With its nearest neighbours, Pico (east across the channel) and São Jorge (north-east across the channel), it forms an area commonly known as the Trianglo (English: Triangle). Faial is a tourist's island with a rich collection of historical, natural and modern attractions that annually attract yachts, cruise ships, tourist groups and the naturalists to the hills and streets of the island. Apart from several hotels and bed & breakfasts scattered throughout the parishes, the visitor seeking sun will likely travel to the black sand beaches of Praia de Almoxarife, Conceição and Porto Pim, as well as the rock pools scattered along the coast. Varadouro is one such place, known for its warmer waters, micro-climate, summer cottages and complicated salt-water pools open to the ocean.



There are many points of interest:



• Cabecão Gordo - With an altitude of 3422 feet (1043 meters). Located in the centre of the island, it offers amazing views of the neighbour islands of Pico and Sao Jorge;
• The Caldeira - Also a great attraction, an enormous crater with 6560 feet (2 km) diameter and 1300 feet (400 m) deep. This area is classified as a natural reserve;
• Monte da Guia - A mountain from where you can have a look over the town, it is also a protected natural reserve;

• Ponta dos Capilinhos - One of Faial's main tourist attractions. Here the visitor can see the results of the eruption of 1957/8 which transformed the landscape, burying fields and houses. The old lighthouse can still be seen;

• Lajinha and Ponta Furada - Great attraction for their caves and strange lava arches, where the sea often flows violently against the rocks;

• Vale de Flamengos - Attractive area full of colorful plantations, flowers and picturesque houses;

• Scrimshaw Museum - This is a private collection belonging to the owner of the popular Peter's Cafao. Over a hundred pieces are exhibited here, engraved with beautiful sailing boats, mermaids, images of whale-hunting, among many others;

• Horta Museum - Housed in the former Jesuit College, the museum is noted for its collection of fig wood, one of the island's traditional handicrafts;

• Port of Horta - Built in 1876, this important sea-port is a principal port-of-call for many transatlantic yachts. The sea wall is of special interest as it is covered with hundreds of paintings and messages left by the sea-travellers who call in at the port.