Reserva Florestal de Recreio do Capelo – a forest recreation park on Faial

Reserva Florestal de Recreio do Capelo is a forest recreation reserve on the island of Faial in the Azores, located in the parish of Capelo, in the municipality of Horta. It was set up as a place where locals and visitors can stroll among trees and get to know the island's plant life, and it forms part of the archipelago's network of protected forest areas.

Where is the reserve?

The park lies in the north-western part of Faial, near Capelo, southwest of the volcanic cone of Pico Verde (called Cabeço Verde in some sources) and north of the regional road EN1-1A. It is managed by the island's regional forestry service. Driving from the town of Horta is straightforward, and the surroundings share the volcanic scenery of the Capelo peninsula, shaped by the eruption of the late 1950s.

How did it come about?

The first proposals to protect Faial's flora go back to 1949, when a local animal protection society suggested creating forest reserves. Nothing moved forward until the regional autonomy regime was established in 1988. The following year, through Regional Legislative Decree 16/1989/A of 30 August 1989, the Reserva Florestal de Recreio do Capelo was created.

Which trees grow here?

The woodland consists mainly of pine and Myrica faya (known locally as faia). Pine is an exotic species brought to the island for timber, while faia is native. Trail guides for the surrounding woods also list Pittosporum undulatum and the Azorean endemic Picconia azorica. Tourism materials highlight the abundance and diversity of plants endemic to Macaronesia. For context, the whole Faial Nature Park holds 769 species of vascular plants, 59 of them endemic to the Azores.

What can you do here?

The park is well kept and has short trails for walking among the different trees and plants of Faial. There is a playground for children. Across the Azores' regional forest reserve system, typical facilities include parking, toilets, picnic areas, rural cottages and deer enclosures, though not every site has the full set, so check what this particular park offers before you go.

Trails nearby

According to the Azores gardens inventory, the park is linked by paths to Cabeço do Fogo, Pico Verde, Caldeirão and Cabeço do Canto. This makes the reserve a convenient starting point or stop on longer walks across the central part of the island, including routes heading toward the caldera.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Reserva Florestal de Recreio do Capelo? On Faial island, in the parish of Capelo in Horta municipality, southwest of Pico Verde.

When was the reserve established? In 1989, under Regional Legislative Decree 16/1989/A of 30 August 1989.

Is it a good place to visit with children? Yes. The park has a playground, and the short trails allow an easy walk among the trees.

Which trees grow in the reserve? Mainly pine and Myrica faya, with Pittosporum undulatum and the endemic Picconia azorica in the surrounding woods.

Can I start a longer hike from here? Yes. Paths connect the park with Pico Verde, Cabeço do Fogo, Caldeirão and Cabeço do Canto.