BOTANICAL GARDEN

This park, created in 1986, is now part of the Faial Natural Park. Its aim is to raise awareness of the different types of vegetation found on the island, but it also has a role to play in preserving endemic species. In 2003, the Garden created a seed bank and acquired a plot of land on the heights of Pedro Miguel. First, you discover the vegetation along the coast and, step by step, you climb to higher altitudes. At the end of the park, greenhouses house an impressive collection of orchids. Several zones have been created with different conditions: two warm greenhouses for growing tropical orchids and two shaded zones, as well as a street zone for growing temperate orchids. The garden also features a permanent exhibition with documentary projection, dedicated to the natural history of Azorean vegetation. The archipelago is an important meeting place for unique plant species, but also the site of the proliferation of particularly invasive species, whose expansion must be monitored and contained in order to preserve this fragile biological treasure. Guided tours in various languages are available (duration: between 1h30 and 2h). The park also includes a cafeteria and a small medicinal plant garden, with a few tables and chairs. You can round off your visit with a local herbal tea, such as ervadoce, the green aniseed grown on the island.