Recommended Activities

Climb Pico Mountain

Pico Mountain is the highest point in Portugal standing 2,531 meters tall. The magnificent volcanic structure has always been one of the biggest attractions of Pico Island. Climbing the mountain and getting back down takes between 4 and 9 hours, depending on the physical condition of those looking to take up the challenge. Although the mountain is not one of the highest in the world and does not require particularly elaborate climbing equipment, climbing it can be deceptively simple. This is due not so much to the altitude, but to the weather conditions. A pleasant coastal breeze and some unthreatnhing clouds spotted from the coast, may be felt as strong winds, heavy fog and rain from the mountain. You can literally be walking up a storm. Less experienced individuals are advised to hire a guide and it is suggested that even more experienced individuals climb the mountain on days of favorable weather.

However, it must be emphasized that there are reasons why the mountain is such a big attraction. Whether it's the feeling of humility you get at the top of the mountain with a view that is defined by alpinists from all over the world as breathtaking, whether you are watching a sunrise, sunset or spending the night away from light pollution to realize that you had never truly seen the night sky before.

Whale Watching, Snorkling and Diving

The Azores are a geographically privileged place for watching marine life. The vast biodiversity just waiting to be explored is admirable and the topography of the ocean floor of Pico Island is as irreverent as the mountain that defies the skies - and all of this is just at the distance of basic diving equipment.

Moreover, in this archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean it is possible to observe 27 species of cetaceans. One of the best areas in the world to do so is in the Lajes of Pico Island, formerly a land of whalers, now their knowledge has been put at the service of tourism and the conservation of the environment! Whether you want to watch the majestic cachalot or the merry dolphin, or just to dive in the close or far away from the shore, the Azores are the right choice!

See the vineyards 

The traditional vineyards of Pico are set in vast fields of vulcanic stone and produce a testimony of beauty and harmony between the human race and the natural world. Originally created to protect the grapes from rain and sea salt, it is one of the most iconic demonstrations of the ingenuity of the locals. The rural architecture blends perfectly with the local flora and fauna and thats one of the reasons this landscape is considered a world heritage site by UNESCO. The Pico Island Vineyard Culture landscape is traditionally associated with two sites: Lajido da Criação Velha and Lajido de Santa Luzia.

Learn about the whaling culture

The Lajes do Pico Whaling Museum and the São Roque do Pico Whaling Industry Museum are among the only, oldest and most visited museums that pay tribute to the Portuguese whaling culture. Most relevant in these museums is the variety of information they can convey together. You will hardly find another way to get such a complete and clear picture of what whaling was like - from the intuitive yet mysterious image of a cachalot being target by a sailor holding a harpoon, to the generally overlooked industrial processes that justified and required whaling to begin with. Learn about all the machines that were used to produce the least likely of goods like oil, flour, compost and even vitamins!

Sailing

Feeling the flowing ocean through a boat's deck, sensing a new form of freedom in the air... sailing is wornderful, it really is. And sailing is particularly wonderful in Azores. You may wonder why, why is Azores a great place for sailing? History and Geography. The Portuguese people and the sea have a long history together. When people talk about the European Discoveries, they mostly talk about us. We discovered half of the unknown world and found ways to place a boats in places that before could only be reached by land. And among the portuguese Azoreans are the most seaworthy  due to a long and rich fishing and whaling history. The geography, well... We have nine islands, none of which is the same and that means that Azores is one of the best and only places in the world for island hopping.

Spend the Day on Faial Island

To the west of Pico, in front of the village of Madalena, there's a friendly neighbor: the island of Faial. A trip that takes a mere 30 minutes by boat from Madalena. Spending a day at Faial is a great way to enjoy part of your vacation. Faial is internationally known for its marina, where pass more yachts than anywhere in Europe - fourth place worldwide. Soak up in Faial's seafaring culture at the legendary Peter Café Sport. This centenary establishment is living, breathing legend and is so much part of the marina that it is almost impossible to dissociate them, there's even a saying in Horta "if you do not visit  Peter Café Sport, you have not actually visited Horta". Go see the Capelinhos, see the Caldeira and then return to the comfort of your home in Pico. 

Enjoy the Trails and Natural Parks

Of all the trails on Pico Island the best known will be the mountain trail. However, it should be noted that the entire island is a testimony of natural beauty. There are many trails that require varying amounts of time and hardship and all of them are worth doing/seeing. At the same time, Pico has a significant number of breathtaking forest parks, and many of them are equipped with free-to-use grills, so you can have a barbecue in the afternoon among the Azorean natural charm.