Things to do in Lajes Do Pico

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. 

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

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

Meet the main sights of the Pico Island, and be involved by the very exotic and unique Wine Culture of Pico classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting many little traditional villages surrounded by the volcanic stone vineyards, contemplating the landscape of the Vineyard Culture - a World Heritage site by Unesco - the Azorean Whaling Tradition and the natural beauty of the island's biodiversity, as well as different and unfamiliar sites to visitors, always accompanied by our experienced and professional guide and different views of the highest Mountain of Portugal. Also, visit the most iconic lagoon of Pico (Captain's Lagoon) formed by the secondary volcanoes and lava flows of the Central Plateau of Pico Island.

You can visit a vineyard and hear the history of the Pico island wine that goes back to the 15ª Century. The visit will be on a zone that is classified as world heritage from the UNESCO. We will visit "rilheiras" and "rola pipas", the wine museum and finish the wine tour with a taste of five different Pico wines. Another tour will take you to visit the middle of the island where you see lakes and vulcano craters, lava tubes and much more also visit the whale museum on Lajes do Pico, "casa dos botes" on Calheta village. If the tours take the whole day you have lunch with local products on a restaurant.

The best way to get to know the true essence of a new place is to act like a local - go where the locals go and eat what the locals eat. This is how we designed our island excursion so that you feel like an integral part of Pico. We start at 9 a.m. in Lajes, an old whaling town where you will learn more about the Azorean whaling culture and how this tradition has now transformed into one of the best cetacean observation experiences in the world. Our guide will then take you to the Central Plateau of the island where cows are the true rulers. Take in spectacular views, wonder at our volcanic lagoons, see endemic fauna & flora, gaze at the fabulous Pico mountain and observe intriguing rock formations behind every bend in the road. The adventure continues within the earth - you will then dive into one of our mysterious lava tunnels and explore the beauty of the underground world. There will be plenty of cave formations such as huge stalactites, underground lava rivers, jagged points and ridges, silky smooth walls and forests growing right inside the caves! The lunch is one of the highlights of the tour - it is traditional, locally-sourced and deliciously cooked by a local couple. It will be served and enjoyed in a beautiful natural park. They can also provide vegetarian/vegan options if necessary. After lunch we will have a short walk through a nearby traditional and picturesque village, as you learn more about how life in a wine-making village looked like in the past. The next step will be a guided tour through the Azores Wine Company vineyards and winery. This will be, of course, followed by a wine tasting experience. You will have the chance to taste the terroir of the sea and the volcanoes during a tasting of 3 different wines. In short, you will only have to bring good walking shoes, water, a hat and sunscreen. We will take care of everything else. The end of the adventure is scheduled for 5 p.m. - we will then drive you back to the initial meeting point in Lajes.