At​ ​the​ ​foot ​ ​of​ ​a​ ​cliff, ​ ​250​ ​meters high,​ ​ ​resulting ​from​ ​coastal​ ​erosion,​ ​Fajã​ ​dos​ ​Padres​ ​is​ ​a small​ ​piece​ ​of​ ​land​ ​that​ ​was​ ​cherished​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Jesuits.​ ​Having​ ​lived​ ​on​ ​the​ ​island​ ​for​ ​almost 200​ ​years,​ ​they​ ​brought​ ​tropical​ ​cultures​ ​from​ ​evangelized​ ​colonies​ ​and​ ​cultivated​ ​them​ ​on this​ ​little,​ ​hidden​ ​paradise.​ ​​

The​ ​fertile​ ​farmland ​coupled ​with​ ​a​ ​fabulous micro-climate,​ ​allowed ​the​ ​development​ ​of​ ​all​ ​kind​s ​of​ ​crops​ ​since​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of the settlement.​ ​Malmsey​ ​grapes,​ ​mango​ ​trees​ ​of​ ​20​ ​different​ ​varieties,​ ​banana plantations, ​​avocado and​ ​pawpaw trees,​ ​Surinam​ ​cherries,​ ​figs,​ ​prickly​ ​pears,​ ​passion​ ​fruit,​ ​ and various types of​ ​guava​ ​ make up​ ​the​ ​landscape of​ ​this​ ​unique​ ​location.

​The​ ​sea​ ​is​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​the​ ​only ​way of reaching ​ ​ ​this​ ​treasure.​ ​A modern​ ​cable​ ​car​ ​brings​ ​you​ ​down​ ​in​ ​the​ ​blink​ ​of​ ​an​ ​eye.

If​ ​“sensation​ ​seeker”​ ​is​ ​your​ ​nickname,​ ​a​ ​major​ ​challenge​ ​would​ ​be​ ​a​ ​slide​ ​through​ ​the waterfall​ ​of​ ​Quinta​ ​Grande,​ ​with​ ​two​ ​gaps​ ​of​ ​100​ ​and​ ​120​ ​meters​ ​(for​ ​experienced participants​ ​only).​

And if you want to experience​ ​an explosion​ ​of​ ​flavours, enjoy a meal at the restaurant ​with locally grown produce.

Fajã dos Padres is the ideal place for those who want to escape from  everyday stress, are ​ ​life​ ​enthusiasts, who ​​love nature and enjoy the mystic of a magical place.

Renke Olieslagers (Official Tourist Guide)

Photo Courtesy of Marla Castro