Are you looking for a destination that will allow you to leave the beaten track behind and experience a true adventure on the edge of Europe? Pico Island, in the Azores, is arguably one of the last true hidden gems on the continent and nestled against the tip of Africa, it feels like the land that time forgot, like stepping into a time before tourism became mass-marketed day tours. This is not a destination you just happen across, in fact it takes two flights just to reach the island which only serves the island by limiting the numbers of visitors that set foot on this unique, volcanic island.
Did you know that on Pico Island – the Hidden Gem of the Azores – you can experience cloud inversions on the highest peak in Portugal, feel the force of a volcanic eruption, see blue whales and dine on freshly caught tuna all within a few hours? The rawest and wildest of the islands in the Azores archipelago, Pico Island is a haven for wildlife and hiking. This island chain, combined with the nearby island of Madeira is often referred to as "the Hawaii of Europe", after spending some time exploring this part of Portugal, I can see why. Towering cliffs, dramatic landscapes, crashing waves encircle each island, with volcanoes and mountains lining the interior where the islands, and the oceans around them, are teeming with wildlife.
Have I tempted you yet? If you're still not convinced Pico Island is the hidden gem of the Azores, keep reading to find out more about this fascinating island and why you need to visit. I'll also provide a detailed guide on the best things to do when visiting Pico Island, hiring a car, planning your ultimate visit, where to stay and so much more. This really is the ultimate insider's guide to visiting a truly underrated island in Europe.
Ultimate Guide to Pico Island, the Azores:
- Is Pico Island worth it?
- What is Pico Island known for?
- How many days do you need on Pico Island?
- How many people live on Pico Island?
- When did Pico last erupt?
- Which of the Azores is most beautiful?
- What language do they speak in the Azores?
- Travelling to Pico Island from the UK
- Hiring a Car on Pico Island
- Best Place to Stay on Pico Island
- Best Restaurants on Pico Island
- Best Bars on Pico Island
- The Best Things To Do on Pico Island
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Pico Island – A Hidden Gem in the Azores
If you're thinking of planning a trip to Pico Island, here's the lowdown on everything you need to know to make the most of your adventure to the Azorean island:
Is Pico Island worth it?
Pico Island is absolutely worth a visit, as one of the quieter Azorean islands, it offers a refreshing contrast to some of the more populated islands such Sao Miguel. Visiting Pico Island is a great way to get off the beaten track by just taking a short flight or ferry ride to discover "The Black Island". This volcanic land mass is wild, lined with rugged lava rocks and feels untouched by time. It's a gateway into an adventure in the Azores.
What is Pico Island known for?
Pico Island is renowned for its wine production which is entirely unique to the island and has been awarded UNESCO heritage status since 2004 due to the spectacular vineyard landscape which is unlike anything I have seen before.
How many days do you need on Pico Island?
Three or four full days is the perfect amount of time for Pico Island. It allows you time to factor in climbing Mount Pico, a few big hikes around the island, driving around the island and visiting natural pools and of course, enjoying wine tastings, delicious food and your beautiful hotel. This also gives you enough time to move your schedule around for the trip in case you are hit with bad weather – during my stay I had to reorganise my plans a few times to factor in storms over sections of the island.
What language do they speak in the Azores?
The official language of the Azores is Portuguese, but English is also widely spoken.
Travelling to Pico Island from the UK
How do I get to Pico Island?
If you are travelling from the UK, you will need to fly to Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel in order to first access the Azorean archipelago. If you're looking for cheap flights to the Azores, here's some useful facts to help you save money:
- London Stansted is the cheapest airport to fly to the Azores from the UK
- April is the cheapest month to fly to the Azores from the UK
- The flight takes 4 hours and 11 minutes
- British Airways and Ryanair offer direct flights
Once you have arrived in Ponta Delgada, you'll need a direct connection to Pico Island. Flights don't vary in price as much throughout the year, with the cheapest flights starting from £103. The flight takes just 53 minutes and there are only 22 flights per week so plan carefully to avoid too much lag time between islands. You will be flying with SATA Air Acores who provide the internal flights between the islands. >> Book cheap flights to Pico Island
Hiring a Car on Pico Island
Thinking of hiring a car in the Azores? I highly recommend hiring a car on every island you visit to ensure you are able to easily access the whole of the islands and aren't reliant on the very few and far between taxis. Discover Cars are my go-to for car hire and their car hire in the Azores starts from as a low as £12 per day!
Do you need a car in Pico?
