It is impossible to not feel challenged by that tiny point in the middle of the sky – knowing that millions of people go up there every year to feel like they are on the top of the world.
The temptation is there independently if you are looking at it through the windows of an airplane or from the ground. It is there, 2350 meters above the sea level. And its presence can be felt whenever and wherever you go around in the island. You know it is there and you know once you climb it until the top you will feel proud every time you look at it, talk about it or whenever it is mentioned the Pico Mountain.
So, what can we visit in Pico?
Casa da Montanha (mountain’s house)
If you want to go to the top of the mountain you have to follow the implemented protocol. First you have to book the day and the slot of the day to start climbing. You can do it in their website: https://montanhapico.azores.gov.pt/. You can choose if you want or not a guide with you, there is also an option of spending the night on top of the mountain and for that you can only do it in the presence of a guide. Pico’s mountain is a volcanic cone, the third largest of the Atlantic Ocean. On the top you will find a crater (where people sleep if they stay overnight) and inside there is a cone of lava – the Piquinho – the very top of the mountain. When you are climbing this part of the mountain you will notice manifestations of volcanic activity as steam coming out between warm rocks.
Now… We climbed it, I can say I climbed to the Piquinho, that I was on the top of that big mountain. Was it easy? Hell no. I can say without any doubt that it was one of the more difficult things I have done my entire life. Is it worth it? Absolutely. You will suffer, you will ask yourself why you are doing that to yourself, but it will pay off. I remember overhearing a man asking, “How much pain is enough pain?”. It is hard, but there are loads of people suffering the same as you. So many people facing the challenge. Obviously not everyone gets to the end, some will give up at some point, because you need a good physical condition to climb it to the top. But the memories will be with you forever.
My advice…bring a LOT of water, snacks and very, very comfortable clothes and shoes.
For many is an experience of a lifetime, but we only live once, right?
The trail is marked, but I am not sure if I can actually call it trail as in same places there is no other way that proper climb through the rocks. You will find markers with numbers; in total they are 47. By the way if you get to a point that you cannot move, or you just want to give up remind yourself that calling an helicopter for the firefighters come and pick you up will cost you around 3000 euros. Keep that in mind!
Lagoa Rosada (Lagoon Rosada) and Lagoa do Peixinho (Peixinho’s Lagoon)
Close to each other these two natural lagoons are formed due to volcanic activity of Pico. Lagoon Rosada is located in one of the craters formed by a cone explosion. Peixinho’s lagoon is formed by a depression area between volcanic cones. Both of them are involved in a beautiful green scenery.
Furna do Frei Matias (Cave of Frei Matias)
This cave has volcanic origins, being in reality a 650 meters long lava tube. The entrance is of easy access. There is a legend that a hermit lived in here in absolute solitude afraid of being found by pirates.
If you want to have a proper look inside of the caves, you can visit the Centro de Visitantes da Gruta das Torres where you can book a guided tour.
Cachorro and Arcos do Cachorro (Dog and dog’s arches)
The dog’s arches are a group of rock formations of volcanic origin. Beautiful scenes can be seen from here, but the best and maybe the most famous is a rock that looks like a dog. And it was this particular rock that gave the name to this area of Pico – Cachorro (dog in Portuguese).
Where did we stay?
Baco’s Resort
Our accommodation in Pico Island was one of the prettiest places I have ever been. To get here it is a bit tricky, the road that takes you from the main road to Baco’s Resort is not tarred so you need to drive more carefully. There are very cute houses, not many, perhaps 3-4? and it is one house per booking. We were very lucky because we got the house next to the pool, so the first thing we did every morning was jumping into the water.
The house itself was so good, the silence during the nights something that you cannot get often, unless you live in the countryside. The breakfast was left every morning in our terrace. The breakfast itself was totally Portuguese, the type of bread, the jams, the juices, completely traditional of a Portuguese breakfast. And the view, I couldn’t get over the view once we got here, the ocean on one side and the mountain on the other. Unbelievable. Magnificent. I could have stayed there for much, much longer.
Website: https://www.bacoresort.com/pt/
Address: Rua do Lajido do Meio, Santa Luzia, 9940-110 Lajido, Portugal
Food and Drinks
It is very important to understand that food is a fundamental part of the Portuguese culture. And the quality is many times incomparable to other countries. The first day we arrived at this island we were exhausted; we had travelled all the way from UK to Lisbon and then to Lisbon to São Miguel and then to Pico. When we arrived we were famished and very tired. This was already 7ish and we wanted something close, quick and for that exact moment. You have to understand something, this is an island, a not very big one, so the access to restaurants is not easy as in a city. The choices are not as many as you expect in a city break. For that reason and also because we needed to buy some toiletries, we went to HIPERCAIS, a supermarket. Yes, yes, you might be saying “I would never do that” or “why is she putting a supermarket in first place?”. It is fine by me, but I am telling you me and my husband looked like kids buying all of kind of Portuguese delicacies and that included a lemon liquor that was very strong, very sweet and that could get you drunk very easily.
So that was our first night, some traditional food with cod fish like “Bacalhau com natas” e “Bacalhau a Bras”, some crips and some canned food that brought us back to our childhood. Believe me or not it tasted amazing.
Address: 319, ER1, Santo António, Portugal
Restaurant – Cafe 5 “Cinq”
After my lecture about the food from the supermarket I am going straight to our experience in this restaurant – Cafe 5 “Cinq” in Madalena. Food – amazing, service – very friendly. We went full on, starters, two main dishes and dessert.
Everything was so delicious – we ordered two typical Portuguese dishes “Açorda de Gambas” and “Feijoada de Gambas” – in the end we were so full and very very happy. Prices very reasonable. We loved this restaurant.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/cinq5cinco/?ref=hl
Address: Rua Carlos Dabney 5, 9950-327 Madalena, Portugal
Drinks – Cella Bar
My suggestion is for you to visit this place when there is sunlight. The modern building with a futuristic architecture almost inside the sea it is a great place for drinks. Cella Bar is also in Madalena not far from the restaurant I mentioned above. However, we came here when it was already pitched dark, and we missed the amazing view that this place offers. A lot of good choices and a great view, the perfect combination for a good time.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/cellabar/
Address: Rua Da Barca, 9950-303 Madalena, Portugal
Memories of Everywhere 