Barreiro da Faneca: The Red Desert of the Azores in Santa Maria Island

Travel 30/07/2025

Travel

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2 months ago

Copywriter

Melissa Masvaleix

Photos

Álvaro Palácios

Known as the Red Desert of the Azores, Barreiro da Faneca never ceases to amaze the visitors who dare to explore it, thanks to its atypical arid and clayey red landscape. This is the only place in the whole archipelago where you can see this occurrence.

The Protected Landscape of Barreiro da Faneca is a geological wonder located in Santa Maria. The island is located at the South-East end of the Azores archipelago. This place is located in the middle of a forest, which adds to its beauty.

One thing is for sure: if you are visiting Yellow Island, you should definitely consider a trip to Barreiro da Faneca and a run through the red desert. Discover more about this fascinating natural setting in this ultimate guide.

Contents hide

2 Plan your visit to Barreiro da Faneca

2.1 How to get to Barreiro da Faneca

2.2 Best Time to Visit

2.3 Pro Tips

3 What to do Around Barreiro da Faneca

3.1 Swim at Baía dos Anjos

3.2 Hike to Pico Alto

3.3 Explore Poço da Pedreira

3.4 Relax at Baía de São Lourenço

4 Complementary Information

4.1 Best Season to Visit the Azores

4.2 How to Get to the Azores

4.3 Travel Essentials

4.4 Useful Tools & Apps

5 Video

6 Conclusion

7 Map

What is Barreiro da Faneca

@juliocdaguiar on Instagram | Barreiro da Faneca, the red desert of Santa Maria

Barreiro da Faneca belongs to the geological area of “Formação de Feteiras” and is a protected landscape. The red desert is not only unique in the Azores, but also in Portugal. It is located about 200 meters above sea level and has a total area of about 835 hectares.

Did you know

It all began with an old basaltic lava flow, which was then covered with volcanic ashes. Then, the geological formations changed over time, mostly due to the hot and wet climate in the late Pliocene era (about 3.6 to 2.6 million years ago), turning the soil into red clay.

The red desert, with its wavy terrain shaped by rainwater erosion, is one of the most visited geosites on Santa Maria Island. It is important to preserve it. That is why there are cutting operations to avoid the surrounding vegetation to cover its iconic soil. You can still observe endemic flora such as Picconia azorica, Hypericum foliosum, Laurus azorica, and Erica azorica (urze), among others.

Plan your visit to Barreiro da Faneca

@chase_demarest on Instagram | Aerial view of Barreiro da Faneca

How to get to Barreiro da Faneca

The Protected Landscape of Barreiro da Faneca belongs to the town of São Pedro, Vila do Porto county, Santa Maria. Once you arrive on the island, at Vila do Porto by boat or by plane, you can rent a car or take a taxi to reach the red desert. Drive to São Pedro on the main road (EN1-2A), and then towards the north until you reach it.

It is also possible to explore this hidden gem by walking the Costa Norte route (PR01SMA) or the Great Route of Santa Maria (GR01SMA). The trails are official and well-marked. Plus, you will see many other places not accessible by car.

Best Time to Visit

You can visit Barreiro da Faneca at any time of day. If you are traveling during the high season (July and August) and want to have the place to yourself, we recommend going early in the morning or at the end of the afternoon.

It is also a great place to stop and have a picnic. Make sure you do not leave anything behind you and leave the place as clean as you found it.

Pro Tips

If you want to hike to Barreiro da Faneca, then take adequate hiking boots and comfortable clothes. Be prepared for any weather, as the Azores experience all four seasons in a single day. In the Red Desert, there is not much elevation, but the soil is bumpy with small ravines. Always be careful walking in nature.

What to do Around Barreiro da Faneca

Swim at Baía dos Anjos

@queen_ella19 on Instagram | Arriving at the pool of Anjos

Baía dos Anjos in Santa Maria island is a very popular swimming area in the summer. There is a famous natural pool that is enclosed by lava rocks, perfect for a relaxing dip in the Atlantic Ocean. There, you can find dressing rooms and toilets for your comfort. It is considered one of the best natural pools in Santa Maria.

