Pico

Pico is an island in the Azores archipelago, an autonomous region of Portugal, in the Atlantic Ocean. This volcanic island is the second largest of the Azores, and provides opportunities for hiking and whale-watching. The island's vineyard culture landscape is a.

Understand




The island of Pico (PEE-koo, /ˈpi.ku/) is south of São Jorge and just  east of Faial, in the Central Group of islands, an area that is colloquially known as o Triangulo (The Triangle). Pico is long, and at its maximum extent about  wide, rising from its center to the west in the summit of the stratovolcano of Pico; making it the second largest of the Azores islands.

The three main settlements on the island are Madalena, São Roque do Pico and Lajes do Pico.

The landscape features an eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In the tradition of the Portuguese poet, Raul Brandão, Pico is referred to as the Ilha Preta ("Black Island"), for its black volcanic earth, responsible for its UNESCO-designated historical vineyards that allowed the development of the island.

The island supported a substantial whaling industry until 1980. The position of the island on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge means that deep water is very close. Active industries include tourism, shipbuilding and wine production.

Get around

 * Taxis: usually hang out at the ferry terminal in Madalena.
 * Taxis: usually hang out at the ferry terminal in Madalena.

It is quite easy to drive the length of the island from Madelena to Piedade and back in a day. Adding in stops like the Gruta das Torres and Mount Pico could leave you pressed for time.

See

 * Former biology professor Malcolm Clarke runs a beautiful whaling museum in São João. Displays about the sperm whale and its main food, the octopus (also called giant squids). There are many unique exhibits and you can also sniff ambergris. There is another whaling museum in São Roque that is worth seeing.

Do

 * Swim in the largest man-made, outdoor, public saltwater pool in Madelena. It's a fantastic place to relax and cool off in the summer. The pool is deep enough for diving. Beginner swimmers should stay away from the middle, as the size is quite large.
 * The island also offers good opportunities for cycling.
 * Despite some natural swimming pools, the island is less suitable for a beach holiday.
 * The island is one of the centers for whale watching. It is also popular with divers.
 * The island is one of the centers for whale watching. It is also popular with divers.

Hiking
Popular, but demanding and strenuous, is the ascent of the Pico volcano. The Rother hiking guide Azores describes the following tours:
 * From Criação Velha to Gruta das Torres (2 hours 50 minutes)
 * Zona do Verdelho (3 hours 30 minutes)
 * From Furna de Frei Matias to Madalena (2 hours 40 minutes)
 * Montana do Pico (5 hours 45 minutes)
 * Around Santa Luzia (5 hours)
 * From Lagoa do Capitão to Baia de Canas (4 hours 15 minutes)
 * From Lagoa do Capitão to Cais do Pico (3 hours 30 minutes)
 * From Miradouro da Terra Alta to Santo Amaro (2 hours)
 * From Miradouro da Terra Alta to Piedade (4 hours)
 * The highland lakes of Pico (7 hours 15 minutes)
 * Ponta da Ilha (4 hours)
 * From Parque Florestal de São João to Silveira (3 hours)

Buy
There is a large Continente supermarket on the edge of Madelena, and a smaller Solmar supermarket closer to the centre.

There is also a local shop run by a Chinese family that sells inexpensive items of almost every variety from electronics to socks. Clothing is mainly imported, and as a result, expensive.

Eat
There are many cafes in the area and all of them offer good food for reasonable prices. Variety of food is limited mainly to bread, cheese, and beef. Vegetarians may have some trouble having a balanced meal. Even the local soups will most likely have meat or meat broth as an ingredient. If you're a vegan, be prepared for starvation.

Drink
The local cafes usually double as the local bars. Beer here is cheaper than bottled water, at about €0.50 a bottle.

Stay safe
Towns in Pico are very safe. Crime is very low and violence is almost non-existent. However, be very aware when crossing the streets; people on this island tend to drive a bit crazy. You will frequently see cars driving at freeway speeds on cobble stone roads. Also, it's not surprising to see cars parked in the middle of a road and blocking traffic. The driving laws are loose at best.