This calm port city on Faial Island has long-running maritime traditions, with colorful sailor murals decorating its marina walls and a 16th-century fortress overlooking the bay.
Horta, a maritime city on Faial Island in the Azores, welcomes sailors crossing the Atlantic with its 300-berth marina. You'll find thousands of colorful paintings on the marina walls, each telling the story of a passing vessel. Stop at Peter's Café Sport to chat with international crews, climb the rim of an ancient volcano, join a whale watching expedition, or walk up Monte da Guia for a clear view of Pico Island's 2,351-meter peak across the channel.
Maritime Life at Horta Marina
The marina buzzes with activity from 300 vessels, making it one of the busiest ocean marinas worldwide. Sailors have transformed the harbor walls into an open-air gallery, painting their boat names and journey dates. According to maritime tradition, creating a painting ensures safe future voyages. From May to September, you'll see boats participating in international races like Les Sables-Les Açores-Les Sables and ARC Europe.
Whale Watching in Faial Waters
Between April and October, marine biologists guide three-hour whale watching tours from the marina. You can spot 28 different cetacean species in Faial's waters, including sperm whales, blue whales, and several dolphin species. The guides explain migration patterns, feeding behaviors, and how these mammals communicate underwater.
Caldeira and Capelinhos Volcanoes
A 6.8-kilometer trail circles the rim of Caldeira, a 400-meter-deep crater sitting 1,043 meters above sea level. The volcano erupted 410,000 years ago, creating Faial Island. At Capelinhos on the western tip, walk across volcanic terrain from the 1957-58 eruption. This recent volcanic activity expanded the island by 2.4 km².
Peter's Café Sport and Maritime Culture
Since the 1940s, sailors have gathered at Peter's Café Sport to exchange stories and collect mail. Sailing flags and marine equipment from past visitors line the walls. Visit the Scrimshaw Museum upstairs to see whale tooth and bone carvings that document the island's whaling past.
Transportation on Faial
Buses connect Horta to Caldeira (4 daily departures) and Capelinhos (3 daily departures). Several car rental agencies operate near the marina. The main road circles the island's coast, with smaller roads branching inland to hiking trails and viewpoints.
Viewpoints and Walking Trails
Follow the marked paths up Monte da Guia, a 145-meter volcanic cone south of Horta. From Miradouro de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, you can see the harbor, Pico Island, and in good weather, São Jorge Island. In Flamengos Valley, the Jardim Botânico do Faial displays 200 Azorean plant species, including endemic ferns and heathers, with identification plaques next to each plant.
