Things to do in

Pico Island

Lying in the middle of the mystical Atlantic Ocean, the Azores Islands are a permanent home or point of passage for more than a third of the entire world’s whale and dolphin species. Dive into a lifetime adventure with these ancestral creatures during this guided Pico Island whale-watching trip. Away from the masses and close to the desirable peace, you will be the guests to nature guides and marine biologists, certified and, most importantly, sharing the contagious passion for the islands and its fauna and flora. Your adventure starts at Lajes do Pico harbor, where you’ll be welcomed by staff and check-in. Afterward, head to the boat where the marine biologists will give a briefing. Hear about the species you might see, whale watching history in the Azores, as well as how to respect the animals. Then, you’re ready to navigate and look for cetaceans in the wild. On the way, have a look at the coast of the island, full of magical landscapes. Whales live in the deep ocean and some of them simply pass by the waters during their migration. It is in this dark-profiled paradise of basaltic landscapes and silky vegetation that a rough sea awaits to introduce the visitor to some of the most spectacular aquatic specimens, freely swimming in their element. Prepare for awe-inspiring moments where time suddenly freezes and natural magic happens right in front of your eyes. After the boat trip, head back to the harbor with a heart full of good memories.

Uncover the beauty of the marine wildlife of Pico Island on this dolphin and whale watching tour. Stay safe with the use of a life jacket and keep dry with the use of a waterproof top. Approach the whales slowly and carefully to ensure the well-being of the animals.  Enjoy a short briefing before boarding the Zodiac boat in the town of Lajes do Pico. Snap some pictures of the shoreline as your cruise along. Look for birds, turtles, whales, and playful dolphins as you make your way to locations where they are most active.  Get an introduction to cetaceans (whales and dolphins) from your guide. Hear about other marine species, their natural habitats, communication styles, migration patterns and behavioral features. Return to your starting point on Pico island. 

Join a hiking adventure to scale the summit of Pico Mountain. Achieve your dreams as you reach the top of this iconic and memorable place, with free coffee on hand and guides there to capture the experience on camera. Meet your guide at the Casa da Montanha. Receive a full safety briefing and equipment check. Begin your 7-hour climb to a height of 2351 meters. Traverse the 8-km long trail with your guide. Make your way down a route entirely built on volcanic rock and with an average slope of 30%. Begin on the easier sections, as the terrain gradually becomes harder the closer you get to the top. Watch out for loose rocks and unevenness that require your full attention. Feel anticipation as you rest in the volcano crater near the top, before attacking the mountain's summit. Scale this lava cone with permanent fumaroles that won't let you forget that you're at the top of a volcano. Enjoy the euphoric feeling of reaching the top of Portugal. Breathe deeply and enjoy the moment in the best possible way, whether contemplating, relaxing or taking lots of photos. Then, get ready for the descent with fewer stops to keep the leg muscles always active. Return to the starting point, with a feeling of mission accomplished that will accompany you for the rest of your life, knowing that you can always do more than you imagine.

Observation of whales and dolphins Part to discovery and boarding an adventure that will lead to the fascinating world of whales and dolphins. Our outsider are accompanied by a professional crew with expectations that continually gives explanations to customers about the behaviors of the observed species Enjoy marine biodiversity in southern peak in this tour of Observation of dolphins and whales. How to get Marginal Avenue in front of the sea Meeting Point our store in the peak slabs, on top of our door two scholars with table and bench to the door entrance attend 30 minutes before starting time Services provided company aquaaçores op mt 07/2009

End your afternoon in São Miguel island in a relaxing pool with 12 square meters with 36 degrees water in the middle of a pineapple production and relax. Use the spa massages and cascate and feel the ambient of a pineapple greenhouse. The Azorean pineapples are unique in the world. At 5pm do the pineapple tour with an pineapple expert during 20-30min and learn about azorean pineapple production and take a photo in the middle of pineapples! Meeting point is Herdade do Ananás at 3pm and we give you towels and robes! This is a super experience in S. Miguel you will never forget.

Visit Pico Island following the path on Estrada Regional nº(s)1/2 along the north and south coast. Tour and visit the three villages, Madalena, São Roque do Pico and Lajes do Pico. The route includes the sites of “Lagoa do Capitão”, where you can appreciate the endemic vegetation found on the Island. Discover the remarkable Pico´s Vineyard Culture Landscape, Classified World Heritage by Unesco. Tour to the popular places of “Cachorro” and “Lajido” and along the seashore, the particularities of the Island´s volcanic nature, namely through the presence of vast lava fields. Route through the emblematic places of Whaling Culture, including a visit to the Whaling Museum. Historical information and nowadays facts concerning the Island, especially that of “Mistérios” from which it shaped. The Itinerary described lasts approximately 8 hours.

