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About Pico Island

Pico is the second largest island of the Archipelago with a surface area of 448 km2. It is home to the highest mountain in Portugal, which reaches an altitude of 2351 meters.

The island of Pico is divided into three municipalities, “Madalena”, “São Roque”, and “Lajes”. Similar to the other islands the value of its patrimony is found in the churches and chapels of the different parishes:
- The “Santa Maria Madalena” Church in the town of Madalena, the “São
   Roque” Church and Convent and Church of “São Pedro de Alcântra” in
   São Roque, and the “Nossa Senhora da Conceição” Church and Chapel of
   “São Pedro” in Lajes, along with many others are examples of the island’s
   patrimony.

The majestic mountain of Pico, classified in 1972 as a Natural Reserve, is a prominent and consistent element in the island’s landscape. Accessible by the network of roads which pass through the interior of the island, along the mountainside and the coastline, Pico offers a landscape of indescribable beauty. Although it is almost impossible to highlight any one point of Pico’s landscape as better than another it is necessary to point out a few:

- Starting from the area of “Furnas” at the base of the mountain you will find thick forests up to an altitude of 1500 meters. From this point to about 2000 meters shrubbery takes over. After that bare lava, snow covered in winter, is all you will find. The mountain is peaked by Pico Alto, a round crater with a perimeter of about 700 meters and 30 meters in depth. Pico Pequeno is the volcanic cone which lies at the extremity of the crater. It rises about 70 meters and has fumaroles at its base. Sunrise as viewed from the summit is a spectacular and unforgettable sight;
- The “Capitão, Caiado”, and “Paul” Lakes, among many others, are set within a natural and entrancing environment;
- The “Mistério da Prainha”, between São Roque and Prainha, “Mistério das   Bandeiras”, between Santa Luzia and Bandeiras, on the north coast and the “Mistério de São João”, on the south coast, are extensive fields of lava spilled from volcanic eruptions registered after settlement on the island. Much of the cultivated land was destroyed by the eruptions;
- The “Arcos do Cachorro”, an impressive lava flow is perforated by numerous tunnels and grottoes. The ocean passes thunderously in these grottoes and tunnels creating a notable effect;
- The Caves of the “Frei Matias, Silveira” and “Montanheiros”, are magnificent caves which are especially appreciated by speleologists;
- There are extensive virgin areas which are covered in exuberant vegetation, predominantly the “Cedro-do-mato” forest-cedar (Juniperus brevifolia), including  the Natural Reserves of “Caiado” Lake, “Caveiro” and “Mistério da Prainha”. All of these are sanctuaries of the rich endemic vegetation particular to the region.

While passing through Lajes, a stop at the “Baleeiros” (whale) Museum is necessary. All that pertains to the glorious whaling tradition is available to the public. Displayed are biographies, whaling canoes and every article needed for the activity. Due to present day concerns whaling has been halted but the spirit and the memory of the “sea-wolves” still lives on. Of growing popularity is the practice of whale watching. A growing number of enterprises offer spectacular expeditions to the interested tourist.

The vineyards of Pico are very distinctive. A maze of stone walls form corrals in which the grapevines are found. In this way the farmers were able to rid the soil of the many rocks and form shelter for their crops. The “maroiças” or pyramids were also built for the same reason and add an interesting aspect to Pico’s landscape. The product of these grapevines is the famous wine known as “Verdelho do Pico”, a superb aperitif.

Completing your tour of Pico at Madalena’s pier, a daily ferry to Faial is available. From the ocean the sightseer is left with a final portrait of the mountain island which includes the islets “Deitado” (lying down) and “Em-pé” (standing up) overshadowed by the magnificent mountain

