Discover Pico Island

The Marina Atlântico is located in Ponta Delgada, overlooking the marina and harbour. It offers comfortable air-conditioned rooms, a heated indoor pool, gym, sauna, and bicycle rental. The restaurant serves Portuguese and international food and has superb views of the harbour. The town centre is just a 5-minute walk away with a choice of cafes, restaurants and shops.

The  Caravelas is located beside the harbour with views across to Faial Island. Dining out in Madalena is a delight; fish is a speciality here, as is the local wine. From the Caravelas, there is a choice of cafes and restaurants right on your doorstep.

Pico, at 3000 years old, is the youngest island in the Azores. Known locally as the “black” island, Pico centres on its eponymous peak, a huge, dormant volcano that is 2,351 metres in height, the tallest of the Azorean volcanoes! A trek to the summit of Pico is a highlight for many visitors to the island, both for the pleasure of the trek and for the fabulous views from the top.

While Mt Pico looms over the island, and defines its geography, Pico’s attractions extend beyond its volcanic peak. On the north coast of the island, locals have built homes from black basalt, adding to the atmosphere of this unique island. The north of the island is also the setting for many of Pico’s famous vineyards, which are now a UNESCO world heritage site. The south of the island, by contrast, is greener and altogether more fertile, with an especially beautiful coastline. But Pico is perhaps most famous for its whale-watching. Formerly the centre of the whaling industry, it remains one of the best places in the world for whale-watching, owing to its unique geography (Pico’s nature as a volcanic island mean it has a very deep sea bed, allowing the whales to come extremely close to its southern coast!)

This afternoon is free to explore Madalena and the surrounding area. Pico’s capital is picturesque, with a small working harbour and Pico Mountain as its backdrop – it is a pleasure to explore on foot.

Amongst the Azorean islands, Pico is particularly special for whale sightings – in particular blue whales – due to the depth of the surrounding ocean. Whale-watching from Pico is best between March and late May, when the waters attract sperm, sei, fin and migrating blue whales, as well as large pods of dolphin and turtles, though whale watching tours are conducted throughout the year.

Your expedition starts from Madalena, where you will have a briefing with the marine biologists who will accompany you on the boat tour. Afterwards, you board your vessel (a Zodiac inflatable), and spend an exhilarating day with your specialist guide and spotters observing these majestic creatures of the deep. You’ll enjoy morning and afternoon trips out onto the sea of approx. 4 hours, returning to Madalena for lunch.

You can hope to see a variety of whales during your tour, with several species present in the waters of the Azores, including blue, sei, fin, minke and sperm whales. Note that many whale species appear in the waters of the Azores only seasonally. The larger baleen whales (blue, sei, fin) can typically be seen between April and June.

In addition to whale watching, these excursions will reveal a variety of dolphin species frolicking in the warm waters. Bottlenose dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, common dolphins, and occasionally Fraser’s dolphin may be seen in the Azores.

After the whale-watching expedition, you will be returned to your hotel in Madalena with the rest of the evening at leisure.

Here the islanders cleared the black lava-strewn land using the basalt to build walls and rectangular plots (called currais) to protect the vines from seawater and winds. Records show that around 15 million litres of wine were produced annually, much of it exported to Britain, Germany and the Russian Tsars. This large area (approx. 2000 acres) is known as Criacao Velha, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today, wine growing flourishes and there are around 250 small vineyards on the island, though the western coast remains the centre of Pico’s wine production. Your tour today will see you explore several vineyards. In the process, you’ll learn about how the wine is produced and the unique methods used on Pico, as well as the history of wine production on the island and its importance as an export. And of course, you’ll enjoy a wine tasting at one of Pico’s wine cooperatives! The tour is largely on foot, and will see you explore Pico’s beautiful coastline as well as its vineyards.

You will pass fascinating geological formations of craters, cones, fumaroles and volcanic pits and, provided the weather is good, enjoy stunning views of the nearby islands and ocean. The climb is difficult and steep, taking around 8 hours. Good hiking boots and warm clothing are essential!

A picnic lunch is provided during the climb. Afterwards, you’ll be returned to your hotel in Madalena, with the rest of the evening at leisure.

Alternatives to Mt Pico
Mt Pico is a challenging day climb. If a full-day trek of this kind doesn’t appeal, there are many other ways you might spend the day. Pico Island offers several walking trails, including gentle coastal trails, which you might like to walk today. Another option is to explore Pico island by bike in the company of your guide. There is much to see and enjoy from the spectacular coastline and villages to the beautiful and dramatic inland scenery.

Another option is to take the ferry from Madalena to Falial Island (approx. 30 minutes) and explore the town of Horta, which has some lovely old buildings and a fabulous marina that serves as a meeting point for international sailing events.