Located on the North coast of Santa Maria island, known for its beautiful beaches and sunny days, “Angel’s Bay” is also an important stop for migratory birds coming from all over the world, leading to the classification of Baía dos Anjos as a Natural and Ecological Reserve.

Take a stroll in the small village, swim in the crystal clear waters, and watch some birds fly away!

Hike to Pico Alto

@toaiaboaia on Instagram | One of the gorgeous views around Pico Alto

Pico Alto is the highest point of Santa Maria island, located at about 586 meters above sea level. This is a great place to have a panoramic view of the Yellow Island. It is located more or less in the center of the island and divides the east, which is more mountainous, and the west, which is flatter.

This is a protected area of about 121 hectares where you can see the typical Laurel Forest, endemic to the Azores, with species such as Laurus azorica, Ilex azorica, Vaccinium cylindraceum, and many more!

There are two trails going to Pico Alto:

PRC02SMA, which is 6.2 km for about 2 hours of hiking,
and the Great Route of Santa Maria (GR01SMA), which is 78.6 km in total.

Explore Poço da Pedreira

Located near the famous São Lourenço beach, Poço da Pedreira is a small pond with beautiful red walls rising from it, their top covered in vegetation. This was an old aggregate extraction zone inside a slag cone named Pico Vermelho. The stones extracted from this site were used in numerous constructions around the islands and were also exported to other islands within the archipelago. The color of the wall behind the pond is related to the age of this geological formation. About the pond itself, it was just a hole in the ground that filled over time with water.

Nowadays, this is an iconic attraction in Santa Maria island, creating a wonderful scenery for cool pictures. It is possible to see it by car or to walk the PRC3SMA trail, between mountains and the ocean.

Relax at Baía de São Lourenço

Alvaro RP | Amazing view on São Lourenço bay area — Alvaro RP | Amazing view of São Lourenço bay area

São Lourenço Bay hosts one of the most beautiful coastal scenarios of the entire Azorean archipelago. The bay was naturally formed by a volcanic crater, creating this amphitheater shape.

Inside the bay, there is a small village, one of the very few yellow-sanded beaches of the archipelago, and there is also a natural pool. The whole scenery is surrounded by hills covered in vineyards, creating a beautiful contrast between the blue of the ocean, the green of the vines, and the yellow of the sand.

Locals and tourists love to explore its clear waters with snorkelling gear, as the bay provides a calm sea with almost no waves. It was once, upon a time, a safe harbor for ships until the 20th century.

Check all our articles about each one of the most relevant points of interest on Santa Maria Island: Praia Formosa | Barreiro da Faneca | Cascata do Aveiro

Complementary Information

Best Season to Visit the Azores

The Azores Archipelago boasts a unique climate that shapes its lush landscapes, making it a splendid year-round destination. With mild temperatures and minimal fluctuations, each season offers something unique. Spring averages 16 °C, summer reaches 21 °C, autumn cools to 18 °C, and winter remains mild at 14 °C.

How to Get to the Azores

The Azorean Archipelago is easily accessible through numerous flight routes. Lisbon and Porto are the main entry points to the continent, with direct flights to São Miguel (PDL), Terceira (TER), Faial (HOR), Pico (PIX), and Santa Maria (SMA) available. To find the best flight, use search engines like eDreams or Skyscanner. These platforms enable you to compare prices and schedules from various airlines in one convenient location.

For more details on how to get to the Azores, take a look at our complete guide. But what if you want to explore beyond your arrival island? We’ve got you covered!

→ Once you’ve found the perfect route, book your tickets and get ready to experience one of the world’s most stunning island groups!

Travel Essentials

Useful Tools & Apps

The weather in the Azores can be variable, so it’s helpful to use some apps before visiting the islands. Spotazores provides live camera feeds from the main tourist attractions, allowing you to check the weather and plan your visit. For accurate weather predictions, use Windy or Windguru — they provide the most reliable predictions.

Video

Azores Top10 | Deserto Vermelho, Santa Maria Island

Conclusion

Barreiro da Faneca is definitely a place you would want to add to your “must-see” list in Santa Maria Island. If you are planning a trip to the Azores but are unsure which island to choose, we cannot help you since each of the nine islands is unique and worth visiting.

