Also called Praia do Almoxarife, this gorgeous beach in a sheltered bay on Faial's east coast hosts offshore winds from the west. These winds make for a great surf spot, especially in fall and winter. The beach lies just north of the town of Horta

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Also called Praia do Almoxarife, this gorgeous beach in a sheltered bay on Faial's east coast hosts offshore winds from the west. These winds make for a great surf spot, especially in fall and winter. The beach lies just north of the town of Horta between the Espalamaca headland and a nearby village. The sand here is wide and empty, easily absorbing the few beachgoers who travel here. Since the beach is volcanic black sand, it can trap heat and get a bit warm at times. If the seas are rough, rocks wash up onshore, but since the beach is ringed by green grassy hills and a few red-roofed buildings, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more scenic beach in the Azores. The omnipresent island of Pico and its cone peak are just across the channel. There's a good, if tiny, snorkeling beach nearby called Englishmen Beach. Be sure to ask a local how to get there.

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