Fajã and the north-coast road

Fajã is one of the few places on São Nicolau where a swim is the plan rather than a hike. The bay is small. The road from Ribeira Brava crosses the island’s spine and should not be rushed after dark.

The day

Leave in the morning. Swim if the bay is calm, walk the edge of the village if it is not. Lunch is whatever the house you asked is cooking. There is no strip of beach bars.

Tarrafal, on the south coast, is the other sea day. Do not try to do both and Monte Gordo in one afternoon. The island is larger in hours than it is in kilometres.