Faial, known as the ‘Blue Island’, is small, scenic, and hilly! It’s located 1/2 hour by ferry from Pico. and 2 hours by ferry from Sao Jorge. There aren’t a lot of roads, and the interior is very hilly. The best spot for a scenic, easy waterfront run is in Horta, the island’s largest city and location of the ferry terminal. 

Horta Waterfront. Mark Lowenstein

Right in the center of Horta, there’s about 4 km of waterfront running that goes from the ferry terminal south to the base of Monte da Guia. There’s a dedicated waterfront promenade for a good part of this, and toward the ferry terminal, a separate path with a smoother concrete surface. It’s a festive scene, with good views of the water and Monte da Guia/Monte Queimado. There’s a running track near the ferry terminal just off the main road.  At the south end, there’s ~0.5 km of pleasant beach running on the Praia de Porto Pim. (praia=beach).

 

For those who like hills, there’s a paved road that runs up to the summit of Monte da Guia. It’s 2-3 km (depending on where you start), climbing about 150m. There are fantastic views of Horta and the surrounding landscape. There’s also a trail option up Monte da Guia — the footing isn’t too technical.