da Airoses waterfall and can you swim there?

Poço da Airoses is the largest and most emblematic waterfall on the trail, located along the route through the fajãs. It's deep enough to allow a refreshing swim during the hike, and it has historical significance: eels were traditionally caught there by local communities.

How difficult is the hike and what fitness level do I need?

The trail is classified as difficult, and you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The route is approximately 7 km and circular, with a steep descent down to the fajãs and a corresponding climb back up to Toledo.

What are the fajãs and why were they abandoned?

Fajãs are fertile coastal platforms created by successive landslides on the cliffs. Communities occupied them seasonally for centuries, leaving behind stone houses, wine cellars and terraced agricultural fields. After the 1980 earthquake, these platforms were progressively abandoned, and many fajãs fell into disrepair until this trail was recently restored.

Is pickup included and what language is the guide?

Pickup is included with the tour. The guide speaks English and leads the group throughout the 4-hour hike.

What plants and wildlife will I see on this trail?

The trail passes through diverse ecological niches rich in endemic vegetation and marked by a variety of microclimates. The area is protected within the Natura 2000 Network and designated as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), so you'll encounter species found nowhere else and birdlife significant to conservation efforts.