Pico: volcanoes and wine
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival on Pico
Whether you arrive onto the island of Pico by ferry from Faial or by plane from Terceira or Sao Miguel, you can already see the top of the Pico volcano. You probably don’t expect it, but Mount Pico is the highest point in Portugal! Besides the mountain, Pico is also known for its unique wines. Upon arrival, take a taxi to your hotel or pick up your rental car. Depending on availability, you will stay on Pico in the town of Madalena, where the harbour is also located, with a view of the sea or in a rural hotel with a swimming pool.
Day 2 – Guided walk and wine tasting
The volcanic landscape of Pico is not only beautiful, it also produces wines with a unique taste and high alcohol content. Wine has been produced here since the 15th century and the vineyard landscape has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walls of volcanic stone divide the vineyards and protect them from the sea wind. Today we will arrange for a walking tour with a local guide who will explain more about the importance of wine to Pico as well as interesting stories about the island. You will, of course, get the opportunity to try the wine!
Day 3 – Time to island hop
After a few days of volcanoes and wine tasting, it’s time to continue traveling through the Azores. From Pico you can easily hop to the island of Faial by boat or take a short flight to Terceira.
You may prefer to extend stay on Pico, and for those wanting an active challenge, we can arrange for you to climb Mount Pico with a guide. Your reward may well be the most beautiful view in the Azores. It takes about 5 hours to climb to the top and 4 hours to descend. Let us know if you would like to include this in your trip.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Island hopping to São Jorge
The nearby island of São Jorge is quite different from Pico and well worth a day trip. It’s an island of rugged cliffs and unique coastal ‘fajãs’. It’s also well known for its cheese which is considered the best in the Azores. The boat crossing takes one to two hours, depending on weather conditions. After arriving on São Jorge, you pick up a rental car and easily drive around the island or to the starting point of a hike through green hills and dense forests. This bite-sized trip swaps Pico wine tasting for a day on São Jorge, but add an extra night on Pico and you can do both. Ask our Travel Specialists for a price.