Some highlights of south coast leaving from Madalena

Start at Areia Larga where the  wine is produced and visit the Wine Cooperative “Cooperativa Vitivinícola”. In Criação Velha where the vineyards are known as lajidos notice how they are cultivated into the volcanic rock. Pass the fishing port of Calhau and Candelária. Next stop in the old whaling town of São Mateus (circa 1482). Continue towards São João famous for its cheese and pass the antique flour mills along the way. São João is home to the first church to be built in Pico, but it was later buried with the 1718 eruption. Arrive in Lages, a whaling town and the first to be inhabited. Lajes is famous for being a departure point for whale and dolphin activities. Visit the São Pedro chapel, built in 1460 and buried for centuries after the volcanic eruption. Other points of interest are the church of Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição sculpted in alabaster, an artifact that arrived with the first settlers of the island, the city hall and remains of the Fort that once protected the island from the Algerian pirates. Stop at Fabrica da Industria Baleeira (whale industry) museum where you can see all that pertains to the hey days of the whaling tradition. Next you’ll come to Calheta de Nesquim and Piedade. Check out the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Piedade church in Piedade and walk through the many exotic trees of Parque Matos Souto Park.

The Madalena -  Santa Luzia (Cabrito area)

This area was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2002. Extensive areas of vines sprinkled with small (some tiny) villages where the history is told in small museums. The main areas along the coast are Cachorro, Lajido, Arcos and Cabrito.

If you drive, leave the car next to the villages and walk around. Check out the impressive Arcos  do Cachorro (Arches of the Puppy) where the sea churns through tunnels and openings in the lava. One of the rock formations resembles the face of a puppy dog, hence the name Cachorro.

North coast of Pico

Santo Amaro is known for being the place where the Pico boats are built. Visit the shipyard. You can visit the shops and buy handicrafts or simply browse. The damage caused by the 1572 eruption can be seen from the Ponta dos Mistérios.  The rolling dark fields hardened from the lava, are gradually allowing vegetation to thrive. Visit Prainha a quaint little place before you get to São Roque.  São Roque is next. Here you can visit the parish church of São Roque, built in the 18^th century, where you’ll find images of Saint Anne and São Roque from the 18^th and 16^th century respectively. São Roque cais (dock) shows traces of a port that was full of whaling activity in the past.

Pico Island, named for its imposing mountain, is one of the most beautiful and definitely the most underrated island of the Azores. Only second to S. Miguel in size the 'Mountain Island' stands majestically in the middle of the Azorean central group, at about 4.5 nautical miles from Faial Island and 11 nautical miles from S. Jorge Island.

Pico’s history was built on the destiny of is whale hunting and winery traditions. The famous Pico wines and the UESCO world patrimony designated vineyards as well as wooden boat building are contemporary fixtures of Pico. Whale hunting is long gone and gave way to a movement of fair treatment study and observation of whales, dolphins, and other sea mammals. Whale and dolphin watching trips can be organized from Madalena or Lajes. Volcanic eruptions ended 300 years ago. Pico is considered a dormant volcano adding to the mystique of the island and serving as a magnet for scientists.

Pico landscape is a sublime mixture of lava rock and exotic vegetation in an ever changing scenery that envelopes this scarcely populated island. Pico features the best swimming holes in the Azores, and every so often an occasional sand beach appears. In 2006 is Prainha’s turn to offer a beach to the delight of the locals and the tourists. Pico is also the ideal island to trek, hike, jog, walk, bird watch, whale and dolphin watch, swim, fish, ride bikes and motto-quad bikes. Speleology is also a favorite pastime of Pico and its visitors.

Why is it better in Pico? Because it has great roads and trails and it is not crowded. Take a day to ride a bicycle or walk from Cabrito to Madalena passing by Arcos, Lajido, Cachorro and Cais do Mourato and taste the history of this island. Pico is an Island where calm and peace can be found around every corner, yet there's always the choice of escaping to the village and experience the bustling culture or the occasional festival. Trips to Faial and S. Jorge are one ferry trip away. While it takes no time to know the smaller Faial Island, it takes a long time to get to know Pico as it is the type of destination where one must get out of the car to explore all that it has to offer.

As one local governor puts it, Pico is California of the Azores Islands (well at least until the gold rush), offering the sun, the ocean, the plains and the mountain. It is a puzzle for locals that people will consider stay in Faial and make one day trips to Pico. Pico is the place to visit if you want to experience the unadulterated Azores. Hurry up, it won’t last.

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Credits. Some of this information was quoted from the following publications:
Azores – The Bradt Travel Guide – Available on azores.com and most book stores
Destinazores Touris guide – Available in tourist offices throughout the Azores.