Pico Island, Azores: Climbing the Volcano, Vineyards and Whales

Pico is the Azores’ most dramatic island: dominated by Mount Pico, Portugal’s highest mountain at 2,351 metres, with UNESCO-listed vineyards growing inside black lava walls and some of the world’s best whale watching offshore. Here’s how to visit Pico.

Quick answer: climb Mount Pico (register at the Casa da Montanha; €25 to the summit), explore the lava-walled vineyards around Madalena and the Lajido area, go whale watching from Lajes do Pico or Madalena, and swim in natural lava pools. Pico is 30 minutes by ferry from Horta on Faial.

Climbing Mount Pico

• Register at the Casa da Montanha (the mountain house) before climbing; you’ll be given a GPS tracker.
• Fees: €25 to the summit (Piquinho), €15 to the crater, plus extra to camp overnight.
• Difficulty: a steep, rocky climb of about 3–4 hours each way. Good fitness and proper boots are essential.
• Guides: not compulsory, but strongly recommended if you’re not an experienced hiker. See guided climbs.
• Weather: it changes fast; check conditions and be ready to turn back.
• Sunrise: many climbers go up overnight or camp in the crater for sunrise above the clouds.

The vineyards

Pico’s vineyards are a UNESCO World Heritage Site: vines grow in thousands of tiny plots enclosed by black basalt walls (currais) that protect them from the wind and sea spray. Walk among them, visit the wine museum and taste the island’s volcanic wines.

Whale watching

Pico has a long whaling history, now turned into world-class whale watching. Lajes do Pico has a whaling museum and trips that often see sperm whales and dolphins. See whale-watching trips.

Other things to do

• Natural lava pools along the coast for swimming in summer.
• Lava tubes and caves, like the Gruta das Torres.
• Coastal villages and black-rock shores.
• The “Triangle”: combine Pico with Faial and São Jorge by ferry.

Getting there

• Ferry: about 30 minutes from Horta (Faial) to Madalena, several times a day year-round, weather permitting.
• Flights: Pico has an airport with links to other islands and Lisbon.

Where to stay

Madalena is the main town and ferry port. Places to stay on Pico.

More: Azores island hopping, Faial and Madeira vs the Azores.

See also: climbing Mount Pico.

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