Miradouro da Fajã dos Cubres

The viewpoint above Fajã dos Cubres looks down on one of the most photographed corners of São Jorge, the long, narrow island in the central group of the Azores. From the lip of the cliff you see a flat apron of land at the foot of a very steep slope, formed where lava or fallen rock built a platform at the sea's edge. This kind of platform is called a fajã, and São Jorge has dozens of them. Cubres is one of the best known, with a scattering of houses, small fields, and a lagoon behind a bar of stones.

The contrast is the point. Above you the slope is covered in green pasture and hydrangeas, falling hundreds of metres to the coast. Below is the little settlement at the water's edge, and beyond it the deep blue Atlantic. On a clear day the neighbouring islands of Pico and Graciosa can sometimes be made out on the horizon, though cloud often interferes in the Azores and views can change in minutes. If the weather is misty, wait a while, because cloud moves quickly here.

The lagoon near the village is a quiet, brackish water where birds feed, and the nearby church and houses look tiny from above. Visitors can continue down the steep road or on foot to reach the fajã itself, where the sea, the pebbly shore, and the sound of waves make a very different atmosphere from the lookout. Many people do both: first the view from above to understand the shape of the place, and then the descent. The walking route down is steep, so it is worth thinking about the climb back up before setting off.

There is no entry fee at a public viewpoint like this, and it takes only a few minutes if you simply look and photograph. A longer stay suits people who enjoy slow travel, bird watching, or walks along the coast. Combine it with a visit to the fajã itself, its beach, and the nearby coastal trails, and the experience grows into half a day.

São Jorge is known for its cheese, its cliffs, and its remote feel, and this viewpoint is a good introduction to all three. Bring a jacket and good footwear, because the wind at the cliff edge can be strong and the paths are sometimes damp.