However, if you’ve already booked your plane ticket to Ponta Delgada, São Miguel (the largest island), and have only a week or so to travel, a visit to Santa Maria — the closest one — is a good idea to cover two islands in one trip.

The red desert awaits!

Authors’ Note

I am pleased to inform you that all the recommendations in this article are based on my personal experience and observations. As the author, I have personally visited each attraction mentioned, ensuring that every suggestion is grounded in first-hand knowledge and genuine enthusiasm.

Map

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Impactful & unforgetable experiences

Browse all the outstanding experiences you can live in the Azores

Whale Watching

Lying in the middle of the mystical Atlantic Ocean, the wonderful Azores islands are a permanent home or point of passage for more than a third of the entire world’s whale and dolphin species.
Dive into this lifetime adventure with ancestral creatures where science and emotion come together at their highest level!
This may be the best place on earth to observe these magnificent animals.

Jeep Tours

Feel the rush, surprise, and emotion in an all-terrain vehicle, this adventure will take you to the core of secrets. We will take you where nobody has ever reached before. Experience moments of adrenaline in our jeep tours. The adventure through the interior of the islands will begin!
The trips are made in 4×4 vehicles properly equipped, capable of taking you to places little explored. It is intended for those who want to discover new perspectives and unusual scenarios on the Azores Islands in a more adventurous way. We pass on secondary roads, which are not usually found on the usual tourist routes. They are narrow paths, dirt paths, called “canadas” in Azorean, and are mostly used by farmers.

Kayaking & SUP

Find solace in listening to the birds chirping and enjoy the peacefulness of the moment, and make sure you capture it with your camera this unforgettable experience.
Sete Cidades is a volcanic complex where you can visit several lakes. Inside one of the craters, you can find two lakes, known as Lagoa Verde (green lake) and Lagoa Azul (blue lake), that feature in a legendary love legend about the lake’s creation. This special place was elected as one of the country’s seven natural wonders and once you are there, you will definitely understand why.
The contrast of colors between the two mysterious lakes is mesmerizing, and being on the water, in the middle of the volcanic crater, will give you a different perspective of the high green cliffs around.

Canyoning

The boldest and most unique adventure! Heading through the natural landscape you will be able to enjoy some adrenaline-fueled activities. Wet, wild, and absolutely unforgettable.
This experience involves trekking through river gorges, around pools, or even behind waterfalls.
Canyoners navigate down waterways by abseiling down waterfalls, clambering over rocks, or jumping into water rock pools. You will get wet for sure, even with an exposure suit, but this is not too bad with the relatively warm climate of the Azores.

Van Tours

Take a seat in the emotion sector, stop wherever you want and where your curiosity demands it. Taste, observe, and treasure the entire originality of this Atlantic paradise.
If you want to get to know the island of São Miguel more peacefully, without the worry of renting a car, opt for more comfort, on a pleasant van ride. Make the most of your vacation and get away from the city.
This way, you are guaranteed to know the main points of interest, but also those you will not find in travel guides. This is perhaps the best choice for those looking for convenience and security.

Hiking Tours

From lush green vegetation to a great variety of wildlife, enjoy heaven after a long ramble with otherworldly vistas.
Enjoy your holidays in the Azores walking through the beautiful landscapes of volcanic origin. Breathe fresh air and contemplate all the diversity of fauna and flora you will find.
You can start the day feeling the nature among mountains, enjoy more than one lagoon on the island of São Miguel, and finally, to end the day in a perfect way, take a boat trip to see the sunset.

Bike Tours

In order to discover São Miguel island and stay active, cycling is definitely the way to go!
At Sete Cidades volcanic complex, have one of your best bike adventures! Indeed, we are not taking you to a random place. We are talking here about one of the Seven elected wonders of all of Portugal.
This is where our awesome bike adventures take place and we can tell that we love to take our guests there!

Coasteering

Here, you can explore the geography of the giant rocky cliffs climbing through the sky and how the pounding waves smooth the coastline. Coasteering is an exhilarating experience combining rock and water activity with coastal landscapes. It was originated as a combination of mountaineering and orienteering.