Things to do at Mount Pico

Mount Pico rises 2,351 metres above the island of the same name, the highest point in Portugal, and the summit is not something you simply walk up to.

Every attempt starts at the Casa da Montanha, where registration is compulsory and a GPS tracker is issued for the climb and must be returned afterwards; a refundable liability charge of around 30 EUR applies if it is not, with penalties of 270 to 300 EUR for loss or damage.

The climb to the crater rim costs around 15 EUR, with a further 10 EUR to continue to the Piquinho summit itself. On a clear day the reward is a view across the central group toward Faial and São Jorge, but the mountain sits under cloud on many mornings, so fog can close the view without warning even after registration is confirmed.