Best of Madeira: Faja dos Padres

UPDATED:  20-03-2020   ◊   ZMIEŃ JĘZYK NA: POLSKI

Must See in Madeira - Faja dos Padres beach. Faja dos Padres cliff. Faja dos Padres cable car. Faja dos Padres restaurant

Fajã… a Portuguese term which does not have an English equivalent. It describes a piece of flat, fertile land, created by flowing lava, which is located at the bottom of the cliff, cut off on one side by the cliff, on the other by water. It is a beautiful and unique place, which is definitely worth discovering during your Madeira Island holidays.

Fajã dos Padres is not the only fajã on Madeira Island. Another secluded fajã which amazed us is: Fajã da Rocha do Navio in Santana.

GO TO POST: Fajã da Rocha do Navio

Exploring Madeira’s fajã’s was also one of the 20 positions on my latest Madeira Island bucket list:

GO TO POST: 20 x awesome things to do in Madeira

Today, however, I would like to present you Fajã dos Padres in detail and help you plan your own trip:

Fajã dos Padres – Video impression

Here are two of our GoPro videos recorded in autumn 2019:

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Fajã dos Padres – What is it exactly?

The area of Fajã dos Padres is relatively small. There are paths, but no roads; there are small golf carts, but no cars. There is a beach, several houses (which were once inhabited by farmers and today can be rented out by tourists), gardens full of banana trees, herbs, vegetables and exotic fruit (oh my beloved avocado trees!), one restaurant with the same name and… wonderful silence. It is a secluded and truly wonderful place to relax.

GO TO: Fajã dos Padres Restaurant

GO TO: Fajã dos Padres Rentals

The cable car ride downhill itself gives us the opportunity to admire the magnificent views from the panoramic windows of the cable car. It takes only about 2.5 minutes to get to Fajã. A short stroll through the gardens will take us to the restaurant with a concrete pier, from which you can go on a boat, go fishing or snorkel, swim and sunbathe.

Fajã dos Padres – Location & how to get there

You can only get to Fajã dos Padres by water: by boat / kayak, or by a special cable car, which you can board on the 300-meter high cliff.

Fajã dos Padres owns a 10-seater boat “Malvasia”, which runs daily between Funchal and the famous colourful fishing village Câmara de Lobos. If you want to get to Fajã dos Padres by this boat, you need to book it in advance on their [OFFICIAL WEBSITE].

The price of a one-way ticket from Câmara de Lobos is €10 and from Funchal €15. Children under 2 years travel for free.

So if we have a car, getting there by boat will cost you more than the cable car. And if you travel by taxi, an interesting option may be a ride down with the cable car and return by boat.

SEE ALSO POST: CAMARA DE LOBOS

Must See in Madeira - Faja dos Padres beach. Faja dos Padres cliff. Faja dos Padres cable car. Faja dos Padres restaurant

Fajã dos Padres – Cable car & parking

The cable car station can be reached by car, which can be left on the (free) parking lot at the top of the cliff. Getting there by taxi is not a crazy option – Fajã dos Padres is located about 10 km west of Funchal.

Cable car tickets can be bought at the ticket office next to the station; they cost 10 per person (both ways). There is free admission for children under 11 years old. 

Must See in Madeira - Faja dos Padres beach. Faja dos Padres cliff. Faja dos Padres cable car. Faja dos Padres restaurant
Things to do in Madeira: Faja dos Padres. Faja dos Padres restaurant. Faja dos Padres cable car. Faja dos Padres beach.
Must See in Madeira - Faja dos Padres beach. Faja dos Padres cliff. Faja dos Padres cable car. Faja dos Padres restaurant
Things to do in Madeira: Faja dos Padres. Faja dos Padres restaurant. Faja dos Padres cable car. Faja dos Padres beach.

The Fajã dos Padres cable car is not only used to transport people but also products. Here are some boxes of freshly picked fruit that arrived at the top of the cliff from the Fajã farm, ready to be delivered to local restaurants and bars:

Things to do in Madeira: Faja dos Padres. Faja dos Padres restaurant. Faja dos Padres cable car. Faja dos Padres gardens.

Fajã dos Padres – History

Fajã dos Padres (“Fajã of the Fathers”), which has its own microclimate, was inhabited and cultivated since Madeira started being populated; as we read on the official site, there are countless records and references made to its owners, its crops and inhabitants, as far back as the 15th century.

