Faial Costa a Costa

Faial Coast to Coast crosses the island from Ribeirinha to Capelinhos, linking its oldest eastern end with its youngest volcanic peninsula. The start lies in terrain shaped by the ancient Ribeirinha Volcano and faults of the eastern complex. From the parish, the route climbs old paths, crosses the protected landscapes of Lomba Grande and the Central Zone, and steadily gains altitude toward the Caldeira.

At the centre of Faial, the trail passes the great crater, roughly two kilometres wide and surrounded by damp laurel-forest vegetation. The crossing then continues west along the Capelo volcanic ridge, where cones, craters, caves and shafts reveal different stages in the island's construction. The scenery changes continuously: dense green vegetation and high pasture give way to woodland, fields and finally broad deposits of ash.

The finish at Capelinhos Volcano concentrates the most recent transformation, created by the 1957–58 eruption. Its interpretation centre and exposed landscape beside the lighthouse close a long, hard walk of about 36.8 kilometres. More than a link between two coasts, the route acts as a geological section through Faial, followed on foot from ancient ground to land added during the twentieth century.

Begin beside Ribeirinha parish council, reached from Horta by the regional road. Follow the grand-route markings west and uphill through Lomba Grande and the Central Zone. The trail leads to the Caldeira; remain with the signs shared by intersecting routes and continue along the Capelo volcanic ridge. Cross only at marked junctions, proceeding through cones and forest toward Cabeço do Fogo and Capelinhos. The final descent enters the ash landscape and finishes beside the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre. This is a linear full-day crossing: leave transport at the endpoint, start early and do not plan to walk back to Ribeirinha.