Best Place to Stay on Pico Island
If you're visiting Pico Island, I recommend staying at one of the island's newest accommodations. Pico Terramar Hotel & Spa is a luxury boutique hotel with panoramic ocean and volcano views, sitting in the shadow of Mount Pico. The unique architecture and design of the hotel makes it unlike any other hotel available on the island. Enjoy a relaxing break at the hotel which provides a perfect base for exploring the island, dining by the sea, walking to town or hiking. The unique rooms all have a personalised design and offer every comfort you could need to enhance your relaxation and comfort.
Enjoy the outdoor swimming pool with ocean views to nearby Terceira Island, while inside the hotel spa provides a welcome escape with sauna, steam rooms and an indoor swimming pool, plus treatments available. Start the day with delicious breakfast, and end the day dining on the finest Azorean cuisine in the restaurant with ocean views and fresh, local ingredients including locally-caught fish and the famous Pico wine. Rooms start from £135 per night.
Best Restaurants on Pico Island
If you love experiencing the local cuisine when travelling, Pico Island has some unexpected foodie gems you'll want to add to your list. From fresh, locally-caught seafood, local cheeses and Bolos lêvedos, Portuguese pork sandwiches (or bifanas) to sweet treats and gelato. For such a tiny island, there's some amazing choices you won't want to miss.
Ilha Foodtruck
My favourite spot on the island for amazing food, great drinks and all around great vibes – Ilha Foodtruck is also a fantastic budget eat. Think street food but a level up with a creativity to the dishes that will impress you. Everything is made from the freshest ingredients so expect the menu to change each time you visit with some delicious specials. I couldn't resist the tuna steak which was the fattest, freshest, juiciest tuna steak of my life! We also ordered a pina colada and the popular pork bifana which was super juicy. This food truck has panoramic ocean views and sometimes also live music, but it is a seasonal van so be sure to check they are serving food before travelling there.
Magma Restaurant and Bar
This is a dining experience you won't want to miss when visiting Pico Island, Magma Restaurant and Bar is a short drive out from Madalena and part of the Senhora da Rosa hotel. This beautiful location offers panoramic ocean views and an impressive menu that prioritises modern cuisine, sustainability and tradition to create a gastronomic experience. The restaurant's focus on sustainability means they use 100% local produce to create the innovative menu and incorporate traditional Azorean flavours. The restaurant also offers a Portuguese wine list, with a very special focus on wines from the Azores Region, a world-renowned wine producer.
Garrafeira da Vila
Garrafeira da Vila is a popular wine bar and tapas restaurant in the heart of Madalena with fresh seafood and tapas dishes, and lots of local wines on offer to try. They were very understaffed when I visited, so although it was a great experience, the service could have been far better. However, I definitely rated the restaurant and vibes.
Pico Terramar
I'll be honest and say I usually don't rate hotel restaurants that highly, they're usually more of a convenient option, but Pico Terramar went above and beyond to provide a delicious dining experience with extensive wines on offer. Expect delicious, locally-caught fish and seafood dishes – from the traditional Portuguese to the modern twist.
Pico Gelato
No visit to Pico Island is complete without Pico Gelato – it came highly recommended to us the second we landed on the island and by the locals. I can say it definitely lived up to the hype, with lots of amazing flavours and rich, creamy gelato on offer. Plus enjoy a chat with the lovely, welcoming lay who runs the stand in Madalena.
Best Bars on Pico Island
My fellow wine-lovers – did you know that the Azores is a world-renowned wine producer? It actually is one of the most unique wine producers in the world and the landscape is so rare that it has been deemed an official UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pico Island is where many of the grapes are grown from lava soil and you'll see that they flourish in what can seem like a rocky and barren landscape. The wine is still produced using centuries old wineries and hermitages using manual methods that haven't changed in 500 years.
I had no idea before I visited but so much of the wine produced actually stays within Portugal so you might not have ever had the chance to try it before. If you're visiting Pico Island, I recommend a visit to Pico Wines for a wine tasting where you can try lots of different types of wine grown in the region. You also should check out one of the most well known and unique bars on the island, Cella Bar, where you can enjoy a glass of local wine with a sunset view.
The Best Things To Do on Pico Island
Climb the highest mountain in Portugal, Mount Pico
If you love adventure, this is an experience you won't want to miss! You can climb the highest mountain peak in Portugal for breathtaking panoramic views across the pristine landscapes of Pico Island. Your expert guide will lead the way and teach you about the volcanic geology of Mount Pico along the way. Towering at 2,351m above sea level, this is the second highest Atlantic peak and is more than twice the elevation of any other Azores peak. How difficult is it to hike Pico Mountain? It's definitely a challenging hike and due to the changeable weather conditions in the Azores, it's best to be prepared for everything! But the hike is definitely worth it for the spectacular views!
If you plan to hike Mount Pico, I recommend giving yourself a few days to reattempt the climb in case it is called off due to the weather (this is what happened to us unfortunately). It's also worth booking a tour – I recommend doing the climb with Tripix – a professional and reliable company. >>Book the Mount Pico Climb here
Please note, I do NOT recommend this company, Go Climb Azores which messed us around, tried to cancel our tour and ask for a direct payment instead. Avoid them at all costs, they are time wasters and actually cost us the chance to climb the peak at all.
Go whale watching
Did you know that Pico Island is a great place for whale and dolphin watching? Many of the oceanic creatures migrate right pas the island and at different points of the year you stand amazing chances of seeing these creatures in their natural habitat. You can take a guided boat trip with marine biologists from Lajes and learn all about the local wildlife. The Azores have actually created the largest marine protected area in the North Atlantic, at over 300,000km2 it's nearly the size of Italy! This area is like an underwater national parks with restrictions around human activity to protect the fragile ecosystems. Read my Ultimate Guide to Whale Watching in the Azores
Swim in natural pools
Pico Island has the best and wildest selection of natural pools to swim in and enjoy – if you love wild swimming, this is the place to do it! While all of the islands have natural pools, the ones on Pico are far more rugged and exposed, they're far less developed which means you are literally just swimming on the coastline and not in a swimming pool with ocean water. To find the best pools to explore on the island, read my 20 Best Wild Swimming Spots in the Azores
Experience an earthquake & travel to the centre of the Earth!
If you're looking for a really unique experience in the Azores and one that not many people stumble upon when visiting Pico Island, I've found something truly special. Volcanoes House is located in the heart of Lajido de Santa Luzia, surrounded by the protected UNESCO heritage vineyards. This unassuming building is easy to miss, but provides a unique insight into the geo-diversity of the island. Through avant-garde tools, in this space, the visitors can experience the sensation of an earthquake through a seismic simulator and travel to the centre of the Earth in an interactive dome for just a few euros.
Hike Lagoa do Capitão
There are so many amazing hikes on the island but Lagoa do Capitão is one of the best, it's a 9.2-km point-to-point trail near São Roque do Pico, Azores, and takes around 3 hours to complete. The hike takes you around the beautiful lagoon with stunning views of Mount Pico. Top tip: there are a lot of dead zones for phone signal around the Azores Islands, so it's worth downloading the route or having it saved to offline maps before you start hiking.
Eat local delicacies like octopus salad and fish soup
You cannot visit Portugal without dining on fresh seafood and local delicacies, and the Azores have their own unique specialities that have passed down through generations. The true Azorean food is hearty, rustic and rich in flavour. Don't miss trying the delicious and fresh octopus salad and fish soup, you should also try the pork bifana from a street food stall.
Try a volcanic wine tasting
The island of Pico has a rich history of wine-making and that is clear from the UNESCO status that was awarded to the unique vineyards of the island. These are well worth a visit but don't miss out on enjoying a wine tasting while visiting the island. The wines have a very unique flavour due to the volcanic ground where the grapes are grown. You can book a full day wine tasting and tour of Pico island including the vineyards and tapas for lunch. Or you can take a cheaper option and go direct to Pico Wines and pay just €20 per person for a 30-40 minute wine tasting.
Visit the biggest lava cave in Portugal
Sadly this was closed when I visited but it came highly recommended by the locals! Experience the Gruta das Torres, the largest lava tube in Portugal at 5150m, and it is part of the formation of Lajidos – Gruta das Torres. I believe it remains closed at present but make sure to check before your visit.
Drive the longest straight road in the Azores
This might sound crazy, but driving around Pico Island was such a special experience and a big part of my time on the island. On Pico Island, you have the opportunity to drive on the longest straight road in the entire Azores – it is longer than the width of 4 islands of the archipelago. The longitudinal EN3 is about 23 kilometers long, with 9 kilometers of a straight line, and it passes right by Mount Pico with spectacular views. If you have a drone – make sure to fly it here for an epic shot! Also, watch out for the local traffic – cows wander freely here so be sure to keep an eye out and slow down.