This area once belonged to the priests of the Company of Jesus for over 150 years, hence the name “Fajã of the Fathers”. They left a remarkable legacy, esp. the introduction of the malmsey wine, a wine whose reputation expanded the borders of Portugal. Despite the isolation, Fajã was inhabited by about 50 people – settlers and Jesuits. In addition to agricultural activities, it is believed that Fajã was also used as priests’ summer escape.

Faja dos Padres beach. Faja dos Padres cliff. Faja dos Padres cable car price. Faja dos Padres parking. Faja dos Padres history

In the past, grapes and sugar cane were cultivated there. After the Second World War, for around 30 years, it was replaced almost entirely by banana trees. In the beginning of the 1980s the property was widely restructured. Some mechanical methods were introduced as well as automatic irrigation systems and new cultures were introduced in addition to the banana production. Today we can see the wine yards, mango, avocado and banana trees, as well as many other vegetables and exotic fruits such as araca, figs, tabaio and passion fruits.

 

Fajã dos Padres – Beach

The beach on Fajã is unfortunately like almost all natural beaches of Madeira – a pebble beach. There is, however, a pier which is great for sunbathing and diving.  Fajã dos Padres is also a nice place to snorkel. Access to the beach is free, there is also an outdoor shower and toilets next to the restaurant. 

Faja dos Padres beach.
Faja dos padres, Madera. Jak wygląda plaża na Fajã dos Padres?

GO TO POST: BEACHES IN MADEIRA

Fajã dos Padres – Restaurant

Imagine eating a fresh-caught fish dish in a serene, quiet place, just by the beach, watching and listening to the ocean… The restaurant at Fajã dos Padres serves mostly fresh fish and seafood and is not at all overpriced. A great place for a lunch with the entire family.

Things to do in Madeira: Faja dos Padres. Faja dos Padres restaurant. Faja dos Padres beach and pier.
Things to do in Madeira: Faja dos Padres. Faja dos Padres restaurant. Faja dos Padres beach and pier.

Fajã dos Padres – Unique Wedding Venue

Fajã dos Padres is also a great setting for a destination wedding in Portugal. Suitable especially for couples looking for an intimate totally off-the-beaten-path ceremony, in an unusual and secluded place. 

Interested in organizing your wedding or event there? Go to our post: Weddings at Fajã dos Padres or send your wedding inquiry

Unique wedding venues Europe: Getting married in a secluded area of Madeira, Portugal
Unique wedding locations: Secluded Faja dos Padres on Madeira Island.

Fajã dos Padres – My brother’s adventure

Writing about Fajã dos Padres, I could not help but describe a funny family story. My beloved brother is its main hero, and it all happened during the famous wedding visit of my family in Madeira in 2017. 

My brother must have been simply really fascinated with the high cliff because he… hurt his ankle walking while staring up. At that time, there were no vehicles at Fajã dos Padres, and our own car remained on top of the cliff… so – what to do? 

After half an hour of looking for help, my brother was already sitting… in a shovel of a small garden dumpster truck, the only vehicle on wheels available in Fajã. A compassionate local Portuguese gardener transported him up to the cable car station. My brother and his foot, of course, became a tourist attraction, and his royal journey in a shovel among banana trees was vastly photographed by other tourists.

This sort of situation won’t happen to you, so do not worry. Why? We noticed, that nowadays, there are small golf carts which can be used to transport people with mobility problems. My brother wasn’t lucky that day, but at least he had an adventure he will never forget.

Fajã dos Padres – Final Thoughts

So to sum up, I do not know anyone who wouldn’t enjoy Fajã dos Padres. The cable car ride will for sure be an adventure. To properly explore the entire Fajã dos Padres and relax a bit, reserve at least a couple of hours. It is a great attraction for the entire family, including families with small kids and definitely a great option for a relaxed, sunny afternoon. 

We highly encourage to discover this, and other Fajã’s of Madeira Island.

SEE ALSO: OTHER POPULAR FAJã’S ON MADEIRA ISLAND:

Fajã da Rocha do Navio 

Fajã Do Teleferico do Rancho

Fajã da Achadas da Cruz

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