See Pico island from a different angle on this guided kayaking tour. Take off from the harbour of Lajes do Pico, learn more about the whaling heritage of this village, paddle into a volcanic crater, and snorkel in a lagoon. Begin your tour at the harbour of Lajes do Pico. Meet your guide and get into your safety gear before hopping into one of the kayaks. Start paddling through the clear waters and head towards the old whaling factory. As you paddle, enjoy the coastline with Pico mountain dominating the landscape. Follow your guide's kayak into a volcanic crater, discovering fascinating rock formations. Take a rest halfway through your 2.5-hour tour on a sunny cobbled beach. Enjoy a refreshing swim or go snorkelling in the lagoon before heading back to the harbour of Lajes do Pico. Route specification Distance: 8 km Time: total duration of the activity 2.5 hours, 2 hours paddling Difficulty level Physical effort: 2 Difficulty levels: 1 – easy 1,5 – easy / medium 2 – medium 2,5 – medium / difficult 3 – difficult

With a dash of adventure in an incredible natural setting, we will unveil a secret unknown for many: the unique volcanic Pico wines, and the people who make it all possible. Intertwined with the local communities we curate encounters and tastings you wouldn’t otherwise be able to live. We meet in Madalena, to begin our experience with a short walk, through the vineyards right by the sea, at the foothills of Pico Mountain, in the landscape of Pico Wine – considered since 2004 a UNESCO World Heritage site. This heroic wine comes from vines that grow from lava soil and flourish on the rock. All the work is done manually and none of this has changed in 500 years, when the first settlers introduced grape growing in Pico. To refresh our feet, we take you to one of our favorite natural swimming pools, in an amazing setting, where you can get on the water or just lay down for a bit, exchanging more local stories and preparing your appetite for the next stop where, depending on the weather we can be outdoors tasting local crabs, and other local delicacies or indoors with a more earthy local meal. Finally, we take to a wine tasting in a beautiful setting with an emergent and promising awarded independent local producer. You will experience all the landscape and history in your mouth! Pico is an example of how farming techniques and practices can be adapted to a secluded and challenging environment. NOTE: None of our tastings are done at the Pico Cooperative (Madalena) where you can go on your own for already organized tastings. We value their work, especially because they have allowed Pico Wine to be reborn, since 1949, but we want to take you to places where you would hardly go alone. We want to create the bridge between you and local independent wine producers who are at the forefront of this landscape and sustainable revolution while tasting low-intervention and limited editions of Pico Wine. Join us and discover the history and the taste of a unique volcanic, mineral & salty wine, unique in the world while immersing in the local culture, people and… nature!

Enjoy a relaxing wine-tasting experience and discover the rich diversity of Pico's wine landscape. Begin the tour with a pickup from the Ferry terminal in Madalena before walking through the vineyards of Criação Velha. Next, visit a regional wine cooperative and learn about the wine-making process. After lunch at a local restaurant, the group will travel to São Roque on the North Coast. On the way, the group will pass former wine production sites including Cachorro and Lajido. End the tour in a local producer's local adega (or wine cellar), and taste Pico Island's finest wines.

Discover the volcanic landscape of Pico island, elected one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal. Explore lakes, lagoons, and viewpoints during this guided van experience. Begin your tour by visiting beautiful lakes and several viewpoints. Pass by Casa da Montanha, the highest point reached in a car. This is the starting point for those who book a hike on a trail to Portugal’s highest summit, but for us, it will be a chance to get beautiful mountain views. Pass by the volcanic complex of the eastern part of the island. Stop for a light lunch in between volcanoes and lagoons and tuck into sandwiches while enjoying a scenic view. Hear stories and facts from your local island guide. During the visit to Casa dos Vulcões, you can expect interactive exhibits, detailed explanations of volcanic formations, and the opportunity to learn about the region’s geological history. This fascinating center offers an immersive experience of the volcanic activity of the Azores. Observe different geological formations such as stalactites and stalagmites, side benches, and lava balls. Finally, head back to the van and be dropped off back in Madalena.