PRAIA DA AREIA

This is the only beach worthy of the name on the island. There are no long stretches of sand here, just a small, little-frequented black sand beach, with a large cliff to the west, offering an exceptional natural setting. The beach is very close to the airport runway, but you won't be bothered by the rare planes that land there. In summer, the water in the Azores easily reaches 24°C and is incredibly transparent, ideal if you want to try snorkeling, or just cool off after a day's hiking.