Fajã dos Cubres

Fajã dos Cubres is a lakeside coastal plain on São Jorge, formed by an ancient landslide beneath the island's cliffs, distinct from the nearby and better-known Fajã do Santo Cristo though sharing a similar volcanic origin. A brackish lagoon separated from the ocean by a narrow stretch of land dominates the fajã, bordered by a scattering of traditional stone houses and small plots once used for local farming. The site can be reached by road, unlike some of São Jorge's more remote fajãs, making it a more accessible stop for visitors without time for a long hike. A walk around the lagoon and through the small settlement typically takes an hour to ninety minutes. The fajã's calm water and flat plain sit in contrast to the steep cliffs rising directly behind it, a landscape pattern repeated at several points along São Jorge's coast but especially striking here given the lagoon's size.