Exploring Fogo Island Newfoundland

Planning a road trip to Fogo Island, Newfoundland is very easy to navigate. We based our trip around the availability of a local Airbnb. From there, we started to learn about all the unique experiences and locations this Island has to offer.

When exploring Fogo Island, Newfoundland I highly recommend taking at least three or four days, but preferably a week to visit. It is worthwhile to stay longer so you can see more of this magical island. 

The name Fogo appropriately means "fire" in Portuguese. The tales vary about how this name came to be. After visiting there, I would ponder that it comes from the tenacity of the people who settled and claimed this land as Home. 

Getting to Fogo Island

The crossing to Fogo Island is from the small town of Farewell. It takes about an hour and fifteen minutes (with a stop at Change Islands along the way) via ferry. In the summer months there are two vessels who take passengers and vehicles. However, through the winter there is a one vessel schedule.

If you are starting from St. John's it will be about a four and a half hour drive to get to the Ferry. If instead you fly into Gander, in central Newfoundland, it is about an hour drive. 

When you are planning a trip to Fogo Island it is important to check the timing on the schedule and recognize that weather can impact the crossing times. There are also sections with no cell phone reception so be prepared with your map in advance. I also recommend notifying anyone who you may want to be in contact with beforehand.

Trail Maps and Hiking on Fogo Island

There are eight main hiking trails around the Island that range from easy to difficult: Lion's Den, Brimstone Head, Joe Batt's Trail (Long Studio), Fogo Head Trail, Turpin's Trail (Squish Studio), Waterman's Brook Trail, Deep Bay Lookout (Bridge Studio) and Oliver's Cove Trail.

The landscape here ranges from lichens around Deep Bay to unique rock formations like Brimstone Head, formed from a volcano over 400-million years ago.

A trip to Fogo Island is well worth the drive and the time. It is truly a one-of-a-kind destination.

Hiking and Exploring Fogo Island Newfoundland