Guided Walks
Caminho dos Burros Trail (Half Day)
Caminho dos Burros (Donkeys' trail) is a walking trail of 11.2km (3.5 hours) that crosses the Island of Pico from the North to the South coast. This trail begins at the Central Plateau of Pico and ends at Baía das Canas. Along the trail you will see several types of vegetation such as Euphorbia stygiana, Azorean buckthorn (Frangula azorica), acacias and laurels. The last part of the trail after walking through Prainha Forest Park, you will go down a path that leads to Baía das Canas, where there is an old road made of large stones that was known as the donkeys' path.
- Difficulty: Grade 2 (Medium)
Price is £97 per adult and £77 per child (4-10yrs)
Caminhos de Santa Luzia Trail (Half Day)
This 9km (2.5 hours) route starts on the regional road on the border between Santana and São Vicente. You will start with a descent towards Baía do Gasparal, between orchards and vineyards, the first place where wine was produced on the island and where there are warehouses and an old ramp and “rola-pipas” where barrels used to be loaded into boats. The route continues along the coast, through the vineyards, to Cabrito. You will then follow the path along the basaltic rock to the Ermida de São Mateus. In Arcos, the walk continues until you reach an old ox cart trail “relheiras” that takes you to the centre of Lajido, the site of the UNESCO Vineyard Interpretation Center.
- Difficulty: Grade 1 (Easy)
Price is £75 per adult and £61 person child (4-10yrs)
Lajidos de Vinha Trail (Half Day)
This 10km (3 hour 15 minute) trail starts in Fogos - Candelária and ends in Areia Larga. You will leave from an area with cellars and stills and pass by a dirt road which will lead you across vineyards to Calhau's Port. From here, you will continue until Pico's Protected Vineyard Landscape. Along the way you will pass by the old ox cart tracks, paths excavated on the rocks through which the transport of wine barrels was done; then you will continue towards the windmill, a place to enjoy an amazing view of the vineyard stonewalls, as well as of the islets of Madalena which can be found between the islands of Pico and Faial. Towards the end of the trail, you can observe an old rolling barrels track.
- Difficulty: Grade 2 (Medium)
Price is £75 per adult and £61 person child (4-10yrs)
Notes
- Pick-up from hotels in Madalena (Pico) at about 09:00 - supplier Naturfactor
- Departures: Daily - all year
- Guided walks with English speaking guide and picnic lunch included
- Minimum 2 people and maximum 16
- Recommended: Comfortable clothing, walking boots, swim suit, towel, rain jacket, sun lotion, binoculars and a camera
Pico Mountain Hike - Daytime climb
For the more adventurous traveller a climb to the summit of Mount Pico can present the opportunity of a lifetime especially if you are blessed with clear skies. The peak, at 2,351 metres, offers spectacular views over the central islands of the archipelago. The ascent generally takes between 3½ and 4½ hours depending on how fit you are and weather conditions. The climb should only be attempted by strong walkers. The walk is not technically difficult but would involve some steep slopes along uneven paths and in places slippery vegetation and loose stones. The climb starts from 1200 metres. To climb the mountain you must be accompanied by a qualified guide.
Price (Daytime Climb) from Madalena is £116 per person (based on 2 people).
Price (Sunset Climb) from Madalena is £158 per person (based on 2 people).
Prices for other group sizes on request.
Notes
- Daily pick-up from hotels in Madalena at 07:00 (Daytime climb), 16:00 (Sunset climb) - supplier Lava Steps
- Duration: 8 hours including 3-4 hours uphill
- Difficulty Level: High
- Mountain access fee and walking pole included and accompanied by an experienced English speaking guide
- Equipment required: Comfortable, layered clothing (1st layer lycra, 2nd layer polar and 3rd layer waterproof jacket), shorts for days without wind and trousers for days with wind, hat, sunscreen, mountain boots or hiking shoes, comfortable 20 litres backpack with water and food supplies (recommended on the way up and down energy bars or chocolate, for lunch, sandwiches and fruit, minimum 1.5 litres of water).
IMPORTANT: Changes may occur due to weather conditions. Not suitable for pregnant women. Good physical condition and absence of pre-existing health problems are required.
Pico Private Van Tour - Full Day
Learn all about the historical, cultural and natural characteristics of Pico Island. Experience the striking Unesco World Heritage landscape where you will learn about the viticulture on the Island with a visit to typical wineries The tour will take you to the central plateau where you will be pleasantly surprised by the green landscape and striking lakes. You will also be introduced to the island’s whaling heritage with a visit to the boathouses, whale lookouts and the Whaler’s Museum.
Price is £190 per adult and £143 per child (4-10yrs)
Notes
- Pick up from hotels in Madalena - local supplier Naturfactor
- Full Day (7 hours 30 minutes)
- Minimum 2 people required
- Children 0-3 yrs free of charge
- Included: Transportation (from Madalena), guide service, lunch at a local restaurant and entrance fees at the Whaler’s Museum. Visits to the Whale Factory, Wine Museum or Gruta das Torres (Lava cave) will incur an additional fee - on request. Clients will be given a choice locally and the majority vote dictates which museum is visited. If more than one is chosen then there will be a local charge for the additional museums: 5.56 Euros per person for the Wine Museum; 11.11 Euros per person for Gruta das Torres; and 27.78 Euros per person for wine tasting.
Pico Private Wine Tour - Full Day
This tour will take you on a voyage of discovery through vineyards and wine production on Pico island. There will be a walk through the vineyards classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco and where you will learn about the cultural heritage linked to wine production. There will also be time for some wine and liqueur tastings that are produced locally.
Price is £226 per adult and £170 per child (4-10yrs)
Notes
- Pick up from hotels in Madalena - local supplier Naturfactor
- Full day is 7.5 hours
- Minimum 2 people required
- Children 0-3 yrs free of charge
- Included: Transportation, guide, walking trail at Criação Velha vineyards, wine tasting at the wine cooperative, visit to the coastal areas of Cachorro and Lajido, liqueur tasting at Adega a Buraca and lunch at a local restaurant.
Whale & Dolphin Watching Trip - Half Day
The first Observation and Study Base of Azores Cetaceans was born in 1991, under the name of Espaco Talassa on Pico Island. Take a trip of a lifetime on board a Zodiac in search of cetacean activity – 28 of the planet’s 90 species of whales and dolphins have been sighted off the coast of the Azores.
Price is £62 per person (14-20 Mar and 03-31Oct), £81 per person (21Mar-12Apr and 27Jun-04Sep) and £69 per person (13Apr-26Jun and 05Sep-02Oct)
Notes
- Departures: Fridays
- 3-hours
- Meeting point is Espaço Talassa’s base in Lajes do Pico marina departing at 09:00 or 14:00. Please arrive 15 minutes earlier than the departure time.
- Transfers to/from the whaling base are not included
- Minimum child age is 6 years (accompanied by a parent or guardian)
- Briefing by a marine biologist (c.20-minute talk)
- Zodiac boats (small, rigid hull inflatable carrying up to 14 people) are used
- We cannot guarantee that you will see a cetacean but it is unlikely that you should be so unlucky
- Pre-booking in July and August is recommended
Important: Children aged 5 years or under, pregnant women or any person suffering from heart, back or bone problems are not allowed on the Zodiac boats.
Whale & Dolphin Watching - Azorean biodiversity - Full Day
Join a tour where you will be able to birdwatch from land and sea; search for whales & dolphins in their natural habitat; stop for a picnic lunch; take a short walk on São Jorge Island; and have time to do some snorkelling.
Price is £125 per person (14-20Mar and 03-31Oct), £163 per person (21 Mar-12Apr and 27Jun-04Sep) and £138 per person (13Apr-26Jun and 05Sep-02Oct)
Notes
- Departures: Fridays
- Duration: 8-hour
- Meeting point is Espaço Talassa’s base in Lajes do Pico marina departing at 09:00. Please arrive 15 minutes earlier than the departure time
- Transfers to/from the whaling base are not included
- Minimum child age is 6 years (accompanied by a parent or guardian)
- Briefing by a marine biologist (c.20-minute talk)
- Zodiac boats (small, rigid hull inflatable carrying up to 14 people) are used
- We cannot guarantee that you will see a cetacean but it is unlikely that you should be so unlucky
- Pre-booking in July and August is recommended
IMPORTANT: Children aged 5 years or under, pregnant women or any person suffering from heart, back or bone problems are not allowed on the Zodiac boats.
