Things to do on Pico Island

Pico is the Azores island built around one landmark: the Montanha do Pico, at 2,351 metres the highest point in Portugal, rising straight out of the Atlantic above the ferry port of Madalena. Climbing it is not a walk-up decision — daily numbers are capped and registration at the Casa da Montanha has to be arranged in advance, with a GPS tracker issued for the ascent.

Away from the peak, Lajes do Pico keeps the island's whaling history alive as the historic base for whale watching, while the black currais vineyard walls between Criação Velha and Santa Luzia have carried a UNESCO World Heritage listing since 2004. Faial is a 30-minute ferry from Madalena, which is why most visitors weigh Pico as a separate stop rather than a day trip.