Fajã dos Vimes – São Jorge Island

Fajã dos Vimes is located on the southern coast of São Jorge Island, and stands out due to its composition, a true spectacle of nature.

It is a geosite of significant scientific, educational, and geotouristic value, attracting numerous tourists each year, who are captivated by the local geopaisage, classified by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve.

Part of the São Jorge coastline, this fajã belongs to the Ribeira Seca parish, Calheta municipality, and is surrounded by one of the highest cliffs on the island. With predominant rainfall throughout the year, this contributes to the region’s climate, which is ideal for agriculture, especially coffee cultivation.

Speaking of coffee, it is in Fajã dos Vimes that the Nunes family maintains a coffee plantation on the land behind their home.

For those interested in learning more about production, the property offers tours of the coffee plantation, where the owners share the full history and origin of the coffee. On the Nunes’ land, they also produce traditional wool and cotton blankets, using pedal looms, a craft typical of the area.

Photo by José Luís Ávila Silveira/Pedro Noronha e Costa

For hiking enthusiasts, this fajã is the starting point of a trail filled with fantastic views of the island, featuring rich fauna and flora.

So, be sure to visit and explore Fajã dos Vimes, a place filled with natural beauty and the unique producer of coffee.

History of Fajã dos Vimes

The origin of São Jorge Island is marked by sporadic seismic events, alternating between long periods of calm and phases of intense seismic activity or stronger earthquakes. It was in Fajã dos Vimes that one of the worst earthquakes in the history of the Azores occurred—the Calheta Earthquake, on July 9, 1757.

To give you an idea, except for the Island of Flores and Corvo, all the other islands in the archipelago felt the impacts of the earthquake, which caused the destruction of all the buildings in Calheta, with a total of 1,034 deaths in São Jorge, 11 on Pico, and 1 on Terceira.

Other disasters in Fajã dos Vimes include a major flood in 1899 that affected the entire southern coast of São Jorge, and in 1992, Cyclone Bonnie brought torrential rains, causing the Ribeira dos Vimes to overflow and destroy the bridge.

Photo by António Faria (video at the end)

The most important thing is that Fajã dos Vimes overcame all these challenges that marked its history and is now considered a beloved place by the people of São Jorge. Additionally, part of the region’s history is the cultivation of agricultural products such as corn, barley, vines, yams, and coffee, which have significant economic value for the inhabitants of the area.

Another interesting fact about Fajã dos Vimes is the celebration of Corpus Christi Day, which attracts thousands of visitors from across the island to enjoy the traditional dishes offered by the residents of Vimes, such as fried fish, limpets, yams, and potatoes, all accompanied by good wine.

Attraction

The main attractions in Fajã dos Vimes are the Nunes family’s coffee plantations and the weavers who produce traditional blankets on manual looms over a century old.

The church is located near the sea and has ties to the Holy Spirit brotherhood. To complete the picture, the houses have architectural features from the time.

However, due to the 1757 earthquake, all the buildings were destroyed. As a result, all local structures underwent reconstruction, losing their original traits.

It’s also worth mentioning the various viewpoints along the road to Fajã dos Vimes, offering fantastic photo opportunities of breathtaking landscapes.

Walking Trail

Finally, for those who love hiking, the PR9SJO – Fajã dos Vimes / Fregueira / Portal – begins in the fajã itself, lasting approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, covering 3.2 km of stunning beauty. However, before you go, check weather conditions, as some trails are closed due to bad weather.

Fajã dos Vimes Videos