Pico, lying across the water from Faial and easily reached by ferry, is the highest point in Portugal. This rugged, mountainous island has a web-like network of black stone walls enclosing tiny fields and picturesque villages. To make the most of your stay on the island we have included a variety of excursions, shown below, that can be pre-booked by Sunvil.
Whale & Dolphin Watching Trip
Take a trip of a lifetime on board a Zodiac in search of cetacean activity – 24 of the planet’s 80 species of whales and dolphins have been sighted off the coast
of the Azores. Daily departures from Lajes do Pico.
Price is £44 per person (27Mar-30Apr and 02Oct-06Nov), £48 per person
(01May-09Jul and 28Aug-01Oct) and £52 per person (10Jul-27Aug).
Notes applicable to Whale watching trips on Pico:
■ Minimum child age is 5 years (accompanied by parent or guardian).
■ Daily 3-hour excursions depart at 08:30 or 13:30 – schedules to be advised locally depending on weather conditions.
■ Apr to Oct is the best period to see whales off Pico.
■ Briefing by a marine biologist (c.30- minute talk).
■ Zodiac boats (small, rigid hull inflatables 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.
■ Special reductions apply if booking 5 people or more – prices on request.
■ Pre-booking in August is recommended.
Important:
Children aged 4yrs or under, pregnant women or any person suffering from
severe back problems are not allowed on the Zodiac boats.
Pico Island Tours
Sunvil is able to pre-book the following private taxi tours on Pico. Tours can also be tailor-made to suit the individual requirements of our clients, please
telephone us for a quotation.
Pico Island – full day tour - Depart from Madalena to the village of Sao Roque on the north coast of Pico, visiting the black rocks of Cachorro enroute. Take the mountain road (altitude 900m) towards Lajes do Pico, for many years, the centre of the whaling industry in the Azores. Continue on to the Whaler’s Museum (entrance fee not included) and home to a fascinating exhibition about the industry. Return to Madalena stopping at ‘Verdelho’ wine cellar en route.
From Madalena - Price is £171 per taxi*
Faial Island – full day tour - Depart from Madalena harbour to Faial Island (30 minutes by boat). Take the mountain road towards Caldeira, the highest point on Faial at 1,043 metres. Continue north to Capelinhos, the site of the last volcanic eruption in the Azores in 1957 and visit the museum, which details the evolution of the eruption. Return to Pico by boat.
From Madalena - Price is £212 per taxi
*Island Tour Notes: Prices are based on a maximum of 3 people per taxi. Lunch and entrance fees to museums and parks are not included. Pick up/drop off from hotels outside of Madalena at a supplement – please call us for a quotation.
Pico Mountain Hike
For the more adventurous traveller a climb to the summit of Mount Pico can
present the opportunity of a life time 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.
From Madalena - Price is £209 per taxi
Notes: Prices are based on a maximum of 3 people per taxi. Accompanied by an experienced English speaking guide. Pick up/drop off from hotels outside
Madalena at a supplement – please telephone us for a quotation.
Whale & dolphin watching holiday on Pico >
