Pico is the second-largest island in the Azores at more than twice the size of São Miguel. But the bucket list world has almost ignored it resulting in a welcome absence of corporate hotels. Its main industries are winemaking and shipbuilding.
Today, most tourists see Pico as a good location for a relaxing vacation in a beautiful place. But it's wrong to think of it as nothing more than a picturesque beauty. This island has far more to offer than stunning views and geological splendor.
Created by dramatic volcanic activity hundreds of millions of years ago, the Azores exists as an unusual and varied environment. And, in those nine islands the 7,700-foot peak of Pico island rises above the green, sculptured landscape to the highest peak in all of Portugal. With a wild and lava strewn countryside perfect for hiking, world Heritage vineyards, and some of the best whale watching in the world, Pico is Portugal’s high point.
Pico was the obvious choice of name for the highest point in all of Portugal. You cannot miss it! Its giant peak soars about the clouds most days, and it is often seen by approaching planes rising above the cloud cover. It is impressive from any angle! Some intriguing places to visit are Escalada ao Pico where tourists can scale Portugal’s highest mountain, and Quinta da Rosas, a forest park with exotic species. The interior of Pico is mostly a natural park, and the trails are well marked. The climb up to the 7,700-foot summit can take up to 3 hours, but the views are worth it. Hiking is abundant, and trails soar up the mountain and along the coast, with spectacular views.
Pico is also known for its excellent wine, a unique vintage that carries just a hint of lava. In the 19th century, even the czars of Russia sent ships to bring back Pico’s wines. All along the coast, two-foot walls shield the vineyards producing the wine’s grapes from the sea and the elements. And if that’s not enough to impress you, this wine-producing region has been given for recognition as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Pico wine Museum offers a glimpse of the past, and the future – not to mention tastings. There are charming seaside towns here to carved between black rocks and the sea. Inland there is a great series of caves that can be explored with a guide, lit by flashlight and nothing more.
But it’s the sea-faring culture – first whaling and now tuna –that clearly defines Pico. The island once had a thriving whaling trade recalled in two local museums. In Lajes, an excellent historic museum traces how the people of Pico took to the seas in tiny boats to land huge whales (often inspired by ships from New England). In São Roque, a former whale processing plant shows how industrial whaling happened from beginning to end. Today, tuna is the fish of choice for trade and export. By the 1980s Portugal had banned all whaling – and declared it hundred of miles of ocean to be a marine mammal sanctuary. Whalers were converted to whale watch outfitters, and some of the oldest and most respected whale watch companies operate out of Lajes. They still use former whaling lookouts on the mountainside to radio to whale watch boats the location of pods of whales and dolphins.
The volcanic explosions that built Pico are visible in the island’s wild landscapes, soaring peaks, and black cliffs that drops into the sea. Many days the peak is covered in clouds; however, on clear days, it can be seen from surrounding islands, with its lava cone rising above the massive volcano. Ancient lava flows are frozen in solid rock in areas called misterios.
Wine Museum
Known for its abundant wineries, Pico Island boasts a museum that’s dedicated to its prolific supply of vino. Tucked inside the Casa Conventual dos Carmelitas, this fascinating museum touches on the area’s affiliation with wine while offering vineyard tours and wine tastings. Inspired by Mediterranean architecture, the museum’s aesthetic is as interesting as the information it houses.
Espaco Talassa
Touted as the first sustainable whale watching tourism base, Espaco Talassa is one of Pico Island’s most notable attractions. When a French seaman encountered a former whale watcher, the two brought Espaco Talassa to life.
Their enterprise has proven so successful that it’s said to have its “own empire.” On nearly all the tours, cetaceans are spotted, making this maritime excursion well worth the money.
Longitudinal
Dubbed the prettiest road in Pico Island, Longitudinal, otherwise known as EN3, puts all highways, pavements, and avenues to shame.
While navigating this road, you’ll have a constant view of Mount Pico. Various bodies of water will also catch your eye, including Capitao, which is a glistening lake encircling the mountain.
Gruta das Torres
The Gruta das Torres (Cave of Towers) is a highlight of any visit to Pico. This set of caves is located outside of Criação Velha, in the Town of Madalena, on the western end of Pico. The cave system formed from a series of lava flows about 500 to 15,00 years ago. The caves are a group of interconnected lava tubes between 2–72 ft. widths, created during different geological periods. It has a cave height between3.6–49 ft. and is located at an elevation of some 980 ft. With an estimated length of over 3.2 miles, it is the longest lava cave in the Azores. Access to the cave is managed by AZORINA, SA. The Visitors' Support Centre at the entrance to the cave has a circular sweep and a linear spatial design – that prepare visitors for the spectacle below. It was awarded the "European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture Mies van der Rohe Award 2007."
Since its formation, Gruta das Torres has attracted thousands of tourists from around the globe.
Museu dos Baleeiros
Equipped with artifacts, exhibits, and whaling tools, Museu dos Baleeiros pays homage to Pico Island’s once-thriving whaling industry.
Though whale hunting has been forbidden since 1986, this practice was once prominent in and around Pico Island. This museum details the techniques, hardships, and triumphs that came with a whaler’s lifestyle.