The Regional Directorate for Tourism, through the Azores Trail Run project, opens the Monte da Guia trail on Faial Island next Thursday, February 2, at 6 PM. It is the first existing trail in the Azores equipped with specific signs for the practice of trail running.
 
Developed in partnership with the Ilha Azul Athletics Independent Club and with Faial Natural Park, the initiative includes a session featuring the participation of the national ultra trail champion, Tiago Aires.
 
The Entre Montes trail, located in Monte da Guia, allows easy access to both residents and visitors due to its unique features, such as its proximity to the city of Horta and to local hotels.
 
This initiative is included in the project developed by the Trail Running Centre of Faial Island with the aim of enhancing natural, landscape and heritage endogenous resources. It falls within the strategy for the creation of key segments in regional tourism, through the provision structures that enable the practice of this activity; the latter has millions of practitioners throughout the world.
 
One of the fundamental pillars of the development strategy of the nature tourism segment implemented in the Azores is the planning and management policy for hiking trails, where trail running take place. This activity has been registering an increasing number of practitioners.
 
The contact with nature, physical well-being and discovery, motivations are the main reasons associated with the practice of the activity. They are specifically highlighted in health and well-being tourism and, above all, in nature tourism, with a huge growth potential.
 
The opening of the first trail in the Azores with specific signs for the practice of trail running follows a workshop on this sport that took place on Faial last week.