This travel guide will help you put together an itinerary and make the out of your trip to the Azores’ youngest island – Pico.
I’m almost 8 years into living in Portugal and only in 2023 did I take my first trip to The Azores. I spent 6 days driving around São Miguel (The Azores largest island) where I marvelled over natural beauty, not dissimilar to Hawaaii. São Miguel opened my eyes to just how special the Azores are and I’ve been dreaming of the next island adventure since I left São Miguel. The next on my list was Pico and I am pleased to say I have just returned from 5 action-packed days on the “grey island”.
Planning a trip to Portugal? You’re in the right place! Welcome to Travel Planning and Itinerary design by Candy. Olá! I’m an independent travel advisor living in Portugal (since 2016). I help people plan their dream trip to Portugal, Spain and Italy. You’re currently reading a post from my collection of travel guides. I also offer personal travel consultation and a bespoke itinerary service.
Why Visit Pico?
Pico is for you if you love nature, outdoor activities, food, wine and culture. Whether you want to hike to Portugal’s highest point, see whales in their natural habitat, drink wine grown from volcanic rock, swim in natural pools or visit traditional villages, Pico is ready and waiting.
Travel & Photography by Candy : What you see is real. No images in any of my travel guides are AI. All photos in this travel guide are taken by me. I spend a huge amount of time photographing, editing and uploading all the photos on this website. Please do not reuse them without credit and a backlink to this page. Thank you.
Where is Pico?
The Azores are situated in the middle of the Atlantic, approximately 1,400km from The coast of Portugal and 2,500km from the east coast of the US/Canada. Pico is part of the central island group in the Azores archipelago, Portugal. The central archipelago includes 5 of the 9 islands – Pico, Terceira, São Jorge, Faial and Graciosa. The remaining islands are São Miguel, Flores, Santa Maria and Corvo.
Zoom out using the map below to see all 9 islands.
How long to spend in Pico?
I have to admit when I booked this trip I thought 5 days would be plenty and was even planning to do a day trip to São Jorge within that time frame. As I dived deeper into research I quickly realised I was being way too ambitious. The more I researched the more I realised just how much there is to see, do and experience in Pico. My biggest piece of advice for anyone (including myself) when planning a trip to Portugal is don’t try and fit too much in so that you don’t experience anything at all!
5 days on Pico will allow you to experience the main sights and activities but a week would be the best amount to truly get to know the island and all its hidden corners. If you have the luxury of 10 days you can bolt on another island to your trip itinerary. To reach most islands you’ll need to fly but both Faial and São Jorge island can be reached by ferry from Pico.
How to get to Pico
There are two ways to reach Pico: plane and boat. Pico has its own airport that flies direct to Lisbon and several other islands in the Azores. If you are visiting from the states you’ll need to connect at Ponta Delgada in São Miguel. If your arrival island is Faial you can take a short ferry to Pico very easily.
How to Get Around Pico
If you want to make the most of Pico, having your own wheels is the best way.
Renting a Scooter in Pico
Hiring a scooter was one of the best things I did on Pico. There is nothing quite like being totally immersed in nature while riding around a natural beauty like you can find on Pico.
However, I rented a scooter for the whole 5 days in Pico and it was a mistake. Why? Because it put a lot of constraints on what I could do. The weather in Pico (and the Azores in general) is unpredictable. Even with a clear forecast I found myself driving in a lot of rain and wind. This meant I couldn’t see as much as I wanted and that some parts of riding were more unpleasant/stressful.
My advice would be to rent a scooter for one of the days you are on the island (pick a sunny, calm one!) and don’t plan to do anything other than ride around and see what you find. For the rest of your time in Pico – rent a car!
Renting a car in Pico
I usually recommend using the broker Zest for car hire in Portugal. I’ve used them all over the country including São Miguel. However they don’t always have availability in Pico. You can also check My Volcanic Wheels where I hired my scooter from.
First time hiring a car or scooter in Portugal? It’s not as scary as you think!
What about the other islands in the Azores?
This guide is specifically written for Pico which is one of the two islands I have personally visited. I’m choosing to visit one island at a time and explore as deeply as possible.
Travelling to São Miguel too? I spent 6 days adventuring my way around the most popular Azorean island and wrote a guide and itinerary.
How to Travel Around The Azores Islands
Travelling around The Azores islands by Plane
Surprisingly, every island in the Azores has an airport, even tiny Corvo. However, not every island is connected to one another by flights.
- Pico: Direct flights to São Miguel and Terceira.
- São Miguel: Direct flights to Santa Maria, Terceira, Pico, Faial, São Jorge, and Flores.
- Terceira: Direct flights to Pico, Faial, São Jorge Island, Flores Island, Graciosa and São Miguel Island;
- Santa Maria: Direct flights to São Miguel.
- Faial: Direct flights to Flores, Corvo, Terceira, and São Miguel;
- São Jorge: Direct flights to Terceira and São Miguel;
- Flores: Direct flights to Corvo, Terceira, Faial, and São Miguel;
- Graciosa: Direct flights to Terceira;
- Corvo: Direct flights to Flores and Faial.
Travelling around The Azores islands by Ferry
It is not possible to travel by ferry to all of the islands in the Azores, however the central group is fairly well connected by sea. Faial, Pico and São Jorge are close and short ferry hop (between 45 mins-2 hours) are possible. For Terçeira the journey is longer.
You cannot travel by ferry to or from São Miguel.
Top Tip: Book ferries in advance, especially if you have a vehicle. For example; A week before my trip I tried to book the 10:45 ferry from Horta (Faial) to Madalena (Pico) with a scooter add-on but they had sold out of vehicle spaces. I had to wait in Horta for several hours and book the following one instead. If this was the other direction I would have been very stuck!
Where to stay in Pico
There are two main hubs in Pico, Madelena and São Roque do Pico. If you do not have a car, Madalena should be your choice. Outside of those towns you have many smaller villages and some more remote areas where you can stay. There are airbnbs dotted all over the island but there isn’t a massive choice like some other places in Portugal (which is a good thing). This means once you have settled on a place book it in advance because the island can get fully booked.
Here are a few suggestions for where to stay.
I stayed at the guesthouse Sara Village in São Roque do Pico. These large, simple but comfortable rooms mostly have balconies or large windows and cool features like volcanic rock showers. There is a shared kitchen incase you want to cook but the biggest draw is the large shared wooden veranda with a view of São Jorge island.
For something a bit higher end and arguable the best accommodation on the island is part the The Azores Wine Company estate, which is set on a vineyard with Pico as the backdrop, a 10 minute drive from Madalena.
My basic 5 day Pico Itinerary
Since most people don’t spend more than a few days in Pico planning an itinerary is a good idea. However, you also need to remain flexible to moving activities around incase of bad/ unfavourable weather. Be prepared to switch days around to make the best of viewpoints and outdoor activities when the weather is best. This is my personal itinerary, exactly what I did each day. This was my exact itinerary but use it as a rough guide to plan yours. If you have a car rather than a scooter you can fit more in your days than I did.
Day 1
I arrived from Lisbon and landed on the neighbouring island Faial early in the morning. I picked up my scooter at the airport. The airport is not well connected with public transport. There are only a few buses a day from the airport to Horta.
I drove to Horta and spent a few hours there before hopping on the short ferry to Madalena in Pico.
I drove through the centre of the island to check in at my accommodation in São Roque and then straight back towards Madalena for a tour, wine tasting and tasting menu experience at The Azores Wine Company, close to Cais do Mourato.
Day 2
In the morning I went whale and dolphin watching around Lajes on the south coast and then spent the rest of the day riding along the south, west coast. I spent some time at Poça das Mujas and Calheta de Nesquim before driving right round to the north coast back to São Roque.
Day 3
On day 3 I spent the day hopping in and out of the natural sea pools between São Roque and Cais do Pico. I had lunch and dinner here.
Day 4
The morning was spent in Madalena. The afternoon was spent hiking to the summit of Mt.Pico. I spent the night camping on the top.
Day 5
Descending Pico and back to Madelena for a few hours rest before taking the ferry back to Faial for my flight home.
Best Towns & Villages to Visit in Pico
- Madalena
- São Roque do Pico
- Lajes
- Prainha
What To Eat & Drink in Pico
Best restaurants in Pico
Here is a list of the best places to eat in Pico, based on places I actually visited or found through extensive research.
Best Activities & Experiences in Pico
For a small island Pico really knows how to spoil you with activities and experiences. I thought it was only about the Pico mountain and whale watching but as I started researching and speaking with local providers I realised there is far more to Pico than I first expected. I’d like to make it clear, there were so many other activities and experiences I wanted to try in Pico but time didn’t allow this time. Here are the best experiences I took part in.
Climb Portugal’s Highest Peak
The number one draw to the ‘mountain island’ Pico is… of course, the mountain with volcanic cone Pico! Pico juts out of the island’s western-mid section creating a stunning vista from wherever you are on the island. Pico is Portugal’s highest point (2,351m) and the Atlantic’s 3rd highest volcano.
Followed by… Serra da Estrela (on the mainland) and Pico Ruivo in Madeira.
I did the infamous PR1 route linking Madeira’s 3 highest peaks.
Tips for hiking Mount Pico
With over 1,100m elevation hiking Pico is no walk in the park and good fitness is essential.
From mountain hut (1,200m) to summit (2,351m) it takes around 4-5 hours to ascend and then a further 3-4 to descend.
It isn’t a particularly technical climb however, working with a mountain guide is recommended because the trail is not well marked. There is a series of 47 marker poles from the mountain hut to the summit but there are several paths to take between each pole and some more more dangerous than others.
The final ascent to summit involves a bit of scrambling and the descent on loose rock means hiking boots are recommended. My ankles were very grateful for my boots instead of trail running trainers.
Both sunrise and sunset at the top are spectacular but sunrise above the clouds was extra special. Some people choose to start the hike at 1/2am to make it to the summit for sunrise. I recommend working with a local guide at any time but particularly if you are ascending in the dark.
It is possible to see both sunset and sunrise with an overnight climb which is exactly what I did with Pico Me Up.
I’m someone who enjoys hiking on my own. I did both PR1 and Fajã Escura trail to Pico Grande solo and also most of The Original Fisherman’s Trail so I was unsure about using a guide for Pico. I am SO glad I did. Pico is quite daunting and I wouldn’t have had the same experience if I attempted on my own because I would have worried about getting lost. Hiking with Miguel from Pico Me Up and our small group (from all over the world) was truly one of the hiking best experiences I’ve had.
Sleep under the stars in the Volcano Crater
This is a once in a lifetime kinda experience. Ever slept in a tent in a volcano crater? That is the exact experience you can have on the island of Pico. The company Pico Me Up runs overnight climbs which involves ascending with your camping gear (provided by Pico Me Up), setting up camp at the crater in time for sunset and then a final ascent to the summit for sunrise. Camping in the volcano crater under the stars is such a surreal experience and totally unique. It was the best thing I did in Pico and one of my favourite ever experiences in Portugal, and I’ve done a lot!
Wine Tasting in Pico
Pico has a fascinating wine history for such a small island and thanks to The Azores Wine Company I was able to learn in depth about the unique winemaking processes there. The tour and tasting at The Azores Wine Company was one of my favourite experiences on Pico and one of the most informative vineyard tours I’ve done.
Book a tour and tasting here.
WINE TASTING EXPERIENCES DOURO VALLEY
Tasting Menu at The Azores Wine Company
The Azores Wine Company is not only a vineyard but also one of the top places to stay in Pico and an excellent restaurant.
The restaurant offers several options including a tasting menu made from locally sourced products. The space features huge ceiling to floor windows and an open kitchen making for an immersive experience. Read more here.
Something nice to note : I was here solo and was able to do a tasting menu ‘at the counter’ .
Driving Pico
As always, one of my favourite experiences when travelling around Portugal is driving. Thanks to the ease of having your own four (or 2) wheels you can discover much more about a location, and Pico is no exception. As I mentioned at the beginning, a car is the best way to get around because you can use it in all weather conditions. Hire a car in Pico
If you have a calm and clear day while on Pico I recommend hiring a scooter also.
MOST MEMORABLE ROAD TRIPS IN PORTUGAL
Whale & Dolphin watching in Pico
Way back in the day Whales brought money to the Azores in a very different way. For hundreds of years whaling was one of the Azores main industries. That was until 1987 when the island finally ended the hunting. Eventually the islands switched from hunting to watching and now Pico is one of the best places in The Azores to see a broad range of whales and dolphins.
Best “Hidden” Gems in Pico
It wouldn’t be one of my travel guides without a hidden gem sections. Please take the word “hidden” with a pinch of salt; there is very little in the world truly hidden now. However The Azores still haven’t adopted the crowds of the mainland of Portugal which means there are still plenty of nooks and crannies to find on the islands, and that includes Pico.
As always, I don’t share everything I find, because I believe half of the joy of finding one is taking the time to do that. Not everything should be on GoogleMaps and Social Media, let’s keep some surprises in travel huh?
Poça das Mujas
My favourite natural pools I found were Poça das Mujas. Not exactly a secret but less visited than the pools on the northern coast. The unique feature is the metal slide which launches you into a pool of tropical fish. You can easily spend a few hours jumping in and out of the pools and soaking up the heat from volcanic rock. There’s a restaurant with a great view too. Don’t forget to pack your goggles!
The Wild East
The eastern part of the island is the most remote/least visited which is exactly why I love it so much. I spent almost a whole day riding around this area and I loved dipping in and out of the coastal villages. The scenery here is breathtaking and I recommend dedicating at least one morning or afternoon to the eastern part of Pico.
On my list for next time
Diving with Sharks
I would LOVE this. I’ve been lucky enough to swim with sharks was in Australia (great barrier reef) and in Fiji but doing this in the Atlantic would be incredible. I found this trip online (I haven’t used this company).
Wine Tasting at Adega Vitivinícola Lucas Lopes Amaral
This was on my original itinerary but I didn’t have enough time to do it during my trip this time.
There you have it, a detailed travel guide and 5 day itinerary for the island of Pico in Azores. I hope my personal recommendations help you plan the perfect trip to this mesmerising